Birds and Ornithology: an Introduction Birds Defined Achievements for Flight Range in Size Ornithology Defined Ornithology Previewed Form, Structure, and Physiology Species and Speciation Distribution Behavior Migration and Orientation The Reproductive Cycle Longevity, Numbers, and Populations EvolutionTopography The Head The Neck The Trunk The Bill The Wings The Tail The Legs and Feet ReferencesFeathers and Feather Tracts Structure of a Typical Feather Feathers of Adult Birds Feathers of Newly Hatched Birds Feather Development The Coloration of Feathers Feather Tracts The Number of Contour Feathers on a Bird Feather Parasites ReferencesAnatomy and Physiology Part I. The Anatomy of the Pigeon Skeletal System Muscular System Respiratory and Digestive Systems Circulatory System Urogenital System Nervous System Part II. Some Anatomical and Physiological Considerations Literature Skeleton Musculature The Oil Gland Digestive System Respiratory System Circulatory System Body Temperature Urogenital System Salt Glands Endocrine Organs Special Senses and Their Organs The BrainSystematics The Species Subspecies Speciation Some Examples of Bird Speciation The Higher Categories Nomenclature ReferencesExternal Structural Characters Characters of the Bill Characters of the Tail Characters of the Wings Characters of the Feet Characters of the Plumage Miscellaneous Characters Synopsis of North American Orders and FamiliesLaboratory Identification Identification of Orders and Families Identification of Species Identification of Subspecies Key to the Orders of Birds of North America North of Mexico Key to the Families of Birds of North America North of MexicoPlumages and Plumage Coloration Sequences of Plumages and Molts Eclipse Plumage Molting in Adults Plumage-Change with Molt A Study of Plumage-Changes Abnormal Plumage Coloration Color Phases Sexual, Age, and Seasonal Differences in Plumage Coloration Uses of Plumage Coloration ReferencesDistribution Geographical Distribution Continental Insular Marine Seasonal Distribution Ecological Distribution Major Biotic Communities Seral Communities Primary and Secondary Communities Edge Effect Niches Altitudinal Distribution Life Zones ReferencesField Identification Equipment Materials Procedure Results Supplementary Guides Other Guides and ReferencesBehavior Inherited and Learned Behaviors Individual Behavior Maintenance Behaviors Selecting Habitat and Shelter Selecting Food and Feeding Playing Social Behavior Agonistic Behavior Defense Behavior Flocking Behavior Reproductive Behavior General Study Procedures Objectives of the Study The Study of Behavior ReferencesMigration Causes of Migration Preparation and Stimulus for Migration Diurnal and Nocturnal Migration Effects of Weather on Migration Regularity of Migratory Travel Irregular Migrations Reverse Migration Rate of Migratory Travel Mortality in Migration Altitudes of Migratory Travel Course of Migration and Migration Routes Altitudinal Migration Distances in Migratory Travel Flight Lanes and Concentrations Flocking during Migration Direction-Finding Aids and Additional Suggestions for the Study of Migration Study of Nocturnal Migration Study of Diurnal Migration ReferencesTerritory Classification of Territory Establishment and Maintenance of Territory Size of Territory Functions of Territory Home Range The Study of Territory ReferencesSong Functions of Song Substitutes for Song Male Songs Female Songs Mimicry Subsongs Inheritance of Song The Study of Bird Song ReferencesMating Preliminary Stages Mating Kinds of Mating Relations Duration of Mating Mating Displays The Study of Mating ReferencesNests and Nest-Building The Development of Nests Classification of Nests Identification of Nests Nest-Building False Nests Re-Use of Nests Protection of Nests Nest Fauna The Study of Nests and Nest-Building ReferencesEggs, Egg-Laying, and Incubation Size, Shape, and Coloration Identification of Eggs Number of Eggs in a Clutch Number of Clutches per Breeding Season Egg-Laying Incubation Abnormalities of Incubation Brood Parasitism The Study of Eggs, Egg-Laying, and Incubation ReferencesYoung and Their Development Hatching Development of Altricial Young Development of Precocial Young Age of Maturity for Breeding The Study of Young and Their Development ReferencesParental Care Removal of Eggshells Brooding Feeding Nest Sanitation Nest Helpers Parental Carrying of Young Defense Young-Parent Recognition Duration of Family Bond The Study of Parental Care ReferencesLongevity, Numbers, and Populations Longevity Numbers Populations Measurements of Populations Composition of Populations Fluctuations in Populations Comparison of Populations The Study of Populations ReferencesAncestry, Evolution, and Decrease of Birds Speculations on Ancestry Early Evolution Later Evolution The Number of Birds in the Past Loss of Flight The Decrease of Birds ReferencesAppendix A: Ornithological Methods Blinds for Observation and Photography Bird Photography Recording Bird Vocalizations Recording Colors of Birds and Bird Eggs Measuring Elevation of Nests and Flight Paths Marking Nest Sites, Boundaries of Territories, and Census Lines Capturing Wild Birds Banding Wild Birds Marking Wild Birds Collecting Birds Permits for Capturing, Banding, Marking, and Collecting Birds Preparing and Storing Specimens Determining the Sex and Age of Live Birds Weighing Birds Measuring Birds Attracting Birds Controlling Objectionable BirdsAppendix B: Preparation of a Paper Preparation of the Manuscript Organization Style of WritingAppendix C: Bibliographies Pertaining to OrnithologyAppendix D: Bibliography of Life History StudiesAppendix E: Selected Bibliography of Regional Works United States Canada Greenland Mexico Central America West Indies South America Atlantic Islands Europe and Asia Europe Asia Africa Australia, New Zealand, and Islands of the Western Pacific Marine BirdsAppendix F: Books for General Information and Recreational ReadingAppendix G: Current Ornithological Journals North American ForeignAppendix H: Clutch Sizes, Incubation Periods, and Ages at FledgingAppendix I: Ectoparasites of Birds: a Brief ReviewIndex