Humans have always been fascinated by birds. Dazzled by their colors, and soothed by their melodious songs, humans are perhaps most in awe of birds' ability to fly. Although quite uniform in anatomical terms, birds display a breathtaking diversity of color and form. The one feature that unites this diverse assemblage is the possession of feathers - the defining characteristic of birds. This beautifully illustrated book, with more than 200 magnificent color photographs and 150 original paintings, maps, and diagrams, presents a comprehensive survey of the natural history of birds. The authoritative text has been written by the world's leading ornithologists and presents the most recent scientific findings in an interesting and stimulating way. Includes an extensive index. The binding has very light wear at the corners, light wear at the spine ends, and a few bumps at the bottom front and back. ; Folio - over 12 - 15" tall