Peterson Field Guide To North American Bird Nests

by Casey McFarland, Matthew Monjello, David Moskowitz

Overview

A comprehensive field guide to the nests and nesting behavior of North American birds

Beyond being a simple reference book, the Peterson Field Guide to North American Bird Nests is a practical, educational, and intimate doorway to our continent’s bird life. The diversity of nests and nesting strategies of birds reflect the unique biology and evolution of these charismatic animals. Unlike any other book currently on the market, this guide comprehensively incorporates nest design, breeding behavior, and habitat preferences of North American birds to provide the reader with a highly functional field resource and an engaging perspective of this sensitive part of a bird’s life cycle.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780544963382
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	08/24/2021
Series:	Peterson Field Guides
Pages:	512
Sales rank:	204,746
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.80(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

CASEY MCFARLAND trains biologists, research teams, ecotourism guides, and the general public to read and interpret the tracks, signs, and trails of wildlife. A Senior Tracker and Senior International Evaluator for CyberTracker Conservation, he works around the globe to develop and support wildlife tracking skill and ecological knowledge. A skilled educator and all-around outdoorsman, Casey provides Track & Sign and Trailing Evaluations—as well as a variety of backcountry expeditions and wildlife courses. He is a coauthor of the revision of Mammal Tracks and Sign: A Guide to North American Species and Bird Feathers: A Guide to North American Species. He lives in Fort Collins, Colorado.

MATTHEW MONJELLO is a naturalist, birder, and Registered Maine Guide. His extensive experience in the outdoors, as both an educator and working on various wildlife-related projects, has enabled him to share his love for the natural world with a variety of organizations and state agencies. As an educator and guide, Matt’s focus is to further strengthen the relationship between people and nature through birding, wilderness trips, wildlife tracking, and naturalist studies. He lives in Hope, Maine. 
 

David Moskowitz works as a conservation photographer, wildlife biologist, and educator. He is the photographer and author of numerous other books and articles on conservation, wildlife tracking, and natural history including Caribou Rainforest, Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest and Wolves in the Land of Salmon. David is certified as a Track and Sign Specialist, Trailing Specialist, and Senior Tracker through Cybertracker Conservation and is an Evaluator for this rigorous international professional certification program for wildlife tracking. Learn more about his work at davidmoskowitz.net. He lives in Winthrop, Washington. 

Table of Contents

Preface 1

A Guide to Using This Book 7

Identifying Birds, Songs, and Calls 7

Learning to identify Nests 7

Range Maps and Geographic Explanation 8

Order of Species 8

Accounts 8

Structure of Species Accounts 10

Nest Key 11

1 Nests, Breeding Behavior, and Evolution 17

Origins of Bird Nests 17

The Nest and Bird Biology 20

Avian Mating Systems and Behavior 26

Territory 27

Egg Laying, Incubation, and Nestlings 29

2 Avian Architecture: Nest Design, Materials, and Construction 39

Nest Features and Composition 40

Materials 43

Building Techniques 46

Nest Types 49

Nest Placement 52

Species Accounts 57

Ducks, Geese, and Swans 58

Upland Game Birds 80

Grebes 89

Pigeons and Doves 93

Cuckoos, Roadrunners, and Anis 99

Nighthawks and Poorwills 102

Swifts 105

Hummingbirds 107

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots 114

Limpkin 121

Cranes 122

Shorebirds 123

Jaegers 144

Auks, Murres, and Puffins 146

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers 157

Loons 173

Northern Storm-Petrels 176

Shearwaters and Petrels 178

Storks 179

Frigatebirds 180

Boobiesand Gannets 180

Cormorants and Anhinga 181

Pelicans 185

Bitterns, Herons, and Egrets 187

Ibises and Spoonbills 195

New World Vultures 198

Hawks, Kites, Eagles, and Allies 200

Owls 216

Trogons 227

Kingfishers 228

Woodpeckers 230

Falcons and Caracaras 242

Tyrant Flycatchers and Becard 246

Shrikes 268

Vireos 269

Jays, Crows, Ravens, and Allies 277

Larks 288

Swallows 289

Chickadees and Titmice 295

Verdin 301

Bushtit 302

Nuthatches 303

Treecreepers 306

Wrens 307

Gnatcatchers 315

Dippers 317

Kinglets 318

Leaf Warblers 319

Old World Flycatchers 320

Wrentit 321

Thrushes 322

Mockingbirds and Thrashers 331

Starlings 337

Waxwings 338

Silky Flycatchers 340

Olive Warbler 341

Old World Sparrows 341

Wagtails and Pipits 342

Finches and Allies 346

Longspurs and Snow Buntings 356

New World Sparrows 359

Yellow-breasted Chat 389

Meadowlarks, Orioles, Blackbirds, and Allies 390

Wood-Warblers 405

Cardinals and Allies 438

Morelet's Seedeater 447

Acknowledgments 451

Recommended Reading 457

Selected Bibliography 459

Additional Photo Captions and Credits 473

Index 475