Feral Pigeons

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Oxford University Press, 1995 - 320 pagini
Feral pigeons are among the most familiar and abundant birds in the world, urban creatures living in close association with humans yet possessing the characteristics of highly adapted wild birds. Although domesticated pigeons have long been a major model for laboratory research, feral pigeons are rarely the subject of study. This definitive monograph focuses on the population, biology, and behavioral ecology of feral pigeons, including a thorough listing of primary references of U.S. and European scholarly literature. Professional and amateur ornithologists, pigeon breeders, and students will find this an invaluable and fascinating study of birds whose ancestry includes familiar breeds of domesticated birds.

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Origin and evolution of feral pigeons
3
Size shape and genetic variation in feral pigeons
17
Breeding seasons in feral pigeons
45
Mate choice and pairbonding
56
Nestsites and nestbuilding
69
Eggs
76
Incubation hatching and cropmilk
96
The brood reduction strategy
102
Flight
174
Social behavior
189
Pigeon colonies
201
Orientation and navigation
207
Reproductive success and mortality
215
Abundance and density
227
Heavy metals and other pollutants
239
Aspects of the biotic environment
248

nestlings
111
fledglings
126
Diet
135
Plumage polymorphism
147
Feather maintenance and the molt
167
Control of pigeon populations
257
People and pigeons
269
References
281
Index
309
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Termeni și expresii frecvente

Pasaje populare

Pagina 289 - Harris H and DA Hopkinson 1976 Handbook of Enzyme Electrophoresis in Human Genetics. North-Holland, Amsterdam.

Informații bibliografice