Birds & Natural History 2014

Birds & Natural History 2014 press.princeton.edu New A Sparrowhawk’s Lament How British Breeding Birds of Prey Are Faring David Cobham with Bruce Pearson With a foreword by Chris Packham Britain is home to fteen species of breeding birds of prey, from the hedgerow-hopping Sparrowhawk to the breathtaking White-tailed Eagle. In this handsomely illustrated book, acclaimed British lmmaker and naturalist David Cobham o ers unique and deeply personal insights into Britain’s birds of prey and how they are faring today. He delves into the history of these marvellous birds and talks in depth with the scientists and conservationists who are striving to safeguard them. In doing so, he pro les the writers, poets, and lmmakers who have done so much to change the public’s perception of birds of prey. Thanks to popular television programs, the Victorian myth that any bird with a hooked beak is evil has been dispelled. However, although there are success stories— ve birds of prey that were extinct have become reestablished with viable populations—persecution is still rife: so much so that one bird of prey, the Hen Harrier, became virtually extinct in England as a breeding bird in 2013. Featuring drawings by famed wildlife artist Bruce Pearson, this book reveals why we must cherish and celebrate our birds of prey, and why we neglect them at our peril. In A Sparrowhawk’s Lament, you will learn how the perfection of the double-barrelled shotgun sounded a death knell for British birds of prey in the nineteenth century, how the conscription of gamekeepers during two world wars gave them a temporary reprieve, how their fortunes changed yet again with the introduction of agricultural pesticides in the 1950s, why birds of prey are vital to Britain’s ecosystems and cultural heritage—and much more. 2014. 272 pages. 97 line illus. 6 x 8 ½. Cl: 978-0-691-15764-1 £24.95 | $35.00 CONTENTS 12 Britain’s Wildlife 14 Field Guides 19 North American Guides 22 Reference 25 Index | Order Form New Third Edition Britain’s Dragon ies A Field Guide to the Damsel ies and Dragon ies of Britain and Ireland Dave Smallshire & Andy Swash “That Britain’s Dragon ies is on its third edition already is a sure sign of how well regarded and popular this eld guide has become since its rst publication in 2004. This edition takes the guide a stage further than the previous two and has been thoroughly updated and revised with new photographs, text, and up-to-date distribution maps. This is the de nitive, must have guide to the dragon ies of Britain and Ireland and as the most comprehensive eld guide of its type, it will surely nd a place on the bookshelves of all keen dragon y watchers and those with a more general interest in the wildlife of Great Britain. • Beautiful colour plates showing Highly Recommended.” males, females, immatures and —Mark Tyrrell, British Dragon ies all colour forms for every species “The deluge of information is well presented and a subject that could • Over 450 stunning photographs easily daunt a budding odonatologist is in fact made entirely digestible. and 550 illustrations If you haven’t already got a copy, it’s well worth investing . in this revamped edition of Britain’s Dragon ies to ensure that you’re in good • Up-to-date species profi les and stead for a summer of insect-watching.” distribution maps —Josh Jones, BirdGuides.com • Detailed, easy-to-use identifi ca- Britain’s Dragon ies is the only comprehensive photographic eld tion charts for adults and larvae guide to the damsel ies and dragon ies of Britain and Ireland. Written by two of Britain’s foremost experts, this fully revised and updated edition features hundreds of stunning images and identi cation charts covering all 56 resident, migrant and former breeding species, and seven potential vagrants. The book focuses on identi cation—both of adults and larvae— highlighting the key features. Detailed species pro les provide concise information on identi cation, distribution, ight periods, behaviour, habitat, status and conservation. Other sections cover biology; how to watch, photograph, record and monitor Dragon ies; conservation status and legislation; and introduced exotic species. Britain’s Wildlife 2014. 224 pages. 453 colour photos. 321 colour illus. 66 maps. 6 x 8. Pa: 978-0-691-16123-5 £17.95 | $25.95 Dragon ies and Damsel ies of Britain and Ireland APP Available for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. press.princeton.edu/wildguides 1 New One of the Guardian’s B est Nature Books of 2013 The Crossley ID Guide Britain and Ireland Richard Crossley & Dominic Couzens “[A] revolutionary new bird book.” —Stephen Moss, Guardian “Bright, bold, clean-looking and easy to use, it is not just an identi - cation guide—it is a celebration of our birds and how they t into our landscape.” —Andy Stoddart “Richard Crossley and Dominic Couzens have lifted the eld guide out of the rut and produced a rst class book.” —Biggest Twitch • The most user-friendly guide to the birds of Britain and Ireland This guide is a celebration of the beauty of birds and the British and Irish countryside. Aimed at beginner and intermediate birders, yet suit- • A close look at more than 300 able for all levels, this new volume in the groundbreaking Crossley ID regularly occurring species Guide series is the most user-friendly guide to the birds of Britain and • Award-winning Crossley ID Guide Ireland. Following The Crossley ID Guides’ award-winning design, this design book looks at all regularly occurring species in Britain and Ireland, and • Lifelike images of birds from shows readers how to identify birds in their natural habitats using size, near to far structure, shape, probability, and behaviour—just like the experts do! Stunning images are accompanied by the colourful and compelling • A celebration of the British and text of Dominic Couzens, one of Britain’s leading nature writers. Irish countryside This unique book treats more than 300 species—all the regularly • A teaching and fi eld guide and occurring birds likely to be encountered by observers—and the guide’s essential reference attractive pages provide a real-life approach to bird identi cation. • Concise and compelling text by Beautiful, in-focus scenes present birds in various plumages and in Dominic Couzens and Richard lifelike poses set in identi able British and Irish habitats. The plates also Crossley illustrate how a bird’s appearance changes with distance. Organising images in cohesive, easy-to-understand plates rather than as separate photographs, this book also sets itself apart by containing more images that demonstrate ight, behaviour, habitat, and plumages than any other volume available. Not only is this eld guide a reference book, it is also a spectacular teaching resource that makes it easy for nature enthusiasts to see and appreciate the big picture of bird identi cation. The Crossley ID Guides 2013. 304 pages. 300+ colour plates. 250 maps. 6 x 9. Pa: 978-0-691-15194-6 £16.95 | $27.95 2 • Connect with Crossley ID Guides on Facebook @ CrossleyIDGuide Forthcoming —Second Edition Birds of New Guinea Thane K. Pratt & Bruce M. Beehler John C. Anderton & Szabolcs Kókay Praise for the rst edition: “This book is not only indispensable to any bird-watcher visiting New Guinea and the adjacent islands, but, owing to the wealth of its information, it will be of great interest to anyone who is seriously interested in birds.” —American Scientist This is the completely revised edition of the essential eld guide to the birds of New Guinea. The world’s largest tropical island, New Guinea boasts a spectacular avifauna characterized by cassowaries, megapo- des, pigeons, parrots, cuckoos, king shers, and owlet-nightjars, as well as an exceptionally diverse assemblage of songbirds such as the iconic • 780 bird species, including 366 birds of paradise and bowerbirds. Birds of New Guinea is the only guide found nowhere else to cover all 780 bird species reported in the area, including 366 found • 111 stunning colour plates, nowhere else in the world. Expanding its coverage with 111 vibrant twice the number of the rst colour plates—twice as many as the rst edition—and the addition edition of 635 range maps, the book also contains updated species accounts • Expanded and updated species with new information about identi cation, voice, habits, and range. accounts provide details on From ecotourists to eld researchers, Birds of New Guinea remains an identi cation, voice, habits, and indispensable reference to the bird diversity of this remarkable region. range Princeton Field Guides • 635 range maps November 2014. 512 pages. 111 colour illus. 24 line illus. 635 maps. 6 x 9. Cl: 978-0-691-09562-2 £69.95 | $99.50 • Revised classifi cation of birds Pa: 978-0-691-09563-9 £34.95 | $49.50 re ects the latest research 2 • press.princeton.edu/wildguides 3 Forthcoming Birds of Australia A Photographic Guide Iain Campbell, Sam Woods & Nick Leseberg W ith photography by Geo Jones “Birds of Australia is an excellent book. The text is comprehensive, the content is e ectively organized and researched, and the scholarship is sound. The photographic plates are of a very high quality.” —Peter S. Lansley, senior ecologist, Brett Lane & Associates Australia is home to a spectacular diversity of birdlife, from parrots and penguins to emus and vibrant passerines. Birds of Australia cov- ers all 714 species of resident birds and regularly occurring migrants and features more than 1,100 stunning colour photographs, including many photos of subspecies and plumage variations never before seen in a eld guide.

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