Tundra Plovers: The Eurasian, Pacific and American Golden Plovers and Grey Plover - Hardcover

Byrkjedal, Ingvar; Thompson, Des

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0856611093 ISBN 13: 9780856611094

Publisher: Princeton University Press, 1998

Synopsis

This groundbreaking book on shorebirds examines the taxonomy, appearance, behavior, ecology, and conservation of Golden and Grey Plovers, and compares and contrasts their natural history and biogeography. It gives detailed accounts on all aspects of their lifestyle including feeding, mating, parental care, moults, migration, and avoidance of predators. The authors' first hand experiences provide personal touches which add to its value.
Tundra Plovers explores the differences in plumage, vocalizations, habitat use, breeding, movements, and food. The connections between phylogeny, biogeography, and behavior will be of interest because the authors have dwelt on the differences between the sexes as well as the four species. Byrkjedal has also contributed all of the wonderful color and line illustrations. More than 40 photographs, 150 tables and figures, and many other embellishments complete this definitive book.

Key Features
* Examines the taxonomy, appearance, behavior, ecology, and conservation of Golden and Grey Plovers
* Explores the differences in plumage, vocalizations, habitat use, breeding, movements, and food
* Contains more than 40 photographs, 150 tables and figures, and many other embellishments

About this title

From the Back Cover:

There are four species of tundra plover: the Grey Plover, and the Eurasian, Pacific and American golden plovers. They breed only in the northern hemisphere, principally on tundra, and migrate far south to coastal mudflats, saltings and agricultural landscapes. They have attracted avid interest from birdwatchers and researchers worldwide, not least the authors who have studied all four species. The Eurasian Golden Plover has a special claim to fame as questions over its flight speed first prompted the compilation of the world best seller The Guinness Book of Records.
This ground-breaking book on shorebirds (waders) examines the taxonomy, appearance, behaviour, ecology and conservation of the Golden and Grey Plovers, and compares and contrasts their natural history and biogeography. There are detailed accounts of all aspects of lifestyle including feeding, mating, parental care, moults, migration and avoidance of predators. The personal touches in this book add immensely to its value, not least the authors' first hand experiences of the birds and their haunts. Most of their work presented here has not been published before, adding to the significance of this highly original book.
Long-awaited considerations of differences in plumage, vocalizations, habitat use, breeding, movements and food are included. The links between phylogeny, biogeography and behaviour are bound to excite interest. The comparative approach is highly detailed and refreshing, and marks the book as a classic.
Ingvar Byrjedal has also contributed all of the wonderful colourful and line illustrations. Over fifty-five photographs, over one hundred and twenty tables and figures, and many other embellishments complete this definitive book.

About the Author:

Ingvar Byrkjedal is Curator of Vertebrates at the Zoological Museum, University of Bergen, Norway. He has conducted much research on Eurasian Golden Plovers, particularly their anti-predator behavior and parental care. He has also studied American Golden Plovers in Canada, and Grey and Pacific Golden Plovers in north-west Siberia. His work has recently touched on little known northern waders, and is presently focused on the mating system of Northern Lapwings.

About this edition

• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0856611093
• ISBN 13: 9780856611094
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 456