The Origin and Evolution of Birds [Hardcover]

Prof. Alan Feduccia (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 25, 1996

This text is a comprehensive and illustrated discussion of the origin of birds and of avian flight. Ornithologist and evolutionary biologist Alan Feduccia, author of "Age of Birds," here draws on fossil evidence and studies of the structure and biochemistry of living birds to present knowledge and data on avian evolution and propose a model of this evolutionary process. Feduccia begins with an overview of bird evolution, giving his opinions about the controversial problem in verte-brate paleontology: whether birds evolved directly from bipedal, terrestrial dinosaurs (the ground-up theory) or from the precursors of dinosaurs - perhaps small arboreal thecodonts (the trees-down theory). He then provides information about the origin of avian flight and feathers and discusses the most dramatic discoveries in avian paleontolgy of the past few decades - the "opposite birds" that were the dominant landbirds of the Mesozoic. Feduccia next offers a theory of avian evolution during the Tertiary, arguing that the evolution of birds follows a pattern similar to that of mammals, with an explosive (rather than gradual) evolution lasting only 5 to 10 million years. In the second half of the book he summarizes the evolution of all the modern orders of birds, discussing such subjects as the evolution of filter-feeding in ducks and flamingos, the evolution of flightlessness, the evolution of birds of prey and the rise of landbirds. The book also includes reconstructions of ancient fossil birds that have been prepared by bird artist John O'Neill.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Feduccia (Catesby's Birds of Colonial America, LJ 10/15/85) draws from his career as a noted paleontologist to provide a comprehensive review of the current information on vertebrate evolution, explaining the rise of modern-day birds. From the earliest fossil records to the specialized forms of today (flightless birds, raptors, wading birds, and perching birds), prominent theories are evaluated through the author's scientifically conservative "facts only" perspective. The theory that hot-blooded, intelligent dinosaurs were early ancestors is debunked, and the accepted "ground-up" evolution of birds is reversed with an innovative "tree-down" hypothesis. Relationships between existing species are assessed through the principles of evolutionary convergence and adaptive radiation. This fact-filled, well-illustrated, and accurate work will enthrall serious science readers, but the technical vocabulary will put off casual browsers. Highly recommended for educated lay readers interested in ornithology, dinosaurs, or evolution.?Frank Reiser, Nassau Community Coll., Garden City, N.Y.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press; 2nd edition (September 25, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300064608
• ISBN-13: 978-0300064605
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #637,373 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #25 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Paleontology > Vertebrate

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, March 18, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Origin and Evolution of Birds (Hardcover)

The Origin and Evolution of Birds is an excellent ornithological text. The views on the evolution of Aves are very good. However, where this book is most controversial is the discussion of the origin of birds. Feduccia does not subscribe to the generally accepted theory that birds are derived from dinosaurs. Most of the evidence he sites against this hypothesis has been refuted, so take caution in the first two chapters. The rest of the book is an excellent synopsis of bird evolution up to 1996. Though some of his classifications in the tables are conservative, the book discusses the evolution of bird groups very well. The section on the land birds can be considered a classic text. The other bird evolution chapters are very good as well. Feduccia even gives a good case for conservation. The book is all together, excellent.

13 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Ornithologist talks on dinosaurs, June 24, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Origin and Evolution of Birds (Hardcover)

This is a very interesting book which is roughly composed of two parts. One concerns the origin of bird & hypothetical development of flight. The other is of earlier birds from Cretaceous onward.
As for the second part, it's enjoyable with interesting & exciting discoveries.
On the contrary, the first part especially against the dinosaur-bird origin theory, it's rather disgusting. (I'm on the side of that theory)
His incisive hostility (maybe personal?) degrades author's personality. Unfortunately his refutations are out of point. The worse is that those reveal his lack of information or knowledge about the recent advanced study with extraordinary high pitch of dinosaurs.
If one tries to step in other's territory, should be fully prepared & equipped with the most updated data instead of superficial & only intuitive ones.
His alternative hypothesis (arboreal ancestral form) is needed much much more investigation & observation of the existent animals and analysis of their mechanism. Otherwise no supporter of dinosaur-bird theory would convert himself to his follower.