The Megapodes: MegaPodiidae (Bird Families of the World) First Edition

Mostly dull grey and secretive, megapodes are hardly among the most popular birds to watch - though there are spectacular exceptions like the extraordinary Maleo of Sulawesi.However, their breeding ecology is like that of no other birds - like reptiles, they dig their eggs in the ground or in specially-built incubation mounds.This has always made them among the most interesting birds in my eyes, and I was always pleased to be able to observe individuals of the several species I saw in Indonesia and the Philippines. Most sightings were by chance, often on remote offshore islands or when hiking in rugged interior mountains. No less interesting - and far easier to locate - were their huge incubation mounds, or some well-known nesting grounds where they gathered in masses, like the beach near Simau village on Halmahera Island.But observing these shy birds in the wild was always a difficult task, so I was very pleased to be able to obtain all information about their life, status and taxonomy I could think of in this extremely thoroughly-written book.Highly recommended to anyone interested in this very special group of birds.