Stray Feathers: Reflections on the Structure, Behaviour and Evolution of Birds - Softcover

"RECOMMENDATION: If you have an interest in the natural history of Australian birds, you'll want this book."--Ian Paulsen (09/01/2011) "Stray Feathers is an appropriate, yet accurately ambiguous title for this volume. Olsen and Joseph, both experienced writers and ornithologists, have produced a series of vignettes addressing a wide range of topics, all fouced on evolution of structure and behavior in Australian birds. The individual entries range from a few sentences in length to essays covering two pages, and nearly all are accompanied by beautifully executed black-and-white drawings. The entries are loosely combined into focused "chapters", the titles of which are generally explantaory... The result, snapshots of Australian bird life, is not meant specifically to be a reference volume. The writing is well done and the topics are very interesting. True bird lovers will like this book. Academic libraries with strong ornithological holdings will want a copy. Summing Up: Recommended."-- (06/01/2012)

Stray Feathers showcases some of the remarkable adaptations of Australian birds. A brief introduction describes how evolution shapes form and function, followed by a series of vignettes illustrating the wondrous variety of forms and functions shaped by evolution. For example, did you know that barn owls can hunt in absolute darkness and that cuckoos commence incubation before their egg is laid?