The Behavior of Texas Birds / / Kent Rylander.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter University of Texas Press eBook-Package Backlist 2000-2013
• VerfasserIn: Rylander, Kent,
• Place / Publishing House: Austin : : University of Texas Press, , [2021]; ©2002
• Year of Publication: 2021
• Language: English
• Series: Corrie Herring Hooks Series
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (443 p.)

Whether it's the sudden, plunging dives of Brown Pelicans, the singing and aerial displays of Northern Mockingbirds, or the communal nesting of Purple Martins, innate and learned behaviors are some of the most fascinating things to observe in Texas birds. Even casual birdwatchers eventually ask, "why do they do that?" while serious birders and ornithologists seek to understand all the behaviors involved in feeding, flying, mating, and rearing young. But until now, it has been hard to find this information in one handy source. In this comprehensive, yet easy-to-use book, Kent Rylander distills data from many sources to provide an authoritative guide to the behavior of Texas birds. He begins by explaining the principles of animal behavior and illustrating how they can be applied to interpreting bird behaviors in the field. The majority of the book is devoted to accounts of more than 400 species of birds that are most likely to be encountered by Texas birdwatchers. Each account describes such behaviors as feeding, courtship, parenting, and other behaviors that are significant for that species. References to interesting and important articles from scientific journals are incorporated in the species accounts where appropriate, and line drawings illustrate some of the behaviors described.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- Abbreviations -- Species accounts -- Loons: Order Gaviiformes -- Grebes: Order Podicipediformes -- Tube-nosed Swimmers: Order Procellariiformes -- Totipalmate Birds: Order Pelecaniformes -- Herons, Ibises, Storks, American Vultures, and Allies: Order Ciconiiformes -- Screamers, Swans, Geese, and Ducks: Order Anseriformes -- Diurnal Birds of Prey: Order Falconiformes -- Gallinaceous Birds: Order Galliformes -- Rails, Cranes, and Allies: Order Gruiformes -- Shorebirds, Gulls, Auks, and Allies: Order Charadriiformes -- Pigeons and Doves: Order Columbiformes -- Parakeets and Parrots: Order Psittaciformes -- Cuckoos and Allies: Order Cuculiformes -- Owls: Order Strigiformes -- Goatsuckers and Allies: Order Caprimulgiformes -- Swifts and Hummingbirds: Order Apodiformes -- Kingfishers and Allies: Order Coraciiformes -- Woodpeckers and Allies: Order Piciformes -- Passerine Birds: Order Passeriformes -- Appendix: species not treated -- References -- Index