A comprehensive guide to the avian species with beautiful illustrations and a detailed natural-history introduction. Features the birds of the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and the Polar regions, with analyses of size, shape, plumage, habitat, breeding, nests, eggs and food. • Explores key habitats such as the ocean, seashore, estuaries, lakes, ponds and rivers, woodland, open country, and cities and gardens. • An extensive illustrated directory includes puffins, terns, touracos, buzzards, blackbirds, waxbills, lovebirds, bee-eaters, magpies, kingfishers, and many more. This comprehensive encyclopedia of the world’s birds presents a fantastic visual guide to the major avian species and families, from America’s tiniest insect-catchers to the giant, flightless species still living on the African plains. A 420-page directory features fully illustrated entries for hundreds of birds, as well as detailing many other related species. The activities of birds are explored in a natural history section, detailing anatomy, flight, feeding, pairing and nesting. There are also tips on birdwatching for those who want to get a closer look at these fascinating creatures. This is an authoritative and sumptuous guide to the diversity of bird life across the globe. About the Author: David Aldertonis an international best-selling authority on birds and their care. He is the former chairman of the National Council for Aviculture, and is a consultant to the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council, based in Washington, DC.