United States
£ GBP
Feral pigeons are among the most familiar and abundant birds in the world, and yet they are rarely the subject of study. This monograph focuses on the population, biology, and behavioural ecology of feral pigeons, and includes an extensive bibliography.
PART I: HISTORY AND SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGY; Introduction; 1. Size, shape, and genetic variation in pigeon populations; PART II: REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY AND DIET; 2. Breeding seasons in feral pigeons; 3. Mate choice and pair bonding; 4. Nestsites and nestbuilding; 5. Eggs; 6. Brood Reduction; 7. Development: nestlings; 8. Development: fledglings; 9. Diet; PART III: PLUMAGE AND FLIGHT; 10. Plumage polymorphism; 11. Maintenance and molt of plumage; 12. Flight; PART IV: BEHAVIOR; 13. Social Behavior; 14. Pigeon colonies; 15. Orientation and navigation; PART V: POPULATION STUDIES; 16. Reproductive success and mortality; 17. Abundance and density; PART IV: SOME ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS; 18. Heavy metals and other pollution; 19. Aspects of the biotic environment; 20. Control of pigeon populations; PART VII: PEOPLE AND PIGEONS
"This is a detailed account of feral pigeon history and systematic biology, reproduction and diet, plumage and flight, behavior, population studies, selected environmental concerns, and the relationship of people with pigeons. There are numerous references and a detailed index. Illustrations are drawings, charts, graphs, maps, and black and white photographs. There is much interesting information about this very successful bird in this book. highly recommended."--Wildlife Activist
"It is about time that a book like this one filled the gap in our knowledge and appreciation of feral pigeons. . . .The topics covered in greatest detail by the book are morphological and genetic variation, together with reproductive biology; large amounts of primary data and analyses are given in table and figure form which should make the book useful to specialists. . . . It stands as an important reminder that, to understand and prevent the disappearance of animals that don't do well in our changing
