Books in the Poyser Monographs series

The Barn Swallow is one of the most widely distributed bird species, breeding in North America, Europe, Asia and North Africa and wintering in South America, southern Africa, southern Asia and even northern Australia. This book examines various aspects of the life of this bird, with chapters on its flying skills and feeding habits, and more.

This monograph on the Golden Eagle covers all aspects of this species' biology and ecology. The author has worked on eagles in Scotland for more than 15 years and these studies provide the foundation for a treatment which also includes information from work in North America, continental Europe and elsewhere.

For its size, Kenya probably has the most diverse range of habitats of any country in Africa, if not the world. Within its borders there are alpine peaks, montane forests, high plateaux, savannas, lowland forests, coastal woodlands and wetlands, and a string of varied lakes in the Great Rift Valley. The range of wildlife to be found in the region is correspondingly diverse. this book explores the wildlife and habitats in great detail and gives a thorough overview of Kenya''s natural history.

The Eagle Owl is one of the largest owls in the world, and is considered the most eclectic in terms of habitat, nest site and diet. An undisputed top predator, it can prey on a range of mammals up to the size of a fox, and almost every species of bird, reptile, amphibian and fish, as well as a wide spectrum of invertebrates. Surprisingly, this owl can breed almost anywhere, the female laying her eggs on a variety of natural and artificial structures over an array of altitudes. Despite being so adaptable, however, it is still a vulnerable species, and has suffered widely from persecution as well as other threats including electrocution on power lines, decreasing prey availability, the effects of pesticides and pollutants, and habitat alteration. Vincenzo Penteriani and María del Mar Delgado have studied this fascinating bird extensively across its vast Eurasian range. In this book, they detail its intriguing ecology, covering distribution, foraging and breeding behavior, interspecific interactions, dispersal and conservation issues. The final two chapters provide a remarkable insight into vocal and visual communication. Scientists have long believed that owls and other crepuscular and nocturnal birds forgo the visual signals found in other avian species, but recent research on the Eagle Owl has suggested otherwise.Bringing together more than 30 years of research, The Eagle Owl tells a story rich in detail of one of the most thrilling and magnificent birds in the world.

A common sight around the more northerly shores of the British Isles, the Common Eider is the largest duck in the northern hemisphere. The eider is particularly well adapted to cold-water environments; the insulating properties of eider down are iconic. The species is taxonomically interesting, with a range of well-marked subspecies reflecting the patterns of ice coverage during ancient glaciations, and these ducks have also provided the focus for a number of important behavioral studies, especially on feeding ecology and energy budgets.Eiders have a long association with humans, and have deep cultural significance in many societies. However, modern lifestyles are exposing these ducks to a wide range of new pressures.This monograph provides a comprehensive portrait of the Common Eider; authors Chris Waltho and John Coulson bring together an extensive and diverse international literature, with sections on taxonomy, habitats, breeding biology, population dynamics, diet and foraging, dispersal and migration, and conservation.

This is the first monograph on one of the most beautiful and admired birds in the world. The Gyrfalcon is the world's largest and most powerful falcon - a truly awe-inspiring bird which inhabits the ferociously inhospitable Arctic taiga, from Greenland and Iceland right across Siberia and northern Canada.

This guide is fascinating reading for everyone who has an interest in migration and vagrancy in Britain, has made the journey to see any of the birds concerned, or has ever dreamed of finding a 'first' of their own.

A large and spectacular bird of prey, the Goshawk lives in boreal forests throughout the Northern hemisphere. The Goshawk is an authoritative yet highly readable monograph of the species.

The arrival of thousands of Bewick's Swans from their Arctic breeding grounds to lakes and wetlands throughout northern and eastern Britain is an unforgettable sight. Telling the story of these birds, this monograph showcases one of the flagship species of wetland conservation in Britain.

A detailed, authoritative yet highly readable monograph on one of Britain's best-loved farmland birds, the Lapwing.

An authoritative yet highly readable monograph on one of Britain's rarest yet most spectacular breeding birds, the Golden Oriole. This is the latest title in the acclaimed series of Poyser monographs.

A detailed monograph on an iconic bird of tropical wetlands around the world, the flamingo.