Harriers of the World : Their Behaviour and Ecology

Synthesises and analyses the masses of data on the behavioural ecology of harriers. This work offers a comparison of breeding systems among harriers in the northern and southern hemispheres, and includes a phylogeny of the harriers, based on DNA findings. It is illustrated with line drawings of these impressive birds.

Harriers are a charismatic group of birds of prey with a worldwide distribution that have long fascinated bird watchers and scientists. Here for the first time the biology of the world''s harriers is treated within one cover, in readily accessible language. There are detailed comparisons of northern and southern species, descriptions of mating systems and population dynamics life histories, and insights into the selection pressures shaping the birds'' life histories. The author addresses such questions as how females choose partners against their apparent self- interest, how they adjust to prevailing circumstances to produce the optimal clutch size, and what underlies variations in size dimorphism and copulation patterns. New information resulting from a DNA examination of the group reveals three new harrier species and allows construction of a new phylogeny of the harriers. The book is brought to life by fine original line drawings of these impressive birds by the author''s twin brother. It will be a treat for all raptor biologists, amateur raptophiles, and behavioural ecologists interested in temperate-tropical comparisons.