How Birds Evolve
What Science Reveals about Their Origin, Lives, and Diversity
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Princeton University Press
Published:4th Jan '22
Should be back in stock very soon
This hardback is available in another edition too:
- Paperback£18.99(9780691264639)
This insightful book offers a deep dive into bird evolution, exploring their unique traits and behaviors shaped by natural selection and evolutionary history in How Birds Evolve.
In How Birds Evolve, Douglas Futuyma takes readers on a fascinating exploration of bird evolution, revealing how evolutionary science has shaped the unique traits and behaviors we see in birds today. The book delves into various topics, including the origins of species, the evolutionary history that has led to the incredible diversity of birds, and the development of avian reproductive behaviors, plumage, and social interactions. Futuyma emphasizes the importance of understanding these concepts to appreciate the wonders of avian life fully.
Futuyma also traces the lineage of birds back to their nonavian dinosaur ancestors, offering insights into what we can learn from the avian family tree. He discusses the role of natural selection in maintaining different forms within the same species and how adaptation drives the diverse life histories of birds. The book addresses the rich variety of parenting styles, mating displays, and cooperative behaviors found in the avian world, providing a comprehensive overview of bird behavior shaped by evolution.
Additionally, How Birds Evolve tackles pressing issues such as bird extinction and habitat loss through an evolutionary lens. Futuyma shares an insider's view of how biologists conduct evolutionary research, from fossil studies to DNA comparisons. This multifaceted narrative makes the book an essential read for bird lovers and anyone interested in the intersection of evolutionary biology and natural history.
"A Birdwatcher's Yearbook Best Bird Book of the Year"
"Terrific. . . . Futuyma writes an accessible overview of bird evolution that lay readers, especially birders, will be able to understand." * BirdWatching *
"[Futuyma] skillfully weaves together salient themes of evolutionary biology from the living aviary, stressing the important role that birds played in advancing our understanding of evolution."---Alan Feduccia, Science
"This engaging and wide-ranging summary of virtually every aspect of avian evolution synthesizes the earliest insights from Darwin to those of modern phylogenetics, using birds to illustrate each concept. ... [Futuyma] may be the ideal person to explain the marvels of bird evolution."---Daniel S. Cooper, The Quarterly Review of Biology
"How Birds Evolve is accessible, exhilarating science for everyone – amateur birder, professional naturalist or just the average man. It’s a great book and one to read over and over and I thoroughly recommend it to all. This is already my Bird Book of 2022 and I can't see it being bettered."---Phil Slade, Another Bird Blog
"How Birds Evolve is a book full of accessible and exhilarating science for everyone and not just birders and professional naturalists. It’s simply a stunning book and one to read numerous times and an example of the amalgamation of science and nature writing at its finest and I thoroughly recommend it to everyone."---Roy Stewart, British Naturalists Association
"The delight is in the detail. . . . Futuyma unpacks the story of evolutionary science alongside the story of how birds evolved. . . . [How Birds Evolve] is entertaining and passionate."---Simon Ings, New Scientist
"[Futuyma’s] life-long passion and competence guide us across the pages of this book with a hint of humour."---Gaia Bazz, Community Ecology
ISBN: 9780691182629
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
320 pages