Bird flight is a mesmerizing spectacle, yet its intricacies remains largely shrouded in mystery for most. Even after over a century of study, certain aspects of bird flight continue to baffle the public and ornithologists alike.

Peter Cavanagh, a dedicated bird photographer, pilot and expert in the fields of biomechanics and anatomy, has dedicated a decade to crafting this remarkable book, How Birds Fly. Through awe-inspiring photography and conversational prose, Peter unveils the complex evolutions and physics of bird flight, making it accessible to bird lovers of all levels.

Within these pages, you'll discover the elegant mechanics behind how birds fly. Explore the evolution of flight, the roles of bones, muscles and feathers, and the crucial functions of wings, wingtips and tails. From takeoff to landing, soaring to diving, and hunting to hovering, you'll gain unprecedented insight into avian movement.

Chapters featured in this book include, but are not limited to:

• The evolution of bird flight
• The anatomy of birds for flight
• The aerodynamics of bird flight
• Takeoff and Landing
• Gliding and Soaring
• Flapping Flight
• In-Flight Maneuvers
• Migration
• Flight Specialists (including Hummingbirds, Silent Owls, and Swifts).

But How Birds Fly is more than a scientific exploration; it's a celebration of the artistry of bird flight. Uncover the stories of flight pioneers like Leonardo da Vinci and the Wright Brothers, and how engineers still draw inspiration from birds for cutting-edge aircraft design. With this book, you can savor each chapter independently, enjoying stunning photographs and enlightening illustrations. In From the Lab sections, you'll dive into real research studies, gaining a taste of how ornithologists work.

Flight is a dream embedded deep within our unconscious minds. Let Peter Cavanagh's expertise and passion for flight enhance your appreciation for the world of birds.

Flight is the essence of birdness. I strive to illustrate the beauty and complexity of avian flight.
-- Peter Cavanagh

100 Flying Birds: Photographing the Mechanics of Flight offers a vivid and varied glimpse into the world of birds. A white-tailed eagle plummeting through a Japanese sky, a brown pelican striking a silhouette against an Ecuadorian sunset, an Atlantic puffin carrying its fish dinner above the Scottish coast, or a keel-billed toucan gliding through a Costa Rican jungle canopy; readers will marvel at the splendor of birds in flight while learning the techniques to capture these gravity-defying moments from a world-class nature photographer.

For each picture, author and photographer Peter Cavanagh shares his most evocative thoughts: the challenges of the shoot, the beauty of the location, and the curiosities of the species. Bird people will enjoy the bird photographs and facts, travelers will gobble up the tales of distant parts, and photographers will absorb the technical details. For instance, readers might be surprised to see that a very slow shutter speed can freeze the motion of hummingbird wings.

Peter Cavanagh has collected 100 beautiful photos spanning a wide range of species. The subjects of each of the 11 chapters are:

• Eagles
• Hummingbirds
• Gulls and Terns
• Small Waterbirds
• Large Waterbirds
• Ducks, Geese and Swans
• Raptors
• Condors and Corvids
• Cranes
• Songbirds
• Favorites

Through his photographic lens, Peter illuminates the beauty, grace and elegance of birds in flight, building on his knowledge and expertise as a biomechanist and avocations as an airplane pilot and photographer.... His lovely photographs are complemented by engaging prose that provides fascinating historical contexts of his subjects, their flight ecology and conservation status, and guidance for aspiring wildlife photographers on best practices and photographic equipment needed to capture the exceptional quality of the images he shares in his book.
-- Andrew A. Biewener, Lyman Professor of Biology, Harvard University

a must read for anyone who has ever marveled at a bird in flight, on the hunt or soaring in the wind. Peter Cavanagh has married his insight as a kinesiologist and as a pilot, to his exceptional talent as a photographer, bringing the reader astonishing photographs of birds from every corner of the globe.
-- Eva J. Pell, Former Undersecretary for Science, Smithsonian Institution

What a lavish production, and a dedication to birds and their flight, by a committed photographer and bird-lover with a consuming passion and the latest equipment to capture their marvel in flight. A perfect combination. Perusing this gorgeous book will make your spirit soar. I especially liked the intimate stories associated with each of the stunning photographs. The book is a delight to the eyes, mind and spirit.
-- Bernd Heinrich, Professor Emeritus in Biology, University of Vermont and author of Winter World.