Handbook of Bird Biology (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)

Well written and comprehensive educational book on birds!! Great for anyone wanting to have a greater understanding about birds in the wild and those wanting to take classes on line with Cornell University Bird Academy!! Awesome classes!

This is an excellent textbook. It’s very readable for self-study if you are scientifically inclined. I’m using it as a companion to the Cornell Ornithology Lab’s online course.

I have taken a college-level course in ornithology, which requires this textbook. This textbook here covers the whole spectrum on the study of our fine, feathered friends, the birds. The textbook covers everything, such as bird classification, bird anatomy, bird physiology, bird flight, bird migrations, bird feather structures, bird feeding, bird vocalizations, bird habitats, bird courtship, bird nesting, and bird conservation just to name some topics. I can say that I have learned a whole lot about birds from this textbook. This textbook is well-divided into many chapters and sections, and it contains a great multitude of pictures and subsections. Though the book doesn't contain absolutely everything about birds (that's what the more-specialized ornithology textbooks are for), for those who want to start learning about birds at a college-level, this textbook is for you. Also, this textbook is quite long; but again, if you're serious about ornithology and you're at an entry-level into the science, here's the textbook to start with. If there is more to say, this textbook helped me appreciate birds even more than before going through all the reading material.

This comprehensively written and superbly illustrated book on ornithology from the Cornell Lab of Bird Biology (published by Wiley) is the pinnacle of avian education for the general population of bird lovers (ornithologists without degrees) out there. Reading this book is the next best thing to actually becoming an ornithologist. However, the reference to "handbook" in the title is a misnomer; this hefty hardcover book contains over 700 pages and includes just about everything you would ever want to know about birds. Although it's written for bird enthusiasts, a high school graduate or junior college reading level is required. In fact, some colleges have adopted previous versions of this book for its introductory course in ornithology, and this new edition is destined to become the authoritative resource for the first- or second-year college student. I would positively recommend this marvelous work for anyone who desires more than a basic education about birds. Although this book covers a great deal of "scientific" information, it is easily readable and understandable at the recommended reading level. By reading this book from cover-to-cover, you can justifiably call yourself a citizen ornithologist in my humble opinion. If you love birds, you will definitely love this book!

I am using this textbook with my highschool aged son who is interested in Ornithology. It's is filled to the brim with lots of info and photos on bird biology. He is really enjoying this textbook.

Handbook of Bird Biology is The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's textbook for its university level online course. It is one of the best written university textbooks I have ever used. It provides clear, plain language explanations with full-color photographs, charts, and tables. In addition, it links to extensive online resources. You do not have to be a university student or professional ornithologist to learn from this complete reference to all things bird. Its only drawback: at 6 1/2 lbs. I can only read it at a table!

Book is all about the biology and life history of birds. This edition introduces colored pictures which is a great addition. Anyone looking to know more about birds in general or wanting to know more in dept information, this is a great book. The font is a bit small but that is all. Overall, well worth the wait from the 3rd ed.

This is an absolutely fantastic book! There is a ton of information in its 650+ pages. Gorgeous illustrations, detailed charts, extremely clear and well-written, I am impressed. Having some familiarity with biology/zoology is helpful to process the information provided, but by no means necessary. I am not an ornithologist, nor an academic, but I do have a science background so many of the concepts are not entirely new to me. An understanding of ornithology is a great way to enter the wider field of biology, ecology, and ultimately the place of humans in the universe. Birders should get this book. Politicians should too. Shell out the $$ it's worth every cent.

Excellent text, clear and many images to assist

Absolutely worth the price-tag if you're serious about learning everything about birds all over the world. Very thorough, and for those wanting to take the course, a must have! My only disappointment is the cover photograph. I wish it was a little brighter because Birds Of Paradise are such gorgeous creatures. A brighter, crisper cover shot would also provide more of a sense of the lush, dense forests of Papua New Guinea these birds inhabit. But it's a great book and will be my go-to reference always.

This is a splendid textbook of bird biology. I have read most of one chapter, it's not a cover to cover read, but enough to comment I think. I am a reasonably scientifically literate biologist: the book is very accessible, clear, very well illustrated and shows evidence of excellent editing to my eye. I'm not an expert bird biologist, and of course much of the content is new to me, but it is easy to follow and to understand, and the presentation makes it memorable! It's a bit heavy to read in bed! Sadly the packing was poor, the book rattled and the corners were bashed about - see picture. Also problems with the delivery, which were only overcome after an excellently handled phone call. Unusual in my experience with Amazon. Nevertheless delighted with the purchase.

Ce n'est pas un livre banal, ni bon marché d'ailleurs. Indispensable pour qui s'intéresse aux oiseaux. Des références scientifiques abondantes, des chapitres sur tout ce qui concerne la biologie des oiseaux. J'aurais aimé que la livraison et surtout l'emballage Amazon soit de la qualité du livre. A la place, même pas de remise en main propre, un simple carton et aucune protection. Lamentable. Résultat: la reliure en état moyen, mais je n'ai même pas envie de retourner cet objet au vu du traitement. Par contre, j'y réfléchirai à deux fois pour une commande de livre chez Amazon.

This is the best bird biology book one can have. Pricey and priceless.