Birds in Flight: The Art and Science of How Birds Fly
Starred Review.  Wildlife biologist Henderson is a renowned wildlife photographer and author (Oology and Ralph's Talking Eggs). His latest is much more than the sum of its beautiful photos, answering in remarkable detail a question that has fascinated humans for eons: how birds fly. Using his photographic records of myriad species to lay out the fundamental principles of avian aerodynamics, Henderson explains how birds' bodies are structured for flight and how each species uses flight in its particular ecological niche. He describes how the morphologies of bone, feather, wing and tail combine to help birds find food, evade predators, migrate and interact with other birds. Beautifully rendered drawings by Steve Adams illustrate concepts of lift, drag, thrust and airflow, with plenty of photos showing the principles in action; one highlight is the illustration of the albatross's wingtip vortex, which creates circular airflow to provide extra lift. Other diagrams show how birds use thermals and updrafts to soar, and the unique hovering abilities of the hummingbird. Henderson's lovely, informative volume will be enjoyed by anyone who wants to learn about, or teach about, the biology and mechanics of bird flight. 150 color photos, 15 diagrams.Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.