Unlike any other book, Avian Cognition thoroughly examines avian intelligence, behavior, and individuality. Preferences, choices, motivation, and habits of species, flocks, and individual birds are discussed and compared. This book investigates who birds are and why they do what they do. Daily, seasonal, and play activities, creativity, reasoning abilities, problem-solving skills, social interaction, life stages, and communication patterns are described, and a distinction is made between vocalizations that are learned and those that are inherited. The behavior and intelligence of both wild and pet birds is compared, and unlike other books, entire chapters are devoted to a single species.
"This is an engaging, well-written description of Herrmann’s observations and interpretation of the behavior of individual birds, both wild and companion...[and] offers insightful descriptions of behavior by an experienced, sensitive observer. This book is easy to read and copiously illustrated. It is a good gift for lovers of wild or companion birds." — M. Gochfeld, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in CHOICE, October 2016 Vol. 54 No. 2 "More than 30 individual birds and 15 species from different countries around the world were studied over a 30 year period, resulting in an amazing amount of information. Both psittacines and non-psittacines are included within this valuable research work, which makes this book appealing to all those interested in ornithological issues whether psittacines or not.… Avian Cognition examines all aspects of a bird’s life in an effort to help understand intelligence, behaviour and individuality. Therefore, everything about an individual bird or bird species is presented in the same chapter.… The final chapter discusses avian communication patterns providing background information for the two audio CDs that come with the book.…The numerous colour photographs (over 150) illustrate, through short range shots, subtle nuances of behaviour…. If you are serious in learning about the intelligence, behaviour and individuality of birds, then this is an essential read. It will also help to reinforce the relationship you have with your own birds, whether companion or breeding. This hardback…contains a vast amount of information, which bird keepers will find invaluable." — John Catchpole, Parrots Magazine, November 2016 "This is an engaging, well-written description of Herrmann’s observations and interpretation of the behavior of individual birds, both wild and companion...[and] offers insightful descriptions of behavior by an experienced, sensitive observer. This book is easy to read and copiously illustrated. It is a good gift for lovers of wild or companion birds." — M. Gochfeld, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in CHOICE, October 2016 Vol. 54 No. 2 "More than 30 individual birds and 15 species from different countries around the world were studied over a 30 year period, resulting in an amazing amount of information. Both psittacines and non-psittacines are included within this valuable research work, which makes this book appealing to all those interested in ornithological issues whether psittacines or not.… Avian Cognition examines all aspects of a bird’s life in an effort to help understand intelligence, behaviour and individuality. Therefore, everything about an individual bird or bird species is presented in the same chapter.… The final chapter discusses avian communication patterns providing background information for the two audio CDs that come with the book.…The numerous colour photographs (over 150) illustrate, through short range shots, subtle nuances of behaviour…. If you are serious in learning about the intelligence, behaviour and individuality of birds, then this is an essential read. It will also help to reinforce the relationship you have with your own birds, whether companion or breeding. This hardback…contains a vast amount of information, which bird keepers will find invaluable." — John Catchpole, Parrots Magazine, November 2016
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