With her enchanting watercolor images and hand-written text, artist and author Maryjo Koch has recorded the most remarkable facts about birds from all over the world. The extraordinary structure of a bird's wing, the sturdy complexity of its nest, and the beauty and perfection of its eggs are revealed in illustrations of remarkable accuracy and sensitivity; The artist's text - which covers topics such as migration, courtship patterns, and evolutionary adaptations as well as details about specific birds - is drawn from her own observations in the field as well as from literature, scientific writings, and mythology; She shows us, and describes, the graceful flight of a swallow, the nectar-sipping of a hummingbird, the long migration of an arctic tern, the architecture created by the bower bird, the grounded gait of an ostrich and kiwi, the shape and camouflage of a plover's egg, and hundreds of other marvels in the lives of birds. A glossary of terms and a source list for additional information are included.

Discover the world's birds, their homes, and their eggs in this gorgeously illustrated, entertaining, and educational guide. Did you know that the tailorbird "sews" leaves together to make its nest? Or that hummingbird eggs are the size of jellybeans? Birds are some of the world's most beautiful and interesting creatures, and their nests and eggs are no exception, displaying a stunning diversity of shapes, sizes, functions, and materials. In Nests, Eggs, Birds, celebrated artist and author Kelsey Oseid explores the fascinating ins and outs of where and how dozens of avian species--robins, birds of paradise, crows, owls, penguins, and more--make their homes and lay their eggs. Full of striking naturalistic art and fun scientific facts, Nests, Eggs, Birds will delight bird lovers of all ages.

From the brilliantly green and glossy eggs of the Elegant Crested Tinamou—said to be among the most beautiful in the world—to the small brown eggs of the house sparrow that makes its nest in a lamppost and the uniformly brown or white chickens’ eggs found by the dozen in any corner grocery, birds’ eggs have inspired countless biologists, ecologists, and ornithologists, as well as artists, from John James Audubon to the contemporary photographer Rosamond Purcell. For scientists, these vibrant vessels are the source of an array of interesting topics, from the factors responsible for egg coloration to the curious practice of “brood parasitism,” in which the eggs of cuckoos mimic those of other bird species in order to be cunningly concealed among the clutches of unsuspecting foster parents. The Book of Eggs introduces readers to eggs from six hundred species—some endangered or extinct—from around the world and housed mostly at Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History. Organized by habitat and taxonomy, the entries include newly commissioned photographs that reproduce each egg in full color and at actual size, as well as distribution maps and drawings and descriptions of the birds and their nests where the eggs are kept warm. Birds’ eggs are some of the most colorful and variable natural products in the wild, and each entry is also accompanied by a brief description that includes evolutionary explanations for the wide variety of colors and patterns, from camouflage designed to protect against predation, to thermoregulatory adaptations, to adjustments for the circumstances of a particular habitat or season. Throughout the book are fascinating facts to pique the curiosity of binocular-toting birdwatchers and budding amateurs alike. Female mallards, for instance, invest more energy to produce larger eggs when faced with the genetic windfall of an attractive mate. Some seabirds, like the cliff-dwelling guillemot, have adapted to produce long, pointed eggs, whose uneven weight distribution prevents them from rolling off rocky ledges into the sea. A visually stunning and scientifically engaging guide to six hundred of the most intriguing eggs, from the pea-sized progeny of the smallest of hummingbirds to the eggs of the largest living bird, the ostrich, which can weigh up to five pounds, The Book of Eggs offers readers a rare, up-close look at these remarkable forms of animal life.

Purcell captures the diverse beauty, quirkiness and allure of eggs and the remarkable resourcefulness of birds, focusing on the intricacy of nests and the aesthetic perfection of bird eggs.--Kurt Shaw, "Pittsburgh Tribune Review."

In her book Nesting Instincts, Maryjo Koch, the author and illustrator of the best-selling Bird Egg Feather Nest, blends her compellingly realistic artwork of birds, their nests, and their lifestyle with traditional wisdom and advice to create an inspirational and delightful celebration of home and family. From prenesting courtship to nest building and sitting, then on through hatching and caring for the chicks, Nesting Instincts is a warm reminder of the joys, both great and small, of parenthood as illustrated through Koch's superb watercolor artwork. Nesting Instincts is the perfect gift for fans of Koch's realistic depictions of nature's beauty, as well as for moms of all varieties, from those just building their nests to those who lovingly keep their chicks safe and well fed.

This first look at robins follows a full year of growth and change: how the birds develop inside their egg during the spring, how they mature from chicks into fledglings in the summer, how they learn to fly in the fall, and how they leave for warmer climes in winter—only to return when spring comes around again. 1995 Best Children’s Science Books (BL)

Each pocket-size volume in the Eyewitness Handbooks series contains over 500 specially commissioned photographs. A quick reference identification key introduces the reader to the subject and guides him through the book. In addition, the introductory section of each volume informs enthusiasts of all ages how to take their interest one stage further.