Bird Talk: What Birds Are Saying and Why

by Lita Judge

A gorgeously illustrated tribute to birds of all kinds and the fantastic, funny, fascinating things that they do.

Birds have lots of ways of They sing and talk, dance and drum, cuddle and fight. But what does all of the bird talk mean?
Filled with gorgeous illustrations, this fascinating picture book takes a look at the secret life of birds in a child-friendly format that is sure to appeal to readers of all ages - whether they're die-hard bird-watchers or just curious about the creatures in their own backyards.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Birds, Animals, Science, Nature, Childrens

48 pages, Hardcover

First published March 13, 2012

Reviews

[Jessica]

The short story Bird Talk was mainly about the different ways birds communicate and function. A lot of them take actions accordingly to attract other female mates. This related to me while I figured the different ways human expressed romance. On the streets you can see the different types of couples having a distinct relationships together. My brother for example had a girlfriend and they had their own way of being together and interacting. This story just makes the thought that animals function in a similar to how we do.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by the granddaughter of ornithologists, this book is a great introduction to how birds communicate with each other. I will make the small disclaimer that I'm a huge bird-nerd though so there aren't many bird books that I don't love.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The older you get the more facts seem to change. For example, when I was a kid I remember that some facts were as of yet unprovable but were told with a certain ring of truth. Take the dinosaurs as an example. As a kid I "knew" that they had all died out probably because of a big nasty meteor. Talk to a kid today and ask them what killed the dinosaurs and you will receive a very different interpretation. The dinos? Why didn't you know? They all turned into birds! Which is to say, there's a working theory at the moment that says that the dinos evolved into the birdies we know and love today. With that new theory in mind I can think of few author/illustrators better equipped to write a factual illustrated bird picture book than Ms. Lita Judge. Having wowed the masses already with her fantastic Born to Be Giants: How Baby Dinosaurs Grew to Rule the World it seems only appropriate that she should turn her sights on the next stage in evolution: those with some avian flair.

How much do you really know about birds? They're our neighbors, after all. Even if you live in the most busting of metropolises, you're bound to catch a glimpse of them here or there. Yet are they the brainless twittering nobodies we sometimes take them to be or is there something else at work? Are they, in fact, capable of communication? Turning her attention to twenty-eight different kinds of birds, Ms. Judge separates her book into the ways birds choose to stand out amongst one another, how they greet each other, how they find one another, how they protect one another, encourage each other, listen, and learn. Accompanied by Ms. Judge's gorgeous lush watercolors, kids get short sweet glimpses into the lives of birds, common and otherwise. Back matter includes a listing of the birds in this book (with additional information about their habitats and geographical locations), a Glossary, References, a Web Site, and an Author's Note that explains how Ms. Judge came to write her book.

How does nonfiction get used by kids on a day-to-day basis? Basically it splits into two segments. Either they pick up a nonfiction tome for a class assignment or they do it out of love for the subject. And because there are as many distinct individual obsessions as there are fishies in the sea, no matter what the subject matter is you can count on some kid somewhere loving that topic to death (example: When I was a kid I wanted to know everything there was to know about albino animals... of which there was nada). Birds seem like a pretty straightforward choice, though. Usually a kid will obsess over a particular type of bird, rather than the species a whole, but I'm confident that if talked up correctly this book could prove as popular with the penguin and macaw fans out there as it is with kids assigned the standard "animal book" requirement in school.

Because when it comes down to it the book is a nice display of contrasts. Does any species have as many stunning examples of sheer variety as those in the world of birds? In a book like this it's as important to make sure that the book is designed well as it is written and illustrated with truth and beauty. Judge's title makes clever use of white space breaking up each page with a mix of size and shape. She must have planned the book out meticulously to know how to pair the long lengthy neck of the flamingo's head and legs alongside the spiky head of the squat Common Merganser. The result is a book that feels as meticulously planned out as a graphic novel in terms of borders, action, image, and text.

Criticisms of the book I've heard haven't made much of an impression on me but I figure I should make note of them just the same. One librarian I showed the book to felt vaguely unimpressed. To her mind the book isn't doing anything particularly new or original. I'll agree that we have a nice plethora of bird books in our science sections of the library, but even then Judge's take stands out. Choosing to include watercolors rather than photographs gives the birds a friendly air without anthropomorphizing them. Breaking up the text also makes the book infinitely approachable and doesn't intimidate the reluctant readers of the world. The topic of animal communication is out there, but birds specifically? Not so much on the children's side of things. Personally, I would have liked to have seen some recommended reading titles at the end that were particularly kid-friendly. Judge's list of resources do show that she's done her research but some kid-friendly additions, particularly websites, would have been welcome.

Like a written companion to the documentary Winged Migration Judge's title takes the wide swath of ornithology as a whole and breaks it down into small bite-sized pieces that kids can both read and enjoy. Lovely as a document, useful as a book, and a definite boon to the bird-lovers amongst us, count on Bird Talk to encourage just that. A whole lotta talking about birds.

For ages 6-10

[YongD E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, Bird talk this book is a very good book to learn about types of birds. In all of the birds that the book introduce, the bird that I can most relate is the American bird, because before I have a bird just like it. once our family has a yellow small bird and it likes to sing. that makes our house from dead silent to alive every day. However, it died, so when I am reading this book it always reminds me of it. Finally, I think this is a very good book to know about the types of birds.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this book. It's not my favorite of Lita Judge's books, but I still like it. It was just a bit too long and less engaging for Alena. I'm not sure she captures the sounds the birds make just right, but it's still a pretty good book.

[Lindsay Weideman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twin Text: Cuckoo! By Fiona Robertson

Rationale: I picked Cuckoo! By Fiona Robertson because of the connection between the bird talk in the nonfiction selection and the bird in this fiction story that is born in the wrong nest and sets off on a journey trying to find someone that will understand him/speak his language. Bird Talk: What Birds Are Saying and Why by Lita Judge describes the different kinds of bird communication. The book describes a variety of birds that some students may have never heard of before and how they communicate to one another. For example, a Blue Bird of Paradise sings to attract a mate and defend its territory. To be noticed by a female, he swings and flips upside down.

Text Structure: This book has a variety of text structures. It has an established sequence in which each paragraph is about a different bird and its unique communication style. The name of the bird is larger than the rest of the text so it stands out. There is a lot of description and also question and answer included in the text. A glossary is included at the end of the book with all of the bird names that were discussed.

Strategy Application: I would have my students complete a webbing activity in which I would use the bird from Cuckoo! By Fiona Robertson and then research all of the different kinds of communication styles that it uses (using the nonfiction book as a reference).

Book Review Citation for Nonfiction Book:
(2012, February 1) School Library Journal. http://www.booksinprint2.com.leo.lib....#

[Jim Erekson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Communication is a nice slice through a wide, wide topic. This was a good choice.I almost think Judge could have focused on one bird and gone for depth?--maybe she'll do a follow-up.

I noticed Judge did an interesting suspense thing early in the book, where she gave a teaser on one spread and then delivered on it at the page turn. But then this disappeared later in the book as it got more cramped with content.

I think I may have a hard time with the informational book review, because the approach seemed so basic. There is so much I've heard about bird communication research over the past ten years that I'm disappointed as a reader not to see it. So is the age orientation of informational text always going to get in the way of my aesthetic experience as an adult? I haven't needed to pretend to be a child, or project my experience onto children with story or poetry picturebooks thus far. If I have to do so with informational text, it's an indictment of the genre (or is it of me?).

I enjoyed the author note at the end. It qualified her not through her own science credentials, but because she grew up around ornithologists--both grandparents! Life experience and depth worked well for me. I also just enjoyed quickly reading each bird's techniques--while it was basic, I didn't already know the information for every bird.

Sources? None given. It could have been the Cornell ornithology lab with all its sound file--give us something!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with large illustrations placed against generous white space, this picture book introduces the aviary world to young readers along with several textual samples of bird sounds. The author explains how those chirps and screeches uttered by birds mean something and are the birds' way of communication with one another. Thus, the "wahr...wahr..wahr" made by a male Blue Bird of Paradise and his upside down hanging from a perch are intended to ward off intruders and entice a mate. As usual, Judge's painstaking attention to detail in her illustrations insures that readers will make note of the characteristics of her subject; thus, she portrays the rich hues of birds' feathers, the color of an egg, the declaration of war on a marauder intent on snitching an egg. Large font is used throughout the pages to introduce the birds' messages sent when they're intent on hiding or aware that they are under attack. Back matter includes thumbnail sketches offering more information, including range and habitat, of the birds that appear in the book. There is also a glossary and an Author's Note that describes Judge's early fascination with bird talk. All in all, this is a worthy addition to the classroom library. It feels as though readers are eavesdropping on their feathered friends, thanks to Judge's interpretations.

[Melissa Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for a fun way to teach animal adaptations? This book is perfect. It describes how a wide variety of birds use their voices and body language to attract mates, stay in touch with their young, avoid enemies, and more. BIRD TALK belongs in every elementary classroom and on the bookshelves of bird lovers young and old.

[Rani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twenty-nine birds featured in this book communicate their various needs using different sounds. The birds are from all continents and ecosystems. This is a great book for any child who likes to talk, imitate, and for a rainy day indoors. My child likes to have models to draw from. We will be using some drawings from this book. Simple text. A great book for all bird lovers!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging look at different methods birds use to communicate. It discusses ways birds find a mate, claim their territory, protect themselves and other reasons they communicate. It features a purpose of communication on a double page spread and then on the next double page spread it highlights three birds that communicate in that way. I love the illustrations.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written and illustrated by the grand-daughter of ornithologists, this book nicely covers a variety of birds and their modes of communication, from dances to songs to those birds that learn to mimic the sounds around them.

[Joanne Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really lovely illustrations showcase various birds and their forms of communication. Organized by purpose, the text is easy for kids to understand and relate to (yes relate to!) Introduces unusual birds and their unusual behaviors.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a muted beauty because Judge is using a different art style rather than photographs of birds explaining how they communicate. So it's not bright, vivid, and punchy, it's a beautiful walk in nature's beauty and I like it for that reason-- no flash here because the flashiness is in the ways that birds communicate-- whether they puff up, swing from branches, poop on their enemies.

It's lovely and the adorable picture of her with a bird on her shoulder at the end as she explained that her grandparents were ornithologists makes it a labor of love explaining the uniqueness of birds and their personalities and habitats. It's a nice compliment to adult titles like The Bird Way.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since encountering Red Sled, I have always enjoyed Lita Judge’s illustrations and yes, many times Judge is illustrating birds and her interest in them stems from the fact her grandparents were ornithologists. In this title Judge is focusing on the them of bird communication and offers what I refer to as “tidbit” information. But wow her up close spot on accurate illustrations are beautiful. All ages will enjoy this title.
Also includes four pages of brief descriptions of birds represented in the illustrations and descriptions include habitat and range.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations are colorful, and give each bird a friendly approachable feel. I love the art! Birds from all over the world are included. The back matter explains more details than the overview form the text. Large print is the message the birds say and smaller text on the page explains the behavior or sound the bird uses to communicate. There is a lovely sense of humor throughout this gorgeous book.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bird Talk, What Birds are Saying is a beautifully illustrated, non-fiction picture book for young ornithologists or a nice addition to any elementary/middle school library or classroom studying animal behaviors. While students will not get a lot of information on any one species of bird, they can be inspired to delver further into learning about a particular bird that speaks to them ;).

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated story about birds. There are 28 different birds featured in this book, gorgeously presented with an interesting little blurb about each one. At the end of the book are 4 pages under the title Birds in this Book on which the bird is shown and described with habitat and range listed. Following that is a glossary of 15 words, and an Author’s Note page.

[Whole And · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple yet great exploration of bird communication and details of their geographical habitats and range. Excellent for the growing bird lover written by someone who grew with ornithologist grandparents! A delightful way to engage young minds with the fascinating world of bird speak.

[Magdalena Scotto · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hope to bring this into my classroom since it has a ton of fun filled info about different birds. This would be pretty cool to use during rainforest week. There was a ton of stuff that I didn't even know. Great read.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A picture book where both the parent and the child can learn about birds and what their behavior is communicating. Colorful pictures and not dense or overwhelming for young readers.

[Leslie]

Young ornithologists will love this one. Also could be a great mentor text to share with students about writing to your passions. Judge's author's note is wonderful.

[Natalie W · Rating 4 out of 5]

We do the silly bird dances in our house!

[Kris Dersch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute and well done. I liked that it fit in a lot of information while still being a perfectly good one sitting read aloud.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations! Fascinating information about how birds communicate.

[wildct2003 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book

[Gema Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bird Talk, What Birds are Saying and Why by Lita Judge is a great nonfiction book for children, with beautiful illustrations of different bird species. One of the best things about this book is that Judge hits all the topics of how and why exactly birds talk to each other. For instance, selecting a mate to territorial threats, greetings, training their young to be on their own, and all the way to tricking and mimicking other bird calls.

Judge also uses a wide range of scientific terms in this book that is explained by the glossary in the back of the book. I had no idea that the term roost is a verb that means "to sit or rest on a perch, especially for the night." I totally get where the bird, rooster, got its name! Bottom line, this was a very informative, nonfiction book that I enjoyed reading. The illustrations, the glossary of birds in the back, and the terms are all useful tools for children when reading this book, as well as for adults too!

I decided to pair this book with Cuckoo by Fiona Robertson (2012) for my twin text. This book shares the story of a bird named, Cuckoo, who is born in the wrong nest. Cuckoo goes in search of somebody who will understand him but quickly discovers that he is quite different from frogs, sheep, pigs, cows, snakes, and rabbits.

These two books share a similar characteristic: communication. In Lita Judge's book Bird Talk, What Birds are Saying and Why, she describes all the different types of communication that birds demonstrate. She explains that different birds do different things in order to communicate with others. In Cuckoo, the bird tried so hard to communicate with others by trying to imitate them, but couldn't measure up to it. He demonstrated characteristics of the Scarlet Macaw, who learn to mimic other bird calls, from Bird Talk, What Birds are Saying and Why. Overall, both books were entertaining, yet insightful too.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

You have your nonfiction that clearly covers the basics – here’s an animal, here’s where it lives, here’s what it eats – and then you have books like Bird Talk, where every page brings something unexpected. Richly illustrated and keenly researched, Lita Judge’s ode to ornithological communication makes a nice counterpoint to the more workmanlike nonfiction staples.

Tweet, chirp, caw, strut – when it comes to the purposes and sophistication of bird communication, there’s much more than meets the eye and ear. Bird Talk is broken into sections to make sense of it all. From the common American Robin singing hundreds of different songs to attract a mate to lesser known Scandinavian Fieldfares dropping poop missiles, Judge hits on a wide range of species and their lesser-known communication techniques. Back matter includes added information on every species covered in the book, a glossary, references, and a website to explore.

The detailed illustrations strike a nice balance between accuracy and character. The artwork is set against large expanses of white, allowing the text to draw the eye.

A bit of pleasure reading nonfiction for a wide audience. Bird Talk will make a lovely addition to your collection.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible displays of feathers, bright-colors and complex songs are all ways that birds communicate and try to find a mate. Some birds puff and strut, others have large wattles, and still others drum on a branch with a stick. Once birds have found that mate, they communicate their pairing to others using dances, clattering bills, or by providing food for one another. When eggs and baby birds arrive, the parents use flashing wing colors, trickery or pretending to be wounded to lead predators away from their young. The parents teach their babies to eat, fly and more with clucks, demonstrations, and plenty of talk. Celebrate the birds that live around your house as well as exotic birds that have amazing ways of communicating.

Read the rest of my review on my blog, Waking Brain Cells.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Birds are saying things like, “pick me!,” “I’m the strongest,” “let’s dance!,” and “look out! We’re under attack!” This lovely picture book explains the humorous and fascinating way that birds communicate. The book’s format groups birds who communicate the same things together. For instance, on one spread, an illustration of a colony of penguins appears with the exclamation, “over here!” Text then explains that, “parents and chicks learn the sound of each other’s voices.” On the next spread, readers are introduced to more birds who use this type of communication—emperor penguins, common mergansers, and flamingos. The end pages include a glossary, references, websites, author note and a short description of each of the birds mentioned. The lovely illustrations set against a white background really pop off the pages in this one!