Bird Nests and Construction Behaviour

Mike Hansell, Raith Overhill

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Year: 2000
• ISBN:
  9781139118231
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Zoology
• Index: Biological Sciences

Bird Nests and Construction Behaviour provides a broad view of our understanding of the biology of the nests, bowers and tools made by birds. It illustrates how, among vertebrates, the building abilities of birds are more impressive and consistent than for any other builders other than ourselves, yet birds seem to require no special equipment, and use quite uncomplicated behaviour. In doing so, the book raises general issues in the field of behavioural ecology including the costs of reproduction, sexual selection and the organisation and complexity of behaviour. Written for students and researchers of animal behaviour, behavioural ecology and ornithology, it will nevertheless make fascinating reading for architects and engineers interested in understanding how structures are created by animals.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Acknowledgements
• 1 Animal builders and the importance of bird nests
• 2 The clutch–nest relationship
• 3 Standardising the nest description
• 4 Construction
• 5 The functional architecture of the nest
• 6 The cost of nest building
• 7 The selection of a nest site
• 8 Bowers, building quality and mate assessment
• 9 The evolution of nest building
• References
• Author index
• General index
• Species index