With her signature whimsical style, illustrator Julia Rothman delves into the incredible world of birds, exploring everything from feathers to feeding, mating rituals to molting, and introducing readers to birds across the globe.
This irresistible illustrated guide will take you around the world to meet the fascinating feathered creatures that populate our planet. From albatrosses that drink sea water and spend months without setting foot on the ground to hummingbirds so small they weigh less than a penny, the bird world is full of astonishing animals. Filled with fascinating information on every aspect of avian life, every page of Bird Anatomy is a delightful glimpse into the wonder of nature. You'll learn how birds fly, build their nests, forage or hunt, and explore some of their most extraordinary behaviors, such as the stunning architecture of a weaverbird's nest or the Bald Eagles' daring courtship dance.
Whether you're a dedicated bird watcher with the high-powered binoculars to prove it or you couldn't tell a flamingo from a flycatchter, Rothman's vivid, whimsical illustrations will inspire, leaving you with a little more wonder and appreciation for the natural world. Julia Rothman is a highly acclaimed contemporary illustrator and author of many best-selling books, including Nature Anatomy, Farm Anatomy, Ocean Anatomy, Food Anatomy, Nature Anatomy Notebook, Wildlife Anatomy, and Insect Anatomy. Her illustrated column, Scratch, ran for five years in the Sunday New York Times. Clients for her illustrations and pattern designs include Target, the Washington Post, MTA Arts & Design, and more. She lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. Introduction
Chapter 1: Birds Eye View
Classification - Anatomy of a Bird - Inside a Bird - The Singular Syrinx - Superstar Vocalists - Bird's-Eye View - Fly-by-Night - Anatomy of a Bill - Beak Shapes - Types of Bird Feet - Caruncles: Combs, Wattles, Snoods, and Dewlaps - Topknots, Horns, and Knobs - King Vulture
Chapter 2: Winging It
Kinds of Feathers - Anatomy of a Feather - Pretty Plumage - Feather Care - Sunbathing and Bathing - Tail Feathers - Long Tails - Kinds of Wings - Albatross - Incredible Wingspans - Flying - How Birds Fly - Kinds of Flight - The Highest Fliers - Flying Feats - Hummingbirds - Flocks and Formations - Canada Goose - The Company They Keep - Murmurations - Migration - Kinds of Migration
Chapter 3: Early Bird Gets the Worm
Where Birds Live - What Birds Eat - Shoebill - Catch and Carry - In Search of a Meal - Eleven Birds of Prey Around the World - Woodpeckers
Chapter 4: A Rare Bird
Songs vs. Calls - Bird Mnemonics - Vocal Mimicry - The Loneliest Bird in the World - How Birds Hear - Bird Crests - In Full Color - Who Wears It Better - A Full Spectrum of Plumage - Penguins of the World - Parrot Fashion - Peacocks - Birds of Paradise - Courtship - Mating - Mating for Life
Chapter 5: Feather Your Nest
Nest Shapes and Kinds - Common Nest Materials - Kleptotrichy - Egg Eaters - Notable Nests - Weavers - Sociable Weavers - Making Eggs - Eggs at Actual Size - Atricial vs. Precocial - How Birds Tend to Their Young - Kinds of Feeding
Chapter 6: A Little Bird Told Me
Threats to Birds - Habitat Loss - Climate Change - Pollution - Birds That Beat the Odds - New Zealand - How Birds Get Tagged and Tracked - 5 Questions for an Ornithologist - Legendary Birds - Famous Birds - Fancy Pigeons - What to Do If You Find an Injured Bird - Ways You Can Help Birds - Organizations to Check Out and Support
A Note About Our Process
