Watching birds has become one of the most popular pastimes in the world. The beauty, variety, and courtship displays of ducks provide countless hours of pleasure for bird watchers, artists and decoy carvers.
Unfortunately, many of the more than 100 species distributed worldwide are now threatened by pollution and disappearance of their habitat.
This lavishly illustrated book by world renowned expert Paul A. Johnsgard is both a reference book and a plea for the conservation of wetlands where ducks live. The introductory text describes these areas and efforts to save them, and provides information on extinct and endangered ducks. A fascinating chapter on interpreting waterfowl behavior will appeal to all bird watchers, as will the individual duck profiles that follow.

Eacht profile contains a description of the duck's appearance, range, habits, breeding biology and population in the wild, and is accompanied by a color photograph or illustration, a range map, and a symbol indicating whether it is endangered. This collection of the world's ducks includes exotic species occurring in remote areas as well as familiar species.
A unique identification guide illustrated with head drawings of all but the rarest ducks, a glossary, a list of conservation organizations worldwide, and an index of vernacular and scientific names complete this authoritative and beautiful book.
Photography by Gary Buchler