Couzens, a British birder and author (Collins Birds, 2005), has collected a wonderful potpourri of bird superlatives. As he points out in his introduction, birds are more constrained than other animals by their physiological and physical adaptations for flight and yet are still able to take their bodies and behaviors to amazing extremes. Dividing these extremes into four areas form, ability, behavior, and family life the author presents portraits and accompanying descriptions of more than 130 species, all of whom are in some degree extreme. Many might know that the wandering albatross has the widest wingspan, but who has the longest legs (lesser flamingo) or the biggest mouth (tawny frogmouth)? Which birds are the fastest swimmers (penguins) or travel the longest nonstop journey (bar-tailed godwit)? How about the best fly-fisher (green heron) or the best soap-opera life (white-fronted bee eater)? And who is the hardest-working male (northern harrier) or makes the warmest nest (northern eider)? Fascinating facts and beautiful photography make this one a winner.--Bent, Nancy Copyright 2008 Booklist