Christopher Perrins is a distinguished ornithologist, the author of many popular and scholarly books on birds, and a fellow of the Royal Society. A former professor of ornithology at the University of Oxford and former director of the Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, he is currently a fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford.

"The Princeton Encyclopedia of Birds" is a comprehensive and lavishly illustrated reference to the world's birds. Accessibly written by renowned biologists and conservationists, and illustrated in color throughout, the book provides authoritative and systematic accounts of every bird family, covering form and function, distribution, diet, social behavior, breeding biology, and conservation and status. More than 1,000 superb color photos reveal the enormous diversity of birds in their natural habitats, from arctic tundra to tropical rain forest, and a wealth of beautifully detailed color and line illustrations depict representative species from each family and highlight characteristic behaviors. The main articles are complemented by detailed coverage of special topics, such as how ibises and spoonbills feed by touch, how pigeons find their way home, and how crows store food. And throughout the book, numerous 'Factfile' panels with color distribution maps and scale drawings provide at-a-glance overviews of key data. "The Princeton Encyclopedia of Birds" is the definitive one-volume reference - an essential guide for amateur bird enthusiasts and professional ornithologists alike. This work: covers all the bird families of the world; describes form and function, distribution, diet, social behavior, breeding biology, and conservation and status; features more than 1,000 spectacular color photos and illustrations; includes 'Factfile' panels with color distribution maps and scale drawings for at-a-glance reference; explores special topics in depth; and, is written by leading biologists and conservationists.