Long description:

The Migration Ecology of Birds, Second Edition covers all aspects of this absorbing subject, including migratory processes, problems of navigation and vagrancy, timing and physiological control of migration, large-scale movement patterns, the effects of recent climate change, the problems that migrants face, and the factors that limit their populations. This book provides a thorough and in-depth review of the state of the science, with the text supplemented by abundant tables, maps and diagrams. Written by a world-renowned avian ecology and migration researcher, this book reveals the extraordinary adaptability of birds to the variable and changing conditions across the globe.

This book represents the most updated and detailed review of bird migration, its evolution, ecology and bird physiology. Written in a clear and readable style, it will appeal not only to migration researchers in the field and ornithologists, but to anyone with an interest in this fascinating subject.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Methodology

Part 1. The Migratory Process
3. Migratory flight
4. Weather effects and other aspects
5. Fueling the flights
6. Incredible journeys
7. Raptors and other soaring birds
8. Migration speed, stopovers and duration of journeys
9. Finding the way
10. Vagrancy

Part 2. The timing and control of migration
11. Annual cycles
12. Control mechanisms

Part 3. Large scale movement patterns
13. Geographical patterns
14. Seasonal occupation of breeding areas
15. Sex and age differences in migration
16. Variations on a migratory theme
17. Site fidelity and dispersal
18. Irruptive migrations: boreal seed-eaters
19. Irruptive migrations: owls, raptors and waterfowl

Part 4. Evolution of movement patterns
20. Evolutionary aspects
21. Recent changes in bird migrations
22. Biogeographical legacies
23. Distribution patterns

Part 5. Migration systems and population limitation
24. The Palearctic-Afrotropical Migration system
25. The Nearctic-Neotropical migration system
26. Population limitation - breeding and wintering areas
27. Population limitation - conditions on stopover
28. Mass mortality of migrants