Ultimate Encyclopedia of Caged and Aviary Birds

This is a photographic guide to more than 250 of the world's most popular bird varieties, beautifully illustrated with more than 800 photographs. It shows you how to select the right bird for your lifestyle, including advice on buying birds for breeding and for showing. It includes topics on maintaining your bird's health: how to keep pet birds alert and in the best condition; common bird diseases; and what to do when problems occur. This book is a reference manual for bird-keepers of all levels. It covers all aspects of bird care: housing choices; constructing an aviary; buying birds and settling them in; feeding and handling; keeping birds healthy; and exhibiting and breeding. A close look at over 250 examples provides a fascinating insight into the appearance, characteristics and breeding habits of each of the major groups: waxbills, weavers, wydahs, canaries and related finches, quails and pheasants, softbills, Australian parakeets, cockatiels, cockatoos, lories and lorikeets, parrots, doves and pigeons. The book is an authoritative guide to keeping pet birds both in the home or in an outdoor aviary.