"One of America's preeminent ornithologists, johnsgard blends science, nature, and personal observations to tell the life histories of thirty-three grassland birds. Writing with precision and passion, he draws from his own observations to convey the magic of prairie birds, taking readers hawk watching at Scotts Bluff or beside a prairie river on a spring evening with song sparrows in the willow thickets and cranes at the water's edge." "Johnsgard provides an overview of the history, current status, and uncertain future of prairie birds, from falcons and shorebirds to larks and sparrows. Some are intercontinental migrants that winter in South America, others sedentary species or short-distance travelers that may frequent the grasslands of Mexico. Johnsgard describes each species - its features, habits, habitats, migratory patterns, and breeding season ecology." "More than a book on avifauna, Prairie Birds is a portrait of the native grasslands of the Great Plains, which constitute nearly a fifth of the North American continent and are the most imperiled of its terrestrial ecosystems. He tells how birds evolved along with this "ancient sea of grass" over aeons and also warns of the effects of human interference on the future of grasslands and birds alike, as grazing, burning, and agriculture threaten the native grasses on which many birds depend for survival." "The book features forty-seven drawings by the author, including graphic keys to birdsongs, and fifteen maps."--Jacket.