Astonishing Bird Stories and Facts describes 130 of the most unusual and bizarre bird tales, claimed to be true. It covers avian heroes, talking champions, smart birds, famous birds, birds with unusual skills, birds with bizarre interests, funny birds, bird behaviour which led to tragedies, bird friendship with other animals, man and bird friendship and birds in war. It also includes descriptions of the strangest bird species and avian record breakers.

(back cover) For lovers of birds and trivia, this captivating book features a wealth of fascinating facts, figures, and folklore about our feathered friends. It's beautifully illustrated throughout with colorful artworks, photographs, and diagrams. Over 400 nuggets of information drawn from nature, science, history, and mythology are sure to astound, amuse, and entertain Find the answers to these burning questions: How light is a feather? Are owls really wise? Why do birds migrate? How do they know where to go? Be amazed by the weird world of these winged wonders, from the largest ever recorded egg--equivalent to 220 chicken eggs--to the world's strangest bird, which has claws on its wings Includes practical advice such as how to attract birds to your garden and how to teach a parrot to talk, and encourages a new appreciation of these awesome creatures of the air (front flap) Birds are the most homogeneous and recognizable of all animal groups--they all have feathers and lay eggs, many sing, and most fly. In almost any environment, whether in a town or the countryside, it is difficult not to see numerous types of bird. Of all outdoor hobbies, bird-watching is growing at the fastest rate, and many people enjoy keeping birds as pets. Because birds are colorful, vocal, and daylight-loving creatures, they have been observed and studied for thousands of years. From carvings in Egyptian caves to today's movies and books, bird images are everywhere. And for good reason--they are fascinating. They hear and see much better than humans can, have developed the power of flight, and are found everywhere in the world except the center of Antarctica. As homogeneous as they are, many birds have diversified in amazing ways, from penguins that incubate their eggs on top of their feet for 60 days to brush turkeys that do not sit on their eggs at all, and from the giant albatross of the oceans to the tiny hummingbird of the tropics. A treasure trove of varied information, this book provides the answers to many puzzling questions about our feathered friends. With its entirely random organization, Amazing Birds is perfect for browsing through and stumbling upon unexpected nuggets of fascinating information juxtaposed with strange stories and practical tips. (back flap) Dr. Roger Lederer is Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences at California State University, Chico, where he has taught for more than 30 years, including courses in ornithology, conservation, and ecology. Dr. Lederer has given many public presentations and workshops, and has published more than 30 scientific papers and books, including two field guides to birds. Focusing on environmental education in recent years, Dr. Lederer served as the first Jack Rawlins Professor of Environmental Literacy at California State University, Chico.

For lovers of birds and trivia, this captivating book features a wealth of fascinating facts, figures, and folklore about our feathered friends. It’s beautifully illustrated throughout with colorful artworks and photographs. · Over 400 nuggets of information drawn from nature, science, history, and mythology are sure to astound, amuse, and entertain· Find the answers to these burning questions: How light is a feather? Are owls really wise? Why do birds migrate? How do they know where to go?· Be amazed by the weird world of these winged wonders, from the largest ever recorded egg—15 times larger than an ostrich egg—to the world’s strangest bird, which has claws on its wings· Includes practical advice such as how to attract birds to your garden and how to teach a parrot to talk, and encourages a new appreciation of these awesome creatures of the air

Award-winning author and wildlife photographer Stan Tekiela presents a fascinating and surprising collection of facts about birds, paired with his full-color photography.

'No budding ornithologist should be without Matt Sewell's Atlas of Amazing Birds... sumptuous illustrations and brief captions tell us all we need to know.' The Telegraph Matt Sewell, creator of Our Garden Birds, presents his personal selection of the most amazing birds from around the world, with dazzling watercolour illustrations, witty and informative descriptions and maps of every continent. Did you know that the bald eagle holds the record for the world's biggest nest - weighing more than two tons? When the elf owl gets into trouble, it plays dead rather than fighting? The Adelie penguin can hold its breath for six minutes and leap up to three metres out of the water? Discover these and many more fascinating facts in this fabulous and beautiful book. Every bird chosen to appear in this book is amazing in its own individual way - birds that migrate thousands of miles, have strange and showy mating rituals, survive in extreme environments, are brilliant builders, are super-fast, super-brave or super-big! Sections on each continent - Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia, North America, South America and Antarctica - include maps to pore over. Travel the world to see magnificent eagles, resilient penguins, tiny hummingbirds, towering ostriches, stunning peacocks and many more. Colourful, clever, song-filled, strange and stunning - this book is a celebration of bird life!

Discover the birds that live all around us! Kids love learning about nature, and birds are a very important and amazing part of it! They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. They live in trees, bushes, and skies of your town, park, and even your own backyard. With the help of this beautiful book your child will learn: Where to spot birds How to identify them Their shapes and sizes Their favorite foods Helpful "spying" techniques And much more! All they'll have to do is look and listen to discover how amazing and beautiful these creatures are! So get ready for fun, and let's go see what we can find! Encourage your child's curiosity and help them discover all the wonders nature has to offer! Whether you live in a small town or in the heart of a large city, "My Backyard Bird Book" will help your child to become a bird expert or even a "Junior Backyard Ornithologist" in no time!