Overview

Bird Families of the World is a new multivolume series of handbooks, intended to serve the interests of both the professional scientist and the ever-growing body of amateur ornithologists. Each volume will provide a comprehensive and accurate synthesis of our knowledge of one bird family or several related families. In each book the reader will find: *Six to eight general chapters on the biology, feeding ecology, breeding behaviour, evolutionary relationships, and conservation of the birds in the family *Specially commissioned colour plates by a leading artist, showing adults and juveniles of all species and many subspecies Black-and-white drawings illustrating special features and behaviour *Descriptions of each species individually, including appearance, weights, and measurements; field characters; voice; habitat and food; breeding behaviour; life cycle; and range and status (with distribution map). these will provide the most comprehensive and up-to-date species-level information available. *Full bibliography and index This first volume, The Hornbills , comprises the first-ever comprehensive account of all 54 species of these fascinating birds. They are an Old World family, found in sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, and throughout southeast Asia and Indonesia to Papua New Guinea. Birds of the forest, their diet is mainly fruit and insects, and they have large, distinctively shaped bills which of course give them their name. They are also known for interesting social behaviour and nesting habits. Alan Kemp first introduces the hornbill group in seven chapters, illustrated by two colour plates of hornbill habitats and nesting behaviour and many line drawings. These chapters give an overview of the family as a whole, summarizing a wide range of literature and describing all the facets of hornbill life with a wealth of examples. They combine a readable style with the author's scientific grasp of his subject.

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9780198577294

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Reviews

<br>. . .a comprehensive look at the 54 species of these fascinating birds. --Wildbird<br> This book is a comprehensive account of. . .hornbills, their distinctive bills, non-breeding behavior and biology, feeding, breeding, evolution and relationships. . . --Wildlife Activist<br> Provides an overview of hornbill structure, behavior, ecology, breeding biology, and taxonomy, with notes on conservation, management, and even captive breeding. Accounts for each of the 54 species dispense known natural history information in a well-organized format. --Bird Watcher's Digest<br> This volume, and its companions in the series, will be an indispensable work of reference for anyone interested in birds. --Indiana Audubon quarterly<br> Recommended to university libraries supporting a significant interest in ornithology and to ornithologists interested in African and Asian birds. -- Choice<br>

, . .a comprehensive look at the 54 species of these fascinating birds. --Wildbird<br> This book is a comprehensive account of. . .hornbills, their distinctive bills, non-breeding behavior and biology, feeding, breeding, evolution and relationships. . . --Wildlife Activist<br> Provides an overview of hornbill structure, behavior, ecology, breeding biology, and taxonomy, with notes on conservation, management, and even captive breeding. Accounts for each of the 54 species dispense known natural history information in a well-organized format. --Bird Watcher's Digest<br> This volume, and its companions in the series, will be an indispensable work of reference for anyone interested in birds. --Indiana Audubon quarterly<br> Recommended to university libraries supporting a significant interest in ornithology and to ornithologists interested in African and Asian birds. -- Choice<br>

Author Information

Alan Kemp is Head Curator of the Department of Birds at the Transvaal Museum, South Africa.

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