Caro's book provides a comprehensive review of antipredator defenses in birds and mammals. It compares and contrasts the defenses of these two groups, focusing on the sequence of interactions in a predator-prey encounter, from avoiding detection to defenses at the point of capture. The book defines key terms and discusses predator recognition, which involves both innate tendencies and learning. It covers various defenses, including crypsis, countershading, and disruptive coloration, and discusses how these may help avoid predation. Birds and mammals also use behavioral strategies to avoid detection, such as concentrating activities in safe times and places and reducing risky behaviors. When predators detect prey, vigilance and group size play a role in reducing predation risk. Birds often show heightened vigilance when they have young, though this is better documented in mammals. The book also discusses warning signals, which can be beneficial or deceptive, and how prey can signal to predators that they are unprofitable to attack. It covers nest defense, mobbing behavior, and "last resort" behaviors such as flight and playing dead. Caro emphasizes that morphology and behavior act synergistically in defensive complexes and that antipredator defenses are often imperfect due to the lack of intimate predator-prey relationships. The book concludes with a chapter on framing questions about antipredator defenses, highlighting the need for further research. The book is well-organized, authoritative, and provides a valuable resource for ornithologists and researchers. It is also recommended for those interested in animal communication networks, which is a separate book edited by Peter McGregor. This book presents a network perspective on animal communication, highlighting the social nature of communication and the importance of communication networks in animal behavior. It covers various taxonomic groups and signal types, and discusses how communication networks can influence mate choice, begging behavior, and other aspects of animal communication. The book is divided into four parts, with the first part focusing on communication behaviors involving multiple individuals. The second part explores concepts from a network perspective, such as predation and mate choice. The third part is grouped taxonomically, and the fourth part links communication networks to other disciplines in biology. The book is well-written and provides a comprehensive overview of animal communication networks, making it a valuable resource for researchers and students in the field.Caro's book provides a comprehensive review of antipredator defenses in birds and mammals. It compares and contrasts the defenses of these two groups, focusing on the sequence of interactions in a predator-prey encounter, from avoiding detection to defenses at the point of capture. The book defines key terms and discusses predator recognition, which involves both innate tendencies and learning. It covers various defenses, including crypsis, countershading, and disruptive coloration, and discusses how these may help avoid predation. Birds and mammals also use behavioral strategies to avoid detection, such as concentrating activities in safe times and places and reducing risky behaviors. When predators detect prey, vigilance and group size play a role in reducing predation risk. Birds often show heightened vigilance when they have young, though this is better documented in mammals. The book also discusses warning signals, which can be beneficial or deceptive, and how prey can signal to predators that they are unprofitable to attack. It covers nest defense, mobbing behavior, and "last resort" behaviors such as flight and playing dead. Caro emphasizes that morphology and behavior act synergistically in defensive complexes and that antipredator defenses are often imperfect due to the lack of intimate predator-prey relationships. The book concludes with a chapter on framing questions about antipredator defenses, highlighting the need for further research. The book is well-organized, authoritative, and provides a valuable resource for ornithologists and researchers. It is also recommended for those interested in animal communication networks, which is a separate book edited by Peter McGregor. This book presents a network perspective on animal communication, highlighting the social nature of communication and the importance of communication networks in animal behavior. It covers various taxonomic groups and signal types, and discusses how communication networks can influence mate choice, begging behavior, and other aspects of animal communication. The book is divided into four parts, with the first part focusing on communication behaviors involving multiple individuals. The second part explores concepts from a network perspective, such as predation and mate choice. The third part is grouped taxonomically, and the fourth part links communication networks to other disciplines in biology. The book is well-written and provides a comprehensive overview of animal communication networks, making it a valuable resource for researchers and students in the field.