Ornithology [Hardcover]

Frank B. Gill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 6, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0716749831 | ISBN-13: 978-0716749837 | Edition: Third Edition

Ornithology is the classic text for the undergraduate ornithology course, long admired for its biological/evolutionary approach to bird science.  The new edition--the first revision in 10 years--maintains the scope and expertise that made the book so popular while incorporating a tremendous amount of new research and updating its exquisite program of drawings and photographs.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

FRANK B. GILL, University of Pennsylvania, USA.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 720 pages
• Publisher: W. H. Freeman; Third Edition edition (October 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0716749831
• ISBN-13: 978-0716749837
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.9 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,916 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Zoology > Ornithology

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Could not put it down...., May 30, 2001

By 

Dr. Lee D. Carlson (Baltimore, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ornithology (Hardcover)

This superb book was such fun to read and it is packed full of interesting and thought-provoking information. Space prohibits a chapter-by-chapter review so I will list the things in the book that I found very interesting: 1. The plumage color patterns of dawny young shorebirds. 2. DNA hybridization experiments and evolutionary tree of herons. 3. Geese flying in formation to save energy. 4. The use of thermals by a gliding vulture to counteract sinking. 5. The unique landing abilities of birds: rotation of center of mass upward to stall directly over the landing site. 6. Vortex creation by beating wings of pigeons and kestrels. 7. Respiratory abilities of birds. 8. High metabolic rates of frizzled chickens. 9. Discussion on avian intelligence. 10. The detection of natural magnetic fields using rhodopsin. 11. Use of echolocation for navigation; asymmetry of ear placement in the owl to pinpoint sound source. 12. The avian taste for chili peppers. 13. Birds having two independent voices. 14. Individual spacing behavior while perching. 15. The nests of swallows reflecting their evolutionary history. 16. Insurance egg laying by penguins and boobies.17. The restoration of the peregrines. 18. The illustrations of the birds of the world in the appendix. 19. The enormous bibliography. This is definitely a book to be read by students and those interested in ornithology. An incredible book.......

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bird Biology at its Best!, July 20, 2001

By 

Bob Shepherd (Rio Vista, California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ornithology (Hardcover)

I searched for a textbook on ornithology that I could use in association with the Bird Biology Home Study Course that I was planning to take through Cornell University. I found the textbook at Amazon.com. The information in this textbook is absolutely wonderful! Frank Gill presents an "encyclopedia" of information in an easy-to-read, comprehensible format. Anyone interested in the serious study of bird biology will want to add this textbook to his or her bookshelf. Within the next few months, I will reread this textbook again. How many textbook readers can honestly state that they would reread any textbook in its entirety? Every chapter intrigued and delighted me. I will be actively searching for more books by Frank Gill, based upon the presentation of materials in Ornithology, 2nd edition.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid Reference Text, July 6, 2000

By 

David Argent (Bellefonte, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ornithology (Hardcover)

Gill's book provides an indepth coverage of many topics important to the field of Ornithology. The illustrations clearly reinforce material in the text. I especially like the introductory paragraphs at the start of each chapter, they really set a nice tone for the material to follow. If you are looking for a good introductory or refernce text to enhance your ornithological knowledge, consider Gill's text.