The Unfeathered Bird
Author(s): Katrina van Grouw
There is more to a bird than simply feathers. And just because birds evolved from a single flying ancestor doesn't mean they are structurally all the same. With over 385 stunning drawings depicting 200 species, "The Unfeathered Bird" is a richly illustrated book on bird anatomy that offers refreshingly original insights into what goes on beneath the feathered surface. Each exquisite drawing is made from an actual specimen and reproduced in sumptuous large format. The birds are shown in lifelike positions and engaged in behavior typical of the species: an underwater view of the skeleton of a swimming loon, the musculature of a porpoising penguin, and an unfeathered sparrowhawk plucking its prey. Jargon-free and easily accessible to any reader, the lively text relates birds' anatomy to their lifestyle and evolution, examining such questions as why penguins are bigger than auks, whether harrier hawks really have double-jointed legs, and the difference between wing claws and wing spurs. A landmark in popular bird books, "The Unfeathered Bird" is a must for anyone who appreciates birds or bird art.
It features: a unique book that bridges art, science, and history; over 385 beautiful drawings, artistically arranged in a sumptuous large-format book; accessible, jargon-free text - the only book on bird anatomy aimed at the general reader; drawings and text all based on actual bird specimens; includes most anatomically distinct bird groups; and many species never illustrated before.
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The 300+ drawings--of skinned birds, their muscular and skeletal anatomy exposed in lifelike poses--are extraordinary, a sort of 2-D bird 'Body Worlds.'... [The text is] lucid, colloquial, packed with information, and leavened with humor, it brings a grasp of bird evolution and adaptation within any reader's reach... A magnificent--and accessible--monograph on biodiversity. -- Annie Gottlieb Scientist
Katrina van Grouw is a former curator of the ornithological collections at London's Natural History Museum, a taxidermist, an experienced bird bander, a successful fine artist, and a graduate of the Royal College of Art. She is the author of "Birds", a historical retrospective of bird art, published under her maiden name Katrina Cook. The creation of "The Unfeathered Bird" has been her lifetime's ambition.
Acknowledgments viii A Note about Names x Introduction xii Part One: Generic The Trunk 2 The Head and Neck 8 The Hind Limbs 14 The Wings and Tail 19 Part Two: Specific I Accipitres 30 Vultures 32 Birds of Prey 35 Owls 44 II Picae 52 Parrots 54 Turacos and Others 58 Kingfishers 62 Hornbills and Allies 65 Toucans and Barbets 70 Woodpeckers 74 Hummingbirds 80 III Anseres 84 Waterfowl / Domestic Waterfowl 86 Penguins 104 Loons 114 Grebes 119 Albatrosses, Petrels, and Storm Petrels 124 Tropicbirds and Frigatebirds 132 Pelicans 136 Gannets 139 Cormorants and Darters 144 Gulls, Terns, Skimmers, and Skuas 150 Auks 154 IV Grallae 162 Flamingos 164 Herons 167 Shoebill 173 Storks, Ibises, and Spoonbills 174 Cranes 181 Rails 185 Kagu 190 Waders 192 V Gallinae 202 Gamebirds / Domestic Fowl 205 Screamers 220 Hoatzin 223 Ostrich, Kiwis, and Other Ratites 226 Tinamous 237 Bustards 239 Sandgrouse 242 Dodo and Solitaire 244 VI Passeres 248 Pigeons / Domestic Pigeons 250 Nightjars 258 Swifts 263 Passerines 266 Index 284
General Fields
- :
- : Princeton University Press
- : Princeton University Press
- : 01 November 2012
- : 305mm X 254mm
- : United States
- : 01 November 2012
- : books
Special Fields
- : Katrina van Grouw
- : Hardback
- : 598
- : 304
- : 385 duotones/color illus.
