Perrins Christopher M., Harrison Colin James O. Birds: their Life, their Ways, their World

Pleasantville, NY: Reader's Digest Association, 1979. — 411 p. — ISBN: 0895770652.Birds are among the most captivating creatures on earth. They are arguably the most colorful animals on earth. As well, they have some of the most unique and diverse survival, feeding, breeding & rearing of young, home-building skills of all creatures, to speak nothing of their means of travel and the distances that some take from breeding to wintering grounds.
Birds: their Life, their Ways, their World covers each of these fascinating area with details at include those characteristics shared by most bird species, as well as interesting behaviors by specific species and even breeds.
176 bird families are covered, from the tiny humming bird to the huge elephant bird, and all varieties in between. The book is liberally illustrated with over 1,000 color paintings depicting such scenes as areal combat, courtship rituals, feeding, nesting, anatomy, etc.