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Ten Thousand Birds provides a thoroughly engaging and authoritative history of modern ornithology, tracing how the study of birds has been shaped by a succession of visionary and often-controversial personalities, and by the unique social and scientific contexts in which these extraordinary individuals worked. This beautifully illustrated book opens in the middle of the nineteenth century when ornithology was a museum-based discipline focused almost exclusively on the anatomy, taxonomy, and classification of dead birds. It describes how in the early 1900s pioneering individuals such as Erwin Stresemann, Ernst Mayr, and Julian Huxley recognized the importance of studying live birds in the field, and how this shift thrust ornithology into the mainstream of the biological sciences. The book tells the stories of eccentrics like Colonel Richard Meinertzhagen, a pathological liar who stole specimens from museums and quite likely murdered his wife, and describes the breathtaking insights and discoveries of ambitious and influential figures such as David Lack, Niko Tinbergen, Robert MacArthur, and others who through their studies of birds transformed entire fields of biology.
Ten Thousand Birds brings this history vividly to life through the work and achievements of those who advanced the field. Drawing on a wealth of archival material and in-depth interviews, this fascinating book reveals how research on birds has contributed more to our understanding of animal biology than the study of just about any other group of organisms. Winner of the 2015 PROSE Award in History of Science, Medicine & Technology, Association of American Publishers One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2014 "A definitive, accessible and sumptuously illustrated primer of biological theory past and present... An inspiring and formidable resource for the historian as well as the fledgling scientist."--Helen Macdonald, Times Literary Supplement "Compulsively readable."--Ben Sheldon, Nature "Attention bird lovers: you will certainly want to add this attractive volume to your reference shelf... What makes this book so desirable ... is its authoritative review of the most pivotal discoveries in avifauna of the last 150 years, especially as they fit into broader general themes of science."--Laurence Marschall, Natural History Magazine "An excellent history of the study of birds in modern times."--Matt Merritt, Bird Watching "'Hugely impressive' it truly is and it deserves the widest audience."--Bo Beolens, Fatbirder "A riveting, entertaining, enlightening and frequently inspirational read... I imagine that Ten Thousand Birds: Ornithology since Darwin is a book which will be bought by every professional or amateur ornithologist the world over. Almost certainly it will be on a wish list of many, many amateur and professional naturalists, whether their specialty is birds, bees, butterflies or other more esoteric disciplines."--Phil Slade, Another Bird Blog "Lovingly well-researched and beautifully written... Definitive, absorbing and highly recommended."--Adrian Barnett, New Scientist "The authors have walked that fine line between superb research and scientific context, and making their work palpable for mere humans. This a book for the ornithologists obviously, but also for all scientists, for teachers, and even the adventurous. It's for biographers, editors, and writers. Serious readers will also probably enjoy this too."--Alan Speakman, eBirdseed.com "It's inspiring to see that research is able to shake up our understanding of things we 'know' to things that 'are.' If you are someone who appreciates the science behind birds, you will love this book. Even if you're a scientific history buff with a casual fancy for birds, you'll enjoy this book. With a beautiful cover, crisp illustrated timelines, and gorgeous chapter paintings, this book will hold a solid spot on any bookshelf."--Steve Brenner, Nemesis Bird "This is a masterly overview of a broad and complex subject, comprehensive and well written... It should be required reading for ornithology students, providing an essential context for their studies, but it will also appeal to the general reader and birdwatcher too, providing ample confirmation of the contribution which ornithological science has made to our understanding of birds and the wider natural world."--Andy Stoddart, Rare Bird Alert "An account that will delight anyone who has studied birds or has an interest in their myriad forms."--Mike Toms, BBC Wildlife Magazine "It should be required reading for ornithology students, providing an essential context for their studies, but it will also appeal to the general reader and birdwatcher too, providing ample confirmation of the contribution which ornithological science has made to our understanding of birds and the wider natural world."--North Norfolk Birds "The book is as fascinating about the messy business of doing science as it is about the progression of ideas... The book's vast scope inevitably leaves the reader wanting more, which is of course the best way to be beguiled."--Claire Spottiswoode, Times Higher Education "All those interested in birds will enjoy reading it."--Gerry Rising, Buffalo News "I absolutely love this book as I'm fascinated about the advancement we have made and are making in avian biology and behavior. I have always watched and read almost anything I can find on birds over the years and I simply couldn't put this book down as its such an original idea for a book."--Gadget Girls "The book is also full of useful information. It's chock-full of interesting facts about birds and about how their study has evolved, making it essential reading for the ornithologically minded."--Bob Grant, Scientist "[The] three authors present an enormous amount of information both easily readable and thoroughly engaging, and illustrate the importance of the contributions of individuals throughout history as well as the story of ornithology itself. This is a landmark achievement for the study of ornithology and even those with just a casual interest in birds will lose themselves in these pages."--Birding Business "The amount of scholarship and research done by these authors is astounding and the book is an amazingly enlightening, readable and enjoyable tome of over 500 pages... This is not a book for bird listers. It is a book for anyone fascinated about birds as organisms in dynamic ecosystems. And it is especially for those interested in how science progresses historically. I highly recommend Ten Thousand Birds for all students and practitioners of biological or ecological sciences and research, for conservationists and naturalists, and for anyone interested in the who, why, how, and when of ornithological research. I was captivated."--Dan Kunkle, Wildlife Activist "This is the best history of ornithology ever... [The authors] explain the often complex, theoretical, or detailed schools of thought and research about birds in entertaining and authoritative ways. Their four-and-a-half-pound monograph is richly illustrated and thoroughly referenced... What might have been a clunky, laborious catalog of often arcane academic endeavors is instead very readable and comprehensible, as well as comprehensive... Most highly recommended for academic and larger public libraries and for all interested in nature and science."--Henry T. Armistead, Library Journal "This is an excellent primer on the movers and shakers of modern avian research but remains readable throughout... There are useful timelines in each chapter showing the development of each strand of ornithology during recent history and plenty of interesting digressions which do not distract from the main thrust of the book. For an understanding of how we got to where we are in today's ornithological world, there are few better guides."--David Callahan, Birdwatch Magazine "A detailed review of the history of ornithology and chronicles the major breakthroughs in the past 150

Ten Thousand Birds: Ornithology since Darwin

Preface vii Chapter 1 Yesterday's Birds 1 Chapter 2 The Origin and Diversification of Species 43 Chapter 3 Birds on the Tree of Life 75 Chapter 4 Ebb and Flow 117 Chapter 5 Ecological Adaptations for Breeding 161 Chapter 6 Form and Function 201 Chapter 7 The Study of Instinct 245 Chapter 8 Behavior as Adaptation 287 Chapter 9 Selection in Relation to Sex 323 Chapter 10 Population Studies of Birds 355 Chapter 11 Tomorrow's Birds 389 Afterword 425 Appendix 1: Some Histories of Ornithology 431 Appendix 2: Five Hundred Ornithologists 434 Notes 443 References 467 Index 497 Image Credits 519