The reed warblers : : diversity in a uniform bird family / / Bernd Leisler and Karl Schulze-Hagen ; artwork by David Quinn ; translation, Brian Hillcoat ; edited and indexed by Marie-Anne Martin.

• Author: Max-Planck-Institute für Ornithologie; Leisler, Bernd.
• TeilnehmendeR: Schulze-Hagen, Karl.; Max-Planck-Institute für Ornithologie
• Place / Publishing House: Zeist, Netherlands : : KNNV Publishing ;, [Seewiesen, Germany] : : Published in cooperation with the Max Planck Institute for Orinthology,, [2011]
• Year of Publication: 2011
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (328 pages)
• Notes: Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

To the untrained eye, all reed warblers may look alike. Anyone who takes a closer look will quickly realize that there is in fact an amazing spectrum of different ecological and adaptive strategies across the world´s 53 species. Members of the reed warbler family have been models for this diversity in a large number of biological studies of avian lifestyles. Many of these have resulted in outstanding findings and set new standards in behavioural and evolutionary ecology. The authors rise to the challenge of determining how the members of the family have diversified by comparing their relationships and ecologies. This comparative approach runs like a thread throughout this book and touches on almost all biological aspects, ranging from habitat use, competition and communication to reproduction and brood parasitism, mating systems, migration, population dynamics, island life and convergent evolution. The life strategies of these ‘little brown jobs’ exemplify some of the key topics in 21st century ornithology. • Winner of the BB/BTO Best Bird Book of the Year 2012 award • the members of the reed warbler family display an astonishing diversity in ecology and life strategies, and have been used extensively as models in research • this integrative overview combines published and unpublished information and is richly illustrated with large numbers of photographs, drawings and maps • a fascinating read for bird watchers and bird researchers alike In cooperation with Max Planck Institute for Ornithology .

Table of Contents

Preliminary material / the Reed Warblers -- Introducing the reed warblers / the Reed Warblers -- Systematics – relationships and diversification in the family of acrocephalid warblers / the Reed Warblers -- Habitat characteristics / the Reed Warblers -- Foraging, diet, and habitat use / the Reed Warblers -- Integrated ecomorphology – challenges and solutions / the Reed Warblers -- Competition and coexistence / the Reed Warblers -- A song worth warbling / the Reed Warblers -- Reed warblers reproduced / the Reed Warblers -- Coping with the Cuckoo’s trickery / the Reed Warblers -- A battle of the sexes / the Reed Warblers -- Warblers on the move and in moult / the Reed Warblers -- Our island home / the Reed Warblers -- A life of change – population and conservation issues / the Reed Warblers -- Ecological equivalents and convergence / the Reed Warblers -- Postscript / the Reed Warblers -- Acknowledgements / the Reed Warblers -- References / the Reed Warblers -- Index / the Reed Warblers.