The Encyclopedia of Birds

The problem with birding books is that they mostly just tell you what a given bird looks like. If your curiosity about feathered creatures goes beyond just appearances here is the book for you. It's a big, 450-page book that is packed with information. This is not just a big picture book, though it is full of beautiful color shots. It's mainly a reference book that describes, by species, birds' lives in detail, covering such topics as mating, nesting, communication, feeding, and socialization. There are many fascinating sidebars, such as the one describing why owls have such broad heads, and the one on the Hoatzin chick's claws on its wings that enable it to climb around trees while still an infant. There is excellent material on how various birds have developed features that have enabled them to adapt to their environment - probably the best know example being the beaks of finches.And, best of all, this encyclopedia is interestingly written. It's informative, but not drearily academic. It's one of those books that you can just open up to any page and find yourself reading something truly fascinating about birds. Highly recommended.

I love ALL the books that make up the "Facts On File" series, and this book is no exception. It's filled with lush, detailed, extraordinary illustrations, photographs, and plenty of facts about bird anatomy, physiology, and evolution.It's not as detailed as a professional ornithologist's reference work. Also, it's not as handy to take outside as a Roger Tory Peterson field guide. Still, it's the BEST single reference book a bird watcher will EVER need!Buy it!