The Love Lives of Birds: Courting and Mating Rituals

From the lifelong devotion of the American crow to the dalliances of the eastern bluebird, from the delicate berry exchanges of cedar waxwings to the male ruby-throated hummingbird's reputation as a "deadbeat dad," courtship, mating, and parenting differ dramatically among birds. In this book, ornithologist and author Laura Erickson offers a fun and fascinating look at the most private corner of birds' existence -- their romantic lives -- through beautifully illustrated profiles of 35 individual species. Erickson reveals the remarkable diversity of birds' mating habits as well as their different styles of parenting their young and varying levels of commitment to their partners. Connecting birds' habits to those of their human voyeurs -- such as the Jane Austen-like social stratification of the black-capped chickadee's courtship or the chemistry-filled duets of the northern cardinal -- deepens the distinctiveness of each species' character, while Erickson's depth of knowledge delivers rich scientific insight and observations. The Love Lives of Birds is a romance-fueled romp that will captivate birdwatchers and nature lovers of all stripes.