The Social Lives of Birds: Flocks, Communes, and Families

by Joan E. Strassmann

An exploration of all the ways in which birds are social creatures—from breeding to nesting to babysitting

In The Social Lives of Birds, evolutionary biologist and author of Slow Birding Joan Strassmann examines what it means for birds of a feather to flock together. Some birds sleep together. Some join the foraging groups of other species. Some are only social during breeding season, forming nesting colonies in trees, cliffs, and sandbanks. Some are altruistic, helping to rear young that are not their own. Some males perform mating dances together.

Strassmann explains how flocks provide safety in numbers, roosts offer warmth and shelter, and colonies allow for protected breeding. But group behavior is not without its costs—including increased competition, tick infestations, and more. Strassmann exposes the conflicts birds face and the many ways in which they resolve these conflicts.  

With stories of birds from around the world—from broad-winged hawks that migrate south together in the fall, tree swallows that roost together in the thousands, and guira cuckoos that nest in communes—The Social Lives of Birds explores the different kinds of bird groups and what to look for when watching them. Above all, it reveals this solitary life, it seems, is not for the birds.

Genres: Birds, Nature, Science, Animals, Nonfiction, Audiobook

304 pages, Hardcover

Published September 23, 2025

Reviews

[Mark Fajet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of knowledge. Pretty interesting.

[Dev (lit.lark) · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you PRH audio for this gifted copy!

[Ross Mckinney · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept behind this book was interesting, a description of various aspects of the social lives of birds. The execution was less strong. Strassmann seems more interested in name-dropping other researchers who work on social lives of birds than describing themes. She spends lots of times on individual experiments researchers have done, but the overall themes and outcomes of the experiments take second place. It’s not an awful book, but I found it hard to motivate myself to pick it up despite being interested in the topic.

[Anne Halgren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I became fascinated by the social interactions of birds while watching my chickens; they graze together, sleep together, maintain distinct hierarchies, and warn each other of predators. I sought out "The Social Lives of Birds" to gain a greater understanding of the nuances and broader aspects of bird social structure.

Strassmann has rigorously and meticulously researched her subject, dividing the book into chapters on flocks, communal roosts, mixed-species flocks, colonies, seabird colonies, leks, mate choice and parental care, families with helpers, communal nesters, and supersocial groups. The book provides a compilation of studies on each of these topics, laying clear the exhaustive research that goes into animal behavior studies. Though the science is abundant, it remains accessible, entertaining, and digestible, not dense or off-putting.

[Socraticgadfly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moderately interesting but no more than that.

I agree with another 3-star reviewer that there's a fair amount of name-dropping of fellow scientists, and not all of them ornithologists. (For that matter, she's not an ornithologist herself; she's an animal behavioralist, with probably something like population biology being her second area of note without being mentioned.) I also agree that the book was somewhat disjointed, beyond the name-dropping, and came off as semi-academic and generally not "grabbing."

So-so sketches and no photos, as far as artwork, added to the relatively low interest level.

[Kelsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not my style of writing. It's basically a summary of a bunch of scientific journal articles, but then every once in awhile there's a random story from the author, but they seem to pop up and randome places. Transition between topics feels abrupt. Some interesting research presented, but a little too technical making it a dry read.

[Onceinabluemoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4