Synopses & Reviews
Penguins are perhaps the most beloved birds. On land, their behavior appears so humorous and expressive that we can be excused for attributing to them moods and foibles similar to our own. Few realize how complex and mysterious their private lives truly are, as most of their existence takes place far from our prying eyes, hidden beneath the ocean waves. This stunningly illustrated book provides a unique look at these extraordinary creatures and the cutting-edge science that is helping us to better understand them. Featuring more than 400 breathtaking photos, this is the ultimate guide to all 18 species of penguins, including those with retiring personalities or nocturnal habits that tend to be overlooked and rarely photographed.
A book that no bird enthusiast or armchair naturalist should do without, Penguins includes discussions of penguin conservation, informative species profiles, fascinating penguin facts, and tips on where to see penguins in the wild.
- Covers all 18 species of the world's penguins
- Features more than 400 photos
- Explores the latest science on penguins and their conservation
- Includes informative species profiles and fascinating penguin facts
Review
"Beautiful. . . . If you are into birds, you probably don't have a penguin book, so this will fill the bill. As it were. This is also one of those books that totally qualify as a great present to give someone you know who has an interest in birds generally, or penguins in particular. I should also mention that there are a couple of pages in the back on where to see penguins."--Greg Laden's Blog
Review
"Yes, it's another penguin book. But there never seems to be enough for penguin aficionados! Still, Penguins: the Ultimate Guide by Tui De Roy, Mark Jones, and Julie Cornthwaite might just fulfill the promise of its subtitle. . . . Penguins: the Ultimate Guide is part coffee-table book, part informative essays, and part species profiles for each of the 18 species. Moreover, the 400+ photos are gorgeous . . . until further notice, this may be 'the ultimate guide' to penguins and their lives."--Birding Community E-Bulletin
Review
"Of the many books on perennially popular penguins, this is far and away the best, by any standard. . . . An outstanding gem. Most highly recommended for all interested, whether the lay public or scientists, in natural history and Antarctic and sub-Antarctic places."--Henry T. Armistead, Library Journal starred review
Review
"Penguins: The Ultimate Guide IS the ultimate guide to penguins. With more than 400 pictures detailing all 18 penguin species on Earth, this book will educate and delight you. While it is a bona fide bird book, Penguins: The Ultimate Guide is also a beautiful coffee table book that would make a great gift for any wildlife lover."--Gabriel Thoumi, MongaBay.com
Review
"The three primary authors are noted wildlife photographers, and their expertise shines in beautiful pictures, many of them at close range, culled from 15 years of penguin encounters. . . . This is a fascinating guide that is suitable for most libraries."--Elaine Lindstrom, Booklist
Review
"If you're tempted to wonder if the world really needs another book about penguins, don't. It does, especially when it comes from renowned photographer Tui De Roy and her collaborators Mark Jones and Julie Cornthwaite. . . .[I]t is truly the ultimate guide to the world's penguins."--Birdwatching
Review
"Ms. De Roy has swum, walked and slept amid penguins wherever they can be found on the tenuous tonsure of land, ice and rock around the Southern ocean. The book presents surreal tableaux: Neon-orange necks of king penguins glow against a blubbery carpet of sleeping elephant seals. . . . This beautiful book can only fuel readers' passion to preserve these astonishing birds, and for that, the authors must be lauded."--Wall Street Journal
Review
One of the Birder's Library Best Bird Books of 2014
One of the StarTribune/Lifestyle's Best Birding Books of 2014
Review
"[F]or those who love these iconic, oddly endearing birds--and who doesn't? - this book is almost as good as an expedition to see them in the flesh."--Natural History
Review
"Just to flip through the pages to enjoy the photos is a pleasure. The accompanying scientific and natural history facts make it an educational experience as well."--R.E.H., Wildlife Activist
Synopsis
A spectacular photographic guide to these marvelous and enigmatic birds
Penguins are perhaps the most beloved birds. On land, their behavior appears so humorous and expressive that we can be excused for attributing to them moods and foibles similar to our own. Few realize how complex and mysterious their private lives truly are, as most of their existence takes place far from our prying eyes, hidden beneath the ocean waves. This stunningly illustrated book provides a unique look at these extraordinary creatures and the cutting-edge science that is helping us to better understand them. Featuring more than 400 breathtaking photos, this is the ultimate guide to all 18 species of penguins, including those with retiring personalities or nocturnal habits that tend to be overlooked and rarely photographed.
A book that no bird enthusiast or armchair naturalist should do without, Penguins includes discussions of penguin conservation, informative species profiles, fascinating penguin facts, and tips on where to see penguins in the wild.
- Covers all 18 species of the world's penguins
- Features more than 400 photos
- Explores the latest science on penguins and their conservation
- Includes informative species profiles and fascinating penguin facts
Synopsis
"The imagery in this book is incredible. Penguins is not only attractive and entertaining, but also an authoritative and easy-to-use reference. It is unlike any other book on the subject."--Alvaro Jaramillo, author of Birds of Chile
About the Author
Tui De Roy is a world-renowned wildlife photographer, writer, and conservationist. Her books include Galapagos: Islands Born of Fire (Princeton). Mark Jones and Julie Cornthwaite are partners with De Roy at Roving Tortoise Worldwide Nature Photography in New Zealand. Jones has collaborated with De Roy on several books, including Albatross: Their World, Their Ways.
Table of Contents
Prologue: Penguin Passion 16
Global Distribution of Penguins 18
1 LIFE BETWEEN TWO WORLDS Tui De Roy 20
Penguin Seasons: The Cycle of Life 23
Stripes and Brays: The 'Jackass' Foursome 29
Long-tailed Trilogy: The Antarctic Trio 47
Island Dandies: The Crested Penguins 69
Multitudes in Deep Trouble: The Rockhoppers 87
Fairies of the Night: An Odd Couple 105
Monarchs of the Far South: Kings and Emperors 123
2 SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION Mark Jones 146
Mark Jones, Penguins and People: A Retrospective 148
Daniel Ksepka, March of the Fossil Penguins 158
Yvon Le Maho, How Penguins Store Food 160
Matthew Shawkey, Penguin Colours and Pigments 162
Sanne Boessenkool, Waitha Penguin: Dynamic History Revealed 164
David Ainley, Adélie Penguin: Bellwether of Climate Change 166
Heather J. Lynch, Using Satellites to Monitor Penguin Populations 168
Rory P. Wilson, Beyond Prying Eyes: Tracking Penguins at Sear 170
Yvon Le Maho, Marking Penguins: Minimising Research Impacts 172
Kyle W. Morrison, The Crested Penguin Egg-size Conundrum 174
Barbara Wienecke, Emperor Youngsters on the Move 176
André Chiaradia, Little Blues: Facing Big Challenges 178
Hernán Vargas, Galapagos Penguins: An Uncertain Future 180
Peter Ryan, African Penguins: A Troubled History 182
P. Dee Boersma, Magellanic Penguins: Living With People 184
David Thompson, Southern Rockhopper: Species in Decline 186
Conrad Glass, MBE, Northern Rockhoppers: Tragedy on Tristan 188
3 SPECIES NATURAL HISTORY Julie Cornthwaite 190
Penguin Who's Who: 18 Species Worldwide 192
Fascinating Penguin Facts 192
Penguin Range and Population Status 194
Species Profiles 200
Emperor 200 King 202 Adélie 204
Chinstrap 206 Gentoo 208 African 210
Magellanic 212 Humboldt 214 Galapagos 216
Southern Rockhopper 218 Northern Rockhopper 220
Macaroni 222 Royal 224 Fiordland 226
Snares 228 Erect-crested 230
Yellow-eyed 232 Little Blue 234
Where to see wild penguins 236
Notes on references and further reading 237
Acknowledgements 238
Index 239