Birds of Paradise and Bowerbirds

<p><b>This authoritative handbook, part of the Helm Identification Guide series, looks in detail at the remarkable and diverse birds of paradise--perhaps the ultimate birders' birds.</b></p><p>This Helm Identification Guide covers the taxonomy, biology, and conservation, of birds of paradise and bowerbirds in great detail, including a series of plates packed with beautiful illustrations from Richard Allen, and hundreds of photographs covering the full range of racial and age-related plumage variety. </p><p>For any naturalist, the name "New Guinea" conjures up one group of animals above all others--the sensational birds of paradise, renowned for their dazzling and diverse plumages. This book, the first comprehensive monograph to the group this century, also includes the bower birds, a group that extends into Australia that is perhaps best known for the males' construction of "bowers," structures of twigs and sticks used to tempt in females.</p><p>The product of almost two decades of research and scholarship and a must-have book for anyone interested in these stunning birds, this will remain the standard reference on birds of paradise for many years to come.</p>