A comprehensive monograph of the skua.
Many birdwatchers may never have seen a skua; those who have will most probably have vivid memories of one or other species flying powerfully past a headland, or twisting and diving in pursuit of its piratical intentions towards a food-laden seabird - or, perhaps more memorably still, of themselves taking evasive action from the power-diving irate skua whose territory they have unwisely invaded.
The full classification of the skuas is still debated, but Dr Furness of the Applied Ornithology Unit, Glasgow University, favours six species, of two genera, with five subspecies, based on current knowledge and his own long and dedicated field studies and research.
All of the species are treated comparatively under the following chapter titles: Early history and classification, Distributions and populations, Migration patterns, Reversed sexual size dimorphism, Behaviour, Food and feeding, Kleptoparasitism, Plumage polymorphism, Breeding systems and social organisation, Breeding - laying to hatching, Breeding - hatching to fledging, Population dynamics, Pollutants, Skuas and agriculture, Skuas and conservation.
The text is supported by 100 maps and diagrams, 30 photographs and 65 tables. In addition, John Busby contributes 35 evocative drawings which more than embellish this erudite and readable summary of an impressive and diverse group of birds.
Jacket paintings by John Busby.
- 368 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub
The Skuas
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Table of contents
- Cover
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of photographs
- List of figures
- List of tables
- Acknowledgements
- Chapter 01 - Introduction
- Chapter 02 - Early history and classification of skuas
- Chapter 03 - Distributions and populations
- Chapter 04 - Migration patterns
- Chapter 05 - Reversed sexual size dimorphism
- Chapter 06 - Behaviour
- Chapter 07 - Food and feeding
- Chapter 08 - Kleptoparasitism
- Chapter 09 - Plumage polymorphism
- Chapter 10 - Breeding systems and social organisation
- Chapter 11 - Breeding: laying to hatching
- Chapter 12 - Breeding: hatching to fledging
- Chapter 13 - Population dynamics
- Chapter 14 - Pollutants
- Chapter 15 - Skuas and agriculture
- Chapter 16 - Skuas and conservation
- References
- Tables 1-65
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Yes, you can access The Skuas by Robert W. Furness in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Biological Sciences & Zoology. We have over 1.5 million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.