Available From UC Press

Now that more than half of the world’s population lives in cities, the study of birds in urban ecosystems has emerged at the forefront of ornithological research. An international team of leading researchers in urban bird ecology and conservation from across Europe and North America presents the state of this diverse field, addressing classic questions while proposing new directions for further study. Areas of particular focus include the processes underlying patterns of species shifts along urban-rural gradients, the demography of urban birds and the role of citizen science, and human-avian interaction in urban areas. This important reference fills a crucial need for scientists, planners, and managers of urban spaces and all those interested in the study and conservation of birds in the world’s expanding metropolises.

Christopher A. Lepczyk is Associate Professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.
Paige S. Warren is Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

"This is the book to have on urban bird ecology. It summarizes the state of the science, highlighting the strength and breadth of the growing body of urban bird research around the world. More importantly, it documents how the field of urban bird ecology is moving beyond the study of pattern to address the ecological and evolutionary processes that impact birds in complex urban mosaics."—Steward T.A. Pickett, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies

"Urban ecosystems are under-studied environments offering unique opportunities to study species adaptability, persistence, and assembly. This book presents creative contributions from leading researchers who explore how urbanization affects avian ecology and how birds and people interact."—Steven Beissinger, UC Berkeley