Amazon.com: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Handbook of Bird Biology (9780938027621): Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology: Books

Sell Back Your Copy
For a $1.42 Gift Card
Trade in
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Cornell Lab of Ornithology Handbook of Bird Biology
 
See larger image
 
Tell the Publisher!
I'd like to read this book on Kindle

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology Handbook of Bird Biology [Hardcover]

Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology (Author)
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)


Available from these sellers.


Textbook Student FREE Two-Day Shipping for students on millions of items. Learn more

Sell Back Your Copy for $1.42
Whether you buy it used on Amazon for $324.95 or somewhere else, you can sell it back through our Book Trade-In Program at the current price of $1.42.
Used Price$324.95
Trade-in Price$1.42
Price after
Trade-in
$323.53

Book Description

November 1, 2004 093802762X 978-0938027621

Call it Bird University. This gloriously illustrated volume provides comprehensive college-level information about birds and their environments in a style accessible to nonscientists and teachers the world over.

The Handbook of Bird Biology covers all major topics, from anatomy and physiology to ecology, behavior, and conservation biology. One full chapter addresses vocal communication and is accompanied by a CD of bird vocalizations. Produced by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology's world-renowned Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds, the CD illustrates key elements of bioacoustics.

The book's text was written by 12 leading ornithologists and illustrated by respected photographers and acclaimed artist John Schmitt. It includes an extensive glossary and index, a list of the common and scientific names of all birds mentioned in the text, author profiles, suggested readings following each chapter, and a complete reference section.

The Handbook serves as the backbone of the Lab's popular Home Study Course in Bird Biology, a self-paced course that can be taken from anywhere in the world, by anyone with a serious interest in birds who would like guidance from professional ornithologists.

  • Comprehensive and readable guide covering all major topics
  • Free CD of bird vocalizations enclosed
  • Extensive glossary and index
  • List of all common and scientific names
  • Suggested readings
  • Complete reference section
  • Companion to the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology's popular Home Study Course in Bird Biology

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought


Editorial Reviews

Review

If you really do want to know everything about birds, turn to the second edition of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Handbook of Bird Biology, which for really keen readers comes in conjunction with a home-study course in the subject.
(Stephen Moss The Guardian )

About the Author

Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology is a nonprofit membership institution working to understand and conserve the earth's biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 1248 pages
  • Publisher: Princeton University Press (November 1, 2004)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 093802762X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0938027621
  • Product Dimensions: 11 x 9.1 x 2.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 7.2 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #840,779 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

 

Customer Reviews

6 Reviews
5 star:
 (5)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

108 of 109 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A tour de force, January 3, 2005
By 
Eleodes (Lubbock, TX USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Handbook of Bird Biology (Hardcover)
I recently purchased the new "Handbook of Bird Biology" (hereafter, HBB) and would like to share my views of it. Published by Princeton University Press, this massive volume is a tour de force from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. I have taught university classes in ornithology for the past several years using Gill's "Ornithology" and Proctor & Lynch's "Manual of Ornithology" (both outstanding books), so I spent some time comparing HBB to these works. HBB consistently exceeded my expectations. It routinely (although not invariably) provided more details than Gill or Proctor & Lynch, and it also included topics that the other books omit. These topics (e.g. selecting binoculars, FAQs about backyard bird feeders) were typically geared more towards birding than towards classroom-based ornithology. Indeed, this was one of the main objectives of the Cornell Lab in compiling this book, to appeal to birders and not simply to students of ornithology. For example, the book includes a CD of various bird sounds (nothing that will replace proper "birding by ear" song/call guides, but useful for illustrative purposes). However, HBB is not light reading in any sense of the word. Weighing in at nearly seven pounds, it represents the proverbial "too much information" for casual birders. In addition, the book is costly (approximately $95 + tax, but that is still cheaper than purchasing even used copies of both Gill and Proctor & Lynch). It is not without its copy-editing flaws (particularly in figure captions). Its figures are solely in black-and-white (a major disappointment for me--try explaining structural colors without color examples), and many figures are taken directly from Gill or Proctor & Lynch (appropriately credited). The copy I bought (through Amazona) was missing its sound CD (sent to me by Princeton U.P. after I alerted them). The chapters are written by various authors, with little stylistic continuity (e.g. active voice in some chapters, passive in others).

These negatives do not take the luster off of a highly recommended book. If you are interested in birds but do not own an ornithology textbook, you really owe it to yourself to invest in one. I will likely require HBB instead of Gill and Proctor & Lynch in my future ornithology classes. The "Handbook of Bird Biology" will be a single source for valuable and fascinating information for years to come.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Wonderful, December 21, 2006
By 
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Handbook of Bird Biology (Hardcover)
The folks at Cornell have done it again. This is a huge book, packed full of information, but it is also a joy to read. Even though it supplies plenty of the "encyclopedic" material, it's a bit reminiscent of David Attenborough's "Life of Birds" DVD, in that it highlight some of the "gee-whiz" aspects of birds, such as egg mimicry, artistic bower construction, lymphatic penises in ducks, and so forth. There was a surprising section on nocturnal birding by ear, which I had never seen addressed. They seem to have covered every topic and then some.
If you have only a casual interest in birds, this book may be overkill, but if you are a birder or ornithology student I'm sure you'll enjoy deepening your appreciation and understanding of birds with the help of this book.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, great price, speedy shipping, June 2, 2011
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Handbook of Bird Biology (Hardcover)
When the book arrived I was pleasantly surprised that it looked practically new. It did have a few notations in it, but not a lot, and the audio cd was also included, which was not even mentioned in the description! I have not started it yet as I need it for a course, but it is exactly what I wanted. I would definitely buy from this seller again!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews




Only search this product's reviews



What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums



So You'd Like to...


Create a guide


Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject