This book is a comprehensive visual guide and reference source for over 1250 birds of America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and the Polar regions, with expert analysis of size, shape, plumage, habitat, breeding, nests, eggs and food. It is illustrated throughout with over 1800 colour artworks, maps and photographs. A natural history section, featuring habitat artworks and tips on birdwatching, examines the evolution of birds and how they use flight, habitat, predatory instincts and migration to survive in their environment. This illustrated encyclopedia of birds of the world presents 1250 of the major avian species and families in existence. All birds are grouped by habitat and type - including oceanic, estuarine, freshwater, woodland, open country and urban species - with facts about plumage, bill shapes, distribution, size, food, eggs and nests. The life cycle and behaviour of birds is unravelled in a full-colour photographic natural history section, detailing anatomy, flight, feeding, pairing and nesting, plus the key types of avian habitats and the birds you are likely to encounter in them. There are also tips on birdwatching and fieldcraft, for those who want to get a closer look at these fascinating creatures.