Harriers are a charismatic group of birds of prey with a worldwide distribution that have long fascinated bird watchers and scientists. Here for the first time the biology of the world's harriers is treated within one over, in readily accessible language. There are detailed comparisons of northern and southern species, descriptions of mating systems and population dynamics life histories, and insights into the selection pressures shaping the birds' life histories. The author addresses such questions as how females choose partners against their apparent self- interest, how they adjust to...

Birds are hosts to many parasites, internal and external. The parasites inevitably form a burden to the host bird and therefore may affect its ability to grow, survive and reproduce as well as its behavior and the abundance and distribution of the whole species. As a consequence, bird-parasite systems have attracted attention from diverse fields. This book draws together a comprehensive range of experts in the field to provide an invaluable reference of current work in bird-parasite interactions. The book addresses the contemporary context of research in bird-parasite systems, and case...