The Book of Eggs

Mark E. Hauber is an ornithologist rather than a poultry person. His Book of Eggs is comprehensive, covering what must be every bird in the world.

He begins with a general discussion of the basics of eggs and egg laying. It's an excellent brief summary of the important points. I expect to refer to it in the future. He's clear and concise.

Each species gets a page, with a brief description of the bird and its habits, a map showing its range, a small drawing of the adult bird and a large photo of its egg, a clutch and an actual size photo. The collection is massive. Each page holds another fascinating bird.

The birds are organized by scientific classification. It's truly a reference work, brought to life with beautiful illustrations and photos.

Mark Hauber is professor in the Animal Behavior and Conservation Program at Hunter College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. He has produced a scientific reference that will be useful to those of us who enjoy wild birds as well as domestic ones.