Current Ornithology

1 Comparative Avian Demography.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Phenomenology and Hypotheses.- 3. Demographic Evolution.- 3.1. Criterion for Fitness.- 3.2. Parameterization.- 3.3. Constraint and Optimization.- 3.4. The Constraint Function.- 3.5. The Optimization Criterion.- 3.6. Interpreting Differences in Life-History Patterns.- 4. Density Dependence.- 5. Demographic Evolution in Varying Environments.- 5.1. r- and K-Selection.- 5.2. Bet Hedging.- 6. Correlated Environmental Factors.- 7. Discussion.- References.- 2 The Determination of Clutch Size in Precocial Birds.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Precocial Development.- 3. Clutch Size Theory and Terminology.- 4. Patterns in Clutch Size Variation.- 5. Factors Limiting Clutch Size.- 5.1. Egg Formation Ability.- 5.2. Parental Behavior.- 5.3. Incubation Ability.- 5.4. Nest Prédation.- 5.5. Explanations of Geographic and Seasonal Trends.- 6. Discussion.- 6.1. The Web of Causation.- 6.2. Levels of Explanation.- 6.3. Complications.- 7. Conclusions.- References.- 3 Structure and Function of Avian Eggs.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Mass and Contents of Eggs.- 2.1. Mass and Contents of Fresh Eggs.- 2.2. Contents of Pipped Eggs.- 3. Gas Exchange.- 3.1. Exchange of Water.- 3.2. Exchange of O2 and CO2.- 3.3. Adaptation to Diverse Gaseous Environments.- 4. Gas Exchange and the Eggshell.- 4.1. Eggshell.- 4.2. Pores.- 4.3. Modification of Eggshells in Various Environments.- 5. Summary.- References.- 4 The Origin of Birds and of Avian Flight.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Nature of Archaeopteryx.- 2.1. Bipedalism.- 2.2. Flight.- 3. The Origin of Birds.- 3.1. The Pseudosuchian Origin.- 3.2. Ornithischian Relationship.- 3.3. Crocodilian Relationships.- 3.4. The Coelurosaurian Origin.- 4. The Origin of Avian Flight.- 5. Conclusions.- References.- 5 The Great Plains Hybrid Zones.- 1. Introduction.- 1.1. Delimiting the Plains.- 1.2. What is Hybridization?.- 2. Accounts of Hybridizing Taxa.- 2.1. Otus.- 2.2. Coiaptes.- 2.3. Centurus.- 2.4. Myiarchus.- 2.5.Contopus.-