Current Ornithology

1 Form and Function in Avian Flight.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Flapping Flight Aerodynamics.- 2.1. Airfoil Action and Force Generation.- 2.2. Thrust from Flapping Wings.- 2.3. Vortex Action in Flapping Flight.- 2.4. Wingbeat Kinematics in Flying Birds.- 2.5. Theoretical Models of Flapping Flight Mechanics.- 2.6. Scaling and Avian Flight.- 2.7. Von Helmholtz’s Scaling Theory.- 3. Ecology and Wing Morphology in Flying Birds.- 3.1. Allometry of Wing Size.- 3.2. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) of Wing Morphology.- 3.3. The Mosaic of Adaptation.- 3.4. Comparison of Birds and Bats.- 3.5. Why Do Ducks Have Small Wings?.- 3.6. The Flight Muscles: Pectoralis and Supracoracoideus.- 4. Evolutionary Constraints on Flight Adaptation.- 4.1. The Energy Margin and the Upper Limit to Size.- 4.2. Scaling of Wingbeat Frequency.- 4.3. Constraints on Morphological Adaptation.- 4.4. Flight Morphology and Fitness.- References.- 2 Magnetic Orientation in Birds.- 1. The Magnetic Field of the Earth.- 1.1. Spatial Distribution of the Geomagnetic Field.- 1.2. Temporal Variations of the Magnetic Field.- 1.3. Experimental Magnetic Fields.- 2. The Magnetic Compass of Birds.- 2.1. Functional Characteristics.- 2.2. A Widespread Mechanism among Birds.- 2.3. Perception of Magnetic Fields.- 3. Role of the Magnetic Compass in Bird Orientation.- 3.1. The Magnetic Compass in Homing.- 3.2. The Magnetic Compass in Migratory Orientation.- 3.3. The Magnetic Compass as a Directional Reference System.- 4. Noncompass Use of the Magnetic Field.- 4.1. Controlling the Course of Migration.- 4.2. Magnetic Parameters in the Navigational “Map”.- References.- 3 Temporal Patterns of Pair Formation and Reproduction in Annual Cycles and Associated Endocrinology in Waterfowl.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Strategies of Reproduction and Breeding Patterns in Waterfowl.- 3. A Brief Review of Avian Endocrinology.- 3.1. The Hypothalamus and Hypothalamic Releasing Hormones and Factors.- 3.2. The Pituitary and Associated Hormones.- 3.3. Inhibitory Feedback by Steroids.- 3.4. Stimulatory Feedback by Steroids.- 3.5. Other Hormones Relevant to Reproduction.- 4. Summary of the Major Components of the Annual Cycle.- 5. Temporal Patterns of Molt in Waterfowl.- 5.1. Molt Chronology.- 5.2. Endocrine Correlates of Molt.- 6. Autumnal Gonadal Recrudescence.- 7. Autumnal Migration.- 7.1. Autumnal Migratory Chronology.- 7.2. Endocrine Correlates of Migration.- 8. Winter Period of Initial Pair Formation.- 8.1. Temporal Patterns of Pair Formation and Reproduction.- 8.2. Male Courtship and Reproductive Activity.- 8.3. Female Receptivity to Male Courtship.- 8.4. Mate Choice and Pair Formation in Waterfowl.- 9. Vernal Premigratory Changes and Early Migration.- 9.1. The Role of Photoperiod.- 9.2. Temporal Patterning of Pulsatile Hormone Release.- 9.3. Importance of the Timing of Nutrient Acquisition, Molt, and Spring Migration on Subsequent Time of Nesting.- 10. Late Spring Migration and Arrival on the Breeding Grounds.- 10.1. Social Factors Regulating Reproduction.- 10.2. Influence of the Flock and Social Facilitation on Reproduction.- 11. Nesting and Egg Laying.- 11.1. Clutch Size and Seasonal Patterns of Egg Laying.- 11.2. Genetic and Environmental Determinants of Reproductive Traits.- 11.3. Physiological Mechanisms and Endocrine Correlates of Egg Laying.- 12. Incubation and Renesting.- 12.1. Incubation and Renesting Behavior.- 12.2. Endocrine Correlates of Incubation and Renesting.- 13. Seasonal Decline and Termination of the Reproductive Phase.- 14. Summary.- References.- 4 Female-Biased Philopatry, Monogamy, and the Timing of Pair Formation in Migratory Waterfowl.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Waterfowl Breeding Systems.- 3. Why Monogamy, Early Pairing, and Female Philopatry?.- 3.1. Female Mate Choice.- 3.2. Female-Biased Philopatry.- 3.3. Influence of Inbreeding on Dispersal.- 3.4. Philopatry and Lifetime Monogamy in Swans and Geese.- 4. The Timing of Pairing in Winter.- 4.1. Mate Testing.- 4.2. Diet and the Timing of Pairing.- 4.3. Male-Male Competition and Pairing Date.- 4.4. Timing of Pairing and Accumulation of Nutrients.- 4.5. Male Costs and Female Benefits.- 5. Summary.- References.- 5 Colony Formation in Seabirds.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Formation of Colonies on Previously Used Sites.- 2.1. Site of Pair Formation.- 2.2. Appearance of Birds on the Nesting Site.- 2.3. Development of the Nest Site.- 2.4. Formation of Spatial Structure of Nesting Settlements.- 3. Formation of New Colonies.- 3.1. Colonization of New Colony Sites.- 3.2. Midseason Colony Site Changes.- 4. Supplementary Remarks on Colony Structure.- 4.1. Center and Edge Correlates of Colony Structure.- 4.2. Demographic Correlates of Colony Structure.- 4.3. Distributional Correlates of Colony Structure.- 5. Ecological and Social Factors in Colony Formation.- 5.1. Environmental Correlates of Nest Site Selection.- 5.2. Density-Dependent Correlates of Nest Site Selection.- 5.3. Behavioral Correlates of Nest Site Selection.- 5.4. Interaction of Ecological and Behavioral Correlates on Nest Site Selection.- 6. Concluding Remarks.- References.- 6 Mitochondrial DNA of Birds.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Isolation Procedures.- 3. Methods of Comparison.- 3.1. Restriction Fragment Analysis.- 3.2. Restriction Site Mapping.- 3.3. DNA Sequencing.- 4. Genome Size.- 5. Gene Mapping.- 6. Maternal Phylogenies.- 7. Intraspecific Comparisons.- 8. Interspecific Comparisons.- 9. Rates of Molecular Evolution in Birds.- 9.1. Controversy.- 9.2. Utility of mtDNA.- 9.3. Rates of mtDNA Evolution.- 9.4. Rates of mtDNA Evolution in Geese.- 10. Hybrid Zones and Gene Flow of mtDNA.- 11. Prospects.- References.- 7 Nongame Bird Conservation.- 1. Citizen Support.- 2. Funding.- 3. Planning.- 4. Data Acquisition and Data Management.- 5. Coordination.- 5.1. Intraagency Coordination.- 5.2. Interagency Coordination.- 5.3. Coordination with Private Organizations.- 6. Information and Education.- 7. Habitat Management.- 8. Species Management.- 9. Summary.- References.- 8 Experimental Design in Ornithology.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Can Ornithology Be Scientific?.- 3. Different Methods of Science.- 4. Internal and External Validity.- 5. Statistics and Experimental Design.- 5.1. What to Measure: The Dependent Variable.- 5.2. What to Manipulate: The Independent Variable.- 5.3. What to Control, What to Randomize: Secondary Variables.- 6. The Dual Problems of Subjects: Selection and Assignment.- 6.1. Counterbalancing.- 6.2. Within-Versus Between-Subject s Designs.- 6.3. Order Effects in Within-Subject Designs.- 6.4. Minimizing Residual Effects in Within-Subject Designs.- 6.5. Matched-Pairs Designs.- 6.6. Factorial Designs.- 7. Quasiexperimental Designs.- 8. Doing Research: A Recipe.- 9. Further Reading.- 10. Concluding Remarks.- References.- 9 Description of Bird Behavior for Comparative Purposes.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Description of Behavior.- 2.1. Descriptive Frames of Reference.- 2.2. Behavioral Units and Categories.- 2.3. Variation.- 2.4. Construction of Ethograms.- 3. Concluding Comments.- References.- Author Index.- Bird Name Index.