David Alderton

This comprehensive illustrated encyclopaedia of birds of the world presents a fantastic visual guide to many of the major avian species and families, from America's tiniest insect-catchers to the giant, flightless species still living on the African plains. A 420-page directory covering America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and the Polar continents features full illustrated entries for hundreds of birds, as well as detailing many other related species.

This is a beautifully illustrated guide to birds from around the world. It is a complete visual guide to birds, detailing identification, distribution, habitat, behaviour and feeding habits. The birds are grouped by continent and habitat, such as sea, estuary, lakes ponds, rivers, woodland city and garden. It describes colourful and unusual species, including boobies, rails, cotingas, toucanets, barbets, tinamous, conures, tanagers, hoatzins, finches, anis and wrens. It explains how birds evolved, their special anatomy and both flight and locomotion. It includes practical tips to help you identify birds more easily. This is a comprehensive visual guide to the major species that birdwatchers around the world may encounter, plus many rare and unusual ones as well. In your garden, in the city or on a remote seashore, birdwatching can be a fun pursuit. This book features useful information and practical tips to help you observe these intriguing creatures. With over 600 colour illustrations and photographs, this volume will prove an essential reference guide for the whole family.

The habitats of Great Britain, Europe and Africa boast some of the most interesting and adaptable members of the avian world. This accessible and fully illustrated guide presents some of the rare and familiar species of these lands. From the grace of a mute swan to the striking casque of an African crowned hornbill, each has the power to enthrall. An expert, accessible introduction explains how birds evolved, their different habitats and habits, and gives practical tips on fieldcraft. A directory of over 550 species features intricate artworks, and describes everything from variable plumage to bill shapes, distribution, size, food, eggs and nests.

This is a practical guide to caring for your pet, in step-by-step photographs. It is packed with all the essential information you need - choosing the right rabbit, preparing a home for it, what to feed it and when, and keeping your pet healthy. It includes 60 instructional and inspirational photographs. It allows young readers to make friends with their rabbit and shows them how to get the most out of being a responsible and caring pet owner. It is ideal for 5- to 9-year-olds. Owning a rabbit is a big responsibility. There is more to it than simply providing it with a home. This exciting book is a guide for young animal lovers on how best to look after a pet. Simple and helpful advice is given on preparing for your new rabbit, and how to choose the best type for you. You can learn about the different breeds, from the Netherland Dwarf to the British Giant. You can also find out how to pick up and carry your rabbit safely, how to clean out its hutch, how to groom its coat properly, and how to look after it so that it leads a long and happy life. Clear step-by-step instructions, together with appealing photographs of rabbits and their young owners, make this book both useful and fun to read.

This is a practical guide to caring for your pet, in step-by-step photographs. It is filled with useful information and guidance, from how to choose a hamster, to feeding and healthcare. It includes practical advice on how to handle your pet, what to do if it escapes, and how to keep it safe from danger, all shown in 60 easy-to-follow photographs. It is written by an internationally renowned authority on pets and their care. It is perfect for 5- to 9-year-olds, this book will enable children to make friends with their hamster and get the most out of being a responsible and caring pet owner. There is more to keeping a hamster than just providing it with a good home. Owning even the smallest pet is a big responsibility, but an enjoyable one. This fascinating book is a useful and accessible guide for young animal lovers on how best to care for their pet. It explains all you need to know about the different breeds that are available, including long- and short-haired varieties, and useful items to include in your hamster's home, such as a drinking bottle and an exercise wheel. Practical guidance is complemented by 60 instructional and inspirational photographs, showing how to pick up your pet safely, and how to clean and maintain its cage, making this the only book a junior hamster owner will ever need.

This is an authoritative family guide to caring for rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, jirds, rats, mice and chinchillas, with more than 250 photographs. It features all the practical advice you need to ensure a happy home for your small pet: choosing and buying, housing, feeding and nutrition, general care, handling, exercise, breeding, grooming and showing. It provides instructions for all the most familiar types of small pet - including smooth-coated and long-haired varieties - as well as more unusual pets such as chipmunks, spiny mice and sugar gliders. It is an authoritative guide to health care and first aid: common problems to watch out for in your pet, and what to do when things go wrong. It is an informative text from one of the subject's leading petcare experts, and fully illustrated with over 250 photographs for identification and to show how to do each practical task. Rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, jirds, rats, mice and chinchillas make excellent animal companions, particularly for children. For anyone unable to decide which pet to buy, the range and depth of information covered here will ensure an informed choice. There are descriptions of the temperament and physical characteristics of each species, and practical advice on indoor and outdoor housing, handling and exercising your pet, nutrition, grooming, showing, and pet health. Beautifully illustrated with over 250 photographs, this expertly written manual will provide all the knowledge you need to care for your pet with complete confidence.

The habitats of Great Britain, Europe and Africa boast some of the most interesting and adaptable members of the avian world. This accessible and fully illustrated guide presents some of the rare and familiar species of these lands. From the grace of a mute swan to the striking casque of an African crowned hornbill, each has the power to enthrall. An expert, accessible introductionexplains how birds evolved, their different habitats and habits and gives practical tips on fieldcraft. A directory of over 560 species features intricate artworks, and details everything from variable plumage to bill shapes, distribution, size, food, eggs and nests.

This is a practical guide to caring for your pet, in step-by-step photographs. It is packed with essential information and advice, from how to choose a dog, to feeding and healthcare. Ideal for 5- to 9-year-olds, this book will enable children to make friends with their puppy or dog and show them how to get the most out of being a responsible and thoughtful pet owner. The practical guidance is complemented by 60 wonderful photographs that highlight the many different varieties and capture the appeal of mankind's best friend. There is more to being a pet owner than just providing a good home - it is a big responsibility. This fascinating book is a guide for young animal lovers on how best to look after their pet. It tells you all about the different breeds available, preparing a home for your new puppy or dog, how to choose the best one for you, and how to look after your canine friend so that it leads a long and happy life. You can find out what to feed your pet and when, how to groom its coat properly and how to give it a bath. You will also learn how to teach your dog with the necessary basic training. With easy-to-follow instructions and appealing photographs throughout, this is the only book a junior dog owner will need.

This is a practical guide to caring for your pet, in step-by-step photographs. Filled with useful information and guidance, from how to choose a guinea pig, to feeding and healthcare, this title offers practical advice on how to groom your pet, how to know when it is unwell, and cleaning out its cage, all shown in over 60 easy-to-follow pictures. Ideal for 5- to 9-year-olds, this book will enable children to make friends with their guinea pig and show them how to get the most out of being a responsible and caring pet owner. Being a pet owner is a big responsibility. There is more to it than simply providing a good home. This informative book is a guide for junior animal lovers on how best to look after their pet. Clear advice is given on the different breeds available, preparing a home for your guinea pig, how to choose the best pet for you, and how to look after your little friend so that it leads a happy and healthy life. Find out what to feed your pet and when, and how to clean out its home. You can also learn how to handle your guinea pig safely and how to groom its coat properly. With simple step-by-step instructions and appealing photographs throughout, this is the only book a young guinea pig owner will ever need.

A complete practical guide to pet-keeping, covering all aspects of choosing and caring for kittens and cats, puppies and dogs, and popular small mammals. Each chapter features the most popular breeds in each species, based on general availability and suitability. Find out how to choose the best pet for your lifestyle plus practical tips on buying a pet; housing and exercise; foods for a balanced diet and what to do when your pet is sick.

Crossbreeding between different types of dog is not a new phenomenon, and, over recent years, interest in crossbreeding has grown, partly due to curiosity but more significantly because the role of dogs in our lives has undergone a dramatic change as they have become one of the family. As a result, breeders are seeking to create new, distinctive, friendly companion dogs that will thrive in domestic surroundings. The lovable Cockapoo is one of the oldest members of the so-called ‘designer dog' group, and, ion this essential guide, you will find everything you need to know about choosing, buying and enjoying your Cockapoo, including breed background, settling in your new arrival, establishing a daily routine and what to expect as your canine companion grows up. Over 100 illustrations – many specially commissioned – colourfully illustrate and describe these captivating dogs.