Around the World in 80 Birds

by Mike Unwin, Ryuto Miyake (Illustrator)

Overview

This beautiful and inspiring book tells the stories of 80 birds around the world: from the Sociable Weaver Bird in Namibia which constructs huge, multi-nest 'apartment blocks' in the desert, to the Bar-headed Goose of China, one of the highest-flying migrants which crosses the Himalayas twice a year.

Many birds come steeped in folklore and myth, some are national emblems and a few have inspired scientific revelation or daring conservation projects. Each has a story to tell that sheds a light on our relationship with the natural world and reveals just how deeply birds matter to us.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780857828958
Publisher:	Laurence King Publishing
Publication date:	07/19/2022
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Mike Unwin is an award-winning writer of popular natural history books for adults and children. He writes for The Daily Telegraph, The Times, BBC Wildlife, Travel Africa, as well as the RSPB and WWF. Also a widely published photographer, his travels have taken him to every continent in search of its birds and other wildlife.

Table of Contents

Introduction 8

The Birds

Africa

Shoebill, Balaeniceps rex, Uganda 12

Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Buphagus africanus, Tanzania 14

Greater Honeyguide, Indicator indicator, Zambia 16

Sociable Wearer, Philetairus socius, Namibia 19

Purple-crested Turaco, Tauraco porphyreolopbus, Eswatini 20

Bateleur Eagle, Terathopius ecaudatus, Zimbabwe 22

Palm-nut Vulture, Gypohierax angolensis, The Gambia 27

White-necked Picathartes, Picathartes gymnocephalus, Sierra Leone 28

Lesser Flamingo, Phoeniconaias minor, Kenya 30

Common Ostrich, Struthio camelus, Botswana 34

Cape Sugarbird, Promerops cafer, South Africa 38

Helmet Vanga, Euryceros prevostii, Madagascar 40

Eurasia

Common Nightingale, Luscinia megarhyncbos, France 42

Common Swift, Apus apus, United Kingdom 45

European Robin, Erithacus rubecula, United Kingdom 49

Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica, Austria 52

Common Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus, Germany 54

White Stork, Ciconia ciconia, Germany 56

Common Raven, Corvus corax, Finland 60

Common Eider, Somateria mollissima, Iceland 62

Atlantic Puffin, Fratercula arctica, Iceland 67

Little Owl, Athene noctua, Greece 71

Alpine Chough, Pyrrhocorax graculus, Switzerland 72

Bearded Vulture, Gypaetus barbatus, Spain 74

Hoopoe, Upupa epops, Italy 77

Arctic Tern, Sterna paradisaea, Norway 78

Steller's Sea-eagle, Haliaeetus pelagicus, Russia 80

Golden Eagle, Aquila chrysaetos, Mongolia 83

Bar-headed Goose, Anser indicus, China 86

Golden Pheasant, Chrysolophus pictus, China 90

Japanese Crane, Grus japonensis, Japan 92

North America

Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos, USA 96

Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, USA 98

Greater Sage Grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus, USA 101

Purple Martin, Progne subis, USA 102

Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, USA 104

Common Loon, Gavia immer, Canada 108

Snow Goose, Anser caerulescens, Canada 110

Great Grey Owl, Strix nebulosa, Canada 112

Greater Roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus, Mexico 116

Crested Caracara, Caracara cheriway, Mexico 118

Green Jay, Cyanocorax luxuosus, Mexico 121

South and Central America

Hoatzin, Opisthocomus boazin, Guyana 122

Hyacinth Macaw, Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus, Brazil 127

Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Rupicola peruvianus, Peru 128

Resplendent Quetzal, Pharomachrus mocinno, Guatemala 130

Andean Condor, Vultur gryphus, Chile 134

Torrent Duck, Merganetta armata, Bolivia 139

Sword-billed Hummingbird, Ensifera ensifera, Ecuador 140

Tororoi Bailador, Grallaricula sp., Colombia 143

Harpy Eagle, Harpia harpyja, Panama 144

Oilbird, Steatornis caripensis, Venezuela 148

Scarlet Ibis, Eudocimus ruber, Trinidad 151

Rufous Hornero, Furnarius rufus, Argentina 152

South and Southeast Asia

Gurney's Pitta, Hydrornis gurneyi, Myanmar 154

Helmeted Hornbill, Rhinoplax vigil, Indonesia 157

Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, Urocissa ornata, Sri Lanka 161

Red Junglefowl, Gallus gallus, Thailand 162

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Dicrurus paradiseus, India 164

Brahminy Kite, Haliastur indus, India 166

Common Tailorbird, Orthotomus sutorius, India 169

Sarus Crane, Antigone antigone, Cambodia 170

Malayan Peacock-pheasant, Polyplectron malacense, Malaysia 175

Nicobar Pigeon, Caloenas nicobarica, Nicobar Islands 176

Philippine Eagle, Pithecophaga jefferyi, Philippines 178

Australasia

Southern Cassowary, Casuarius casuarius, Australia 182

Satin Bowerbird, Ptilonorhynchus violaceus, Australia 187

Budgerigar, Melopsittacus undulatus, Australia 189

Laughing Kookaburra, Dacelo novaeguineae, Australia 190

Kakapo, Strigops babroptila, New Zealand 192

North Island Brown Kiwi, Apteryx mantelli, New Zealand 194

Superb Bird-of-paradise, Lophorina superba, Papua New Guinea 196

Oceans and Islands

Emperor Penguin, Aptenodytes forsteri, Antarctica 198

Wandering Albatross, Diomedea exulans, South Georgia 202

Wilson's Storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus, South Shetland Islands 206

Magnificent Frigatebird, Fregata magnificens, Caribbean 208

Short-tailed Shearwater, Ardenna tenuirostris, Babel Island 210

White tern, Gygis alba, Seychelles 213

Blue-footed Booby, Sula nebouxii, Galápagos Islands 214

Brown Skua, Stercorarius antarcticus, Falkland Islands 217

Where to go next 218

Index 221

Editorial Reviews

"Rather than compiling an exhaustive bird identification guide, conservationist Unwin focuses here on 80 species, selected for their visual impact, unique abilities, cultural importance, and rarity... Miyake’s charming illustrations are crucial and add enjoyment." - Library Journal

"Unwin’s evocative prose is a perfect match for the vivid illustrations. This will be a hit with birdwatchers of all stripes." - Publishers Weekly Starred Review

"Around the World in 80 Birds by Mike Unwin and illustrated by Ryuto Miyake is a gorgeous and informative book featuring 80 birds from across the globe." - Out Traveler

"Fascinating and informative, this text will appeal to lay readers and bird enthusiasts alike." - Booklist

"Many descriptive bird facts and folklore make Around The World In 80 Birds a fascinating book that belongs on all bird-lovers shelves." – Chasing Clean Air

"This book not only contains a plethora of information about birds around the world, it also has beautiful, full-color illustrations by Ryuto Miyake. These illustrations show the different life stages of birds from chick to adult and how the birds live in their environments." –Columbia Daily Tribune

From the Publisher