Inhaltsangabe1 Introduction.- 1.1 The Desert Environment.- 1.2 Temperature Regulation in Desert Birds.- 1.2.1 Physiological Cooling.- 1.2.2 Behavioral Cooling.- 1.2.3 Pigmentation.- 1.3 Advantages of a Carnivorous Diet for Desert Survival.- 1.4 Water Conservation in Desert Birds.- 1.4.1 Water Conservation in the Respiratory System.- 1.4.2 Water Conservation in the Kidney.- 1.4.3 Water Conservation in the Digestive System.- 1.4.4 Breeding Cycle Adjusted to Rainfall.- 2 Vultures.- 2.1 Predatory Behavior in Vultures.- 2.1.1 The Desert Scavenger Niche.- 2.1.2 Do Vultures Hunt by Smell or Sight?.- 2.1.3 Nasal Epithelium.- 2.1.4 Defense.- 2.1.5 Breeding Timed to Food Availability.- 2.2 Temperature Regulation in Vultures.- 2.2.1 Soaring as a Means of Temperature Regulation.- 2.2.2 Heat Dissipation and Associated Behavior.- 2.2.3 Legs as Sites of Temperature Regulation.- 2.2.4 Hyperthermia.- 2.2.5 Physiological Adaptations for Heat Conservation.- 2.2.6 Behavioral Modifications for Heat Conservation.- 2.3 Water Conservation in Vultures.- 2.3.1 Sources of Water.- 2.3.2 Water Loss Through Evaporation.- 3 Hawks and Allies.- 3.1 Predatory Behavior in Hawks and Allies.- 3.1.1 Euryphagy.- 3.1.2 Agility and Diverse Hunting Strategies.- 3.1.3 Cooperative Hunting.- 3.1.4 Hunting Open Areas.- 3.1.5 Hunting from the Ground.- 3.1.6 Hunting at Waterholes.- 3.1.7 Predator and Prey Conspicuousness.- 3.2 Breeding Behavior in Hawks and Allies.- 3.2.1 Breeding Biology Adapted to Predatory Behavior.- 3.2.2 Breeding Season.- 3.2.3 Cooperative Breeding.- 3.2.4 Population Size Regulation.- 3.3 Temperature Regulation in Hawks and Allies.- 3.3.1 Behavioral Adaptations.- 3.3.2 Physiological Adaptations.- 3.3.3 Morphological Adaptations.- 3.4 Water Conservation in Hawks and Allies.- 3.4.1 Carnivorous Diet.- 3.4.2 Physiology of Water Conservation.- 3.4.3 Water Conservation During Breeding.- 4 Roadrunners.- 4.1 Predatory Behavior in Roadrunners.- 4.1.1 Diurnal Activity.- 4.1.2 Euryphagy.- 4.1.3 Camouflage and Terrestrial Hunting.- 4.1.4 Prey Selection.- 4.2 Temperature Regulation in Roadrunners.- 4.2.1 Adaptations for Warming.- 4.2.1.1 Sunbathing.- 4.2.1.2 Hypothermia.- 4.2.2 Adaptations for Cooling.- 4.2.2.1 Legs as Thermoregulators.- 4.2.2.2 Hyperthermia.- 4.2.2.3 Panting.- 4.2.2.4 Guiar Flutter.- 4.2.2.5 Evaporation from the Skin.- 4.2.2.6 Rete Mirabile Ophthalmicum.- 4.3 Water Conservation in Roadrunners.- 4.3.1 Sources of Water.- 4.3.2 Water Loss Through Evaporation.- 4.3.3 Adaptations for Water Conservation.- 4.3.3.1 Water Conservation in the Kidney.- 4.3.3.2 Water Conservation in the Digestive System.- 4.3.3.3 Salt Excretion.- 4.3.3.4 Water Conservation in the Respiratory System.- 4.3.3.5 Water Conservation in the Reproductive Cycle.- 5 Owls.- 5.1 Predatory Adaptations in Owls.- 5.1.1 Nocturnal Species.- 5.1.2 Crepuscular Species.- 5.1.3 Diurnal Species.- 5.1.4 Antipredator Adaptations.- 5.2 Temperature Regulations in Owls.- 5.2.1 Adaptations for Warming.- 5.2.1.1 Insulation.- 5.2.1.2 Migration.- 5.2.1.3 Hypothermia.- 5.2.1.4 Sunbathing.- 5.2.2 Adaptations for Cooling.- 5.2.2.1 Plumage Modifications to Retard Heat Gain.- 5.2.2.2 Behavioral Modifications to Retard Heat Gain.- 5.2.2.3 Basal Metabolism.- 5.2.2.4 Thermoneutral Zone.- 5.2.2.5 Hyperthermia.- 5.2.2.6 Evaporative Cooling.- 5.2.2.7 Heat Radiation.- 5.3 Water Conservation in Owls.- 5.3.1 Sources of Water.- 5.3.1.1 Free Water.- 5.3.1.2 Water-Rich Food.- 5.3.1.3 Metabolic Water.- 5.3.2 Water Conservation in the Excretory and Digestive Systems.- 5.3.3 Water Conservation in the Respiratory System.- 5.3.4 Water Conservation in the Integument.- 5.3.5 Water Conservation in the Breeding Cycle.- 6 Shrikes.- 6.1 Predatory Behavior in Shrikes.- 6.1.1 Hunting Strategy.- 6.1.2 Euryphagy.- 6.1.3 Prey Selection.- 6.1.4 Territorial Behavior.- 6.2 Breeding Behavior in Shrikes.- 6.2.1 Cooperative Breeding.- 6.2.2 Effect of Rain on Breeding.- 6.2.3 Nest Building.- 6.2.4 Early Departure from Nest.- 6.3 Temperature Regulation in Shr