Handbook of Bird Biology (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)

This book is expensive, but – if you can afford it – it is worth every penny. It is a treasure trove for anyone who is seriously interested in birds.

It covers everything from classification to conservation, from migration to mobbing, and from evolution to “extra-pair copulation”.

I used the previous edition of this book several years ago when I completed the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Home Study Course in Bird Biology. That edition was an excellent book, but this new one is even better. It has been improved in three ways:

Firstly, it has been updated using the results of the latest ornithological research, for example on bird behaviour and on the evolution of birds from theropod dinosaurs.

Secondly, the illustrations are now in show more full colour. The book contains hundreds of colour photographs which are beautiful as well as educational.

Thirdly, there are now internet resources linked to each chapter of the book, including video and audio clips, and interactive learning modules.

In reviewing this book, Jared Diamond strongly recommends it, “regardless of whether you are a backyard bird watcher, a hard–core birder, or a professional ornithologist." I couldn’t agree more. show less

I've waited for this updated edition for about 5 years. I was beginning to wonder if it would ever be finalized and published. It's an amazing book chock full of brilliant photos, detailed academic information, and is actually a comprehensive course in bird biology. The very latest! It makes me wish I could attend the actual live course at Cornell. Happily there is abundant internet support including an expensive, online, at-home course (maybe someday).

From birds evolving from dinosaurs to detailed anatomy, breeding & social behavior, migration, conservation, and so much more this book is a pot of gold for those yearning to understand these astonishing avian creatures... like me! I'll be re-reading and referring to this book for the show more rest of my life. show less

I. too enrolled in the Cornell course. I started in July and am still enrolled. The book is an excellent resource and highly readable for a textbook. My issue was twofold: the price, which was very high; and the fact that it does not match very well with the online content or quizzes of the course. I would be enjoying the book better without needing it for a course. Then again, had I not registered for the course, I would not have purchased the book...

This book was an accompaniment to the online course offered by Cornell University. The course was challenging enough; the challenge for me was reading a college level textbook after a 30 year gap. I recommend this book, the course, Cornell University Lab of Ornithology , and of course EBird, to anyone that has an interest in birds, climate change, conservation and even to folks that think they don’t care for this subject matter.