Feathers: An Identification Guide to the Feathers of Western European Birds

Description

The most accurate guide to feathers of European birds ever published. This book offers an innovative identification key, designed according to colour in addition to feather structure and shape. Collection and conservation methods, locations of feathers on the bird, and identification and description of the feathers of more than 400 species are clearly explained and richly illustrated. The large format of this book allows feathers to be shown in as much detail as possible, allowing readers to get to grips with the subtleties of their identification. Cover Title Copyright Contents Abbreviations used in this guide Introduction 1. Collecting methods, conservation and identification Finding feathers Gathering the first clues Making feathers identifiable Preserving feathers Identifying feathers 2. Factors useful for identification The feather The names of the feathers on a bird Descriptive vocabulary Feather measurements Feather size variation Graphs of relative feather sizes Key tables 3. Determining the location of a feather on a bird How to use the identification key Remarks on the feather descriptions and the vocabulary used Key for determining feather type 4. Flight and tail feather shapes and adaptations Relationship between feather shape and the form of the wings and tail Adaptations and convergences 5. Keys to flight and tail feather determination Colour criteria Criteria of the 3-dimensional structure Criteria of shape and silhouette 6. Some examples of identifiable body feathers Owls Partridges, pheasants and grouse Pigeons and doves Aquatic birds Bright colours Light/dark contrasts 7. Exercise in the identification of some feathers of common species A beginner’s exercise Aid to identification 8. Species descriptions Explanation of the grouping of species in the descriptions Contents of the descriptive pages Groups described Passerines Near passerines Aquatic birds of coast and wetlands Terrestrial birds of dry habitats Birds of prey Appendices Glossary Answers to the identification exercise Table of biometric data Table of numerical data used in the graphs of relative ‘large’ feather size Table of illustration credits and origin of feathers References Acknowledgements Index of English names List of scientific/English names