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The Migration Ecology of Birds

  • 2nd Edition - December 2, 2023
  • Latest edition
  • Author: Ian Newton
  • Language: English

The Migration Ecology of Birds, Second Edition covers all aspects of this absorbing subject, including migratory processes, problems of navigation and vagrancy, timing and physi… Read more

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Description

The Migration Ecology of Birds, Second Edition covers all aspects of this absorbing subject, including migratory processes, problems of navigation and vagrancy, timing and physiological control of migration, large-scale movement patterns, the effects of recent climate change, the problems that migrants face, and the factors that limit their populations. This book provides a thorough and in-depth review of the state of the science, with the text supplemented by abundant tables, maps and diagrams. Written by a world-renowned avian ecology and migration researcher, this book reveals the extraordinary adaptability of birds to the variable and changing conditions across the globe.

This book represents the most updated and detailed review of bird migration, its evolution, ecology and bird physiology. Written in a clear and readable style, it will appeal not only to migration researchers in the field and ornithologists, but to anyone with an interest in this fascinating subject.

Key features

  • Features updated and trending ecological aspects, including various types of bird movements, dispersal and nomadism, and how they relate to food supplies and other external conditions
  • Contains numerous tables, maps, diagrams, a glossary, and a bibliography of more than 3,000 up-to-date references
  • Written by an active researcher with a distinguished career in avian ecology, including migration research

Readership

Ornithologists, ecologists, physiologists, biologists interested in animal movements, Advanced undergraduate or graduate students in zoology, ecology, and biology, amateur naturalists, serious birdwatchers and bird-ringers

Table of contents

1. Introduction

2. Methodology

Part 1. The Migratory Process

3. Migratory flight

4. Weather effects and other aspects

5. Fueling the flights

6. Incredible journeys

7. Raptors and other soaring birds

8. Migration speed, stopovers and duration of journeys

9. Finding the way

10. Vagrancy

Part 2. The timing and control of migration

11. Annual cycles

12. Control mechanisms

Part 3. Large scale movement patterns

13. Geographical patterns

14. Seasonal occupation of breeding areas

15. Sex and age differences in migration

16. Variations on a migratory theme

17. Site fidelity and dispersal

18. Irruptive migrations: boreal seed-eaters

19. Irruptive migrations: owls, raptors and waterfowl

Part 4. Evolution of movement patterns

20. Evolutionary aspects

21. Recent changes in bird migrations

22. Biogeographical legacies

23. Distribution patterns

Part 5. Migration systems and population limitation

24. The Palearctic-Afrotropical Migration system

25. The Nearctic-Neotropical migration system

26. Population limitation – breeding and wintering areas

27. Population limitation – conditions on stopover

28. Mass mortality of migrants

Review quotes

"This is an in-depth revision, not a light-touch update. In the preface, Newton provides a summary of the changes that have been implemented in this second edition.... The book’s 31 chapters are organized into a short introductory section followed by five main parts, achieving excellent logical ordering of content, covering: the migratory process; the timing and control of migration; large-scale movement patterns; the evolution of movement patterns; and migration systems and population limitation.... In his inimitable style, Newton synthesizes huge volumes of literature, producing a highly readable and accessible narrative, supported by vivid examples, well-designed figures, and informative tables.... The book is a pleasure to read cover-to-cover,... every chapter is self-contained, providing a succinct introduction to the subject matter at hand, a summary of main points at the end, and a complete list of references cited. I had the privilege of reading drafts of four chapters and found them superb – but the finished book is a truly remarkable feat of scholarship." Review by Christian Rutz, International Journal of Avian Science, November 2025

Product details

  • Edition: 2
  • Latest edition
  • Published: December 4, 2023
  • Language: English

About the author

IN

Ian Newton

Dr. Ian Newton is respected world-wide both as a biologist with a special interest and expertise in this subject and as a communicator. He is a seasoned and popular keynote speaker at National and International meetings, and his talks are often the high point of conferences. Ian Newton was born and raised in north Derbyshire. He attended Chesterfield Boys Grammar School, followed by the universities of Bristol and Oxford. He has been interested in birds since boyhood, and as a teenager developed a particular fascination with finches, which later led to doctoral and post-doctoral studies on these birds. Later in life he became known for his penetrating field studies of bird populations, notably on raptors. He is now a senior ecologist with the Natural Environment Research Council and visiting professor of ornithology at the University of Oxford.
Affiliations and expertise
Senior Ecologist, Natural Environment Research Council, Swindon, UK

View book on ScienceDirect

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