Parrots of the Wild: A Natural History of the World’s Most Captivating Birds

by Catherine Ann Toft, Timothy F. Wright

" Parrots of the Wild  is an exhaustive compendium of information about parrots, from their evolutionary history to their behavior to present-day conservation issues. A must-have for anyone interested in these amazing creatures." —Irene M. Pepperberg, Professor at Harvard University and author of  Alex & How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence—and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process

"If you like parrots then you'll love this book. From their evolutionary past to their modern-day love lives,  Parrots of the Wild  presents a suitably captivating read. I thought I knew a lot about parrots--until I delved into these pages." —Tony Juniper, author of  What Has Nature Ever Done for Us?  and  Spix’s The Race to Save the World’s Rarest Bird

Parrots of the Wild explores recent scientific discoveries and what they reveal about the lives of wild parrots, which are among the most intelligent and rarest of birds. Catherine A. Toft and Tim Wright discuss the evolutionary history of parrots and how this history affects perceptual and cognitive abilities, diet and foraging patterns, and mating and social behavior. The authors also discuss conservation status and the various ways different populations are adapting to a world that is rapidly changing. The book focuses on general patterns across the 350-odd species of parrots, as well as what can be learned from interesting exceptions to these generalities.

A synthetic account of the diversity and ecology of wild parrots, this book distills knowledge from the authors’ own research and from their review of more than 2,400 published scientific studies. The book is enhanced by an array of illustrations, including nearly ninety color photos of wild parrots represented in their natural habitats. Parrots of the Wild melds scientific exploration with features directed at the parrot enthusiast to inform and delight a broad audience.

Genres: Birds, Animals, Nonfiction, Science, Biology, Natural History

346 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2015

Reviews

[York · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure scientific joy. Accessible to a wide audience, but with enough technical information to satisfy me--this book radiates the warmth of the late Dr. Toft's passion for parrots and their unique lives.

[Amy Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and how it perfectly captures the lives of parrots. I particularly liked how the author(s) discussed lots of different theories, arguments, and concepts and how there are few definitive answers. The inclusion of sections on parrots in captivity and the section towards the end about the trade of parrots and the removal of them from the wild was insightful and, in my experience as a studying zoologist, not talked about enough.

[Mark Lawicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parrots of The Wild is an excellent read for any individual interested in a thorough study of these intelligent, colorful, fascinating creatures. A background in science might be helpful for various sections of this book, but it is by and large comprehensible for the layperson. Engaging and thought-provoking from the outset, this is what scientific writing is all about!

[Jesse Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is what I'd call "accessibly academic." It's a textbook, but one that's not so mired in jargon as to be enjoyable for a casual parrot fan. Some chapters can be a slog, as the authors wind down blind alleys of comparative research. The latter half of the book, however, is a real joy -- moving across everything from Alex the African Grey to the insane mating habits of Kakapos to the heart-breaking studies of parrot extinctions over time. If you care about parrots, you will learn a lot here -- I took notes on the book throughout, and felt my knowledge about these birds was deeply enriched.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is everything I want science writing to be. It conveys an incredible amount of scientific information while still being an enjoyable, engaging read. You can feel just how much the authors love their subject through the prose. If you want to learn more about any kind of parrots, or just understand birds more in general, this is the absolute best place to go.

[Nick Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating look at parrots. Really in depth, focusing of why parrots are the way they are. I took lots of trivial stuff away from this book, such the carnivorous parrots, the mating behaviours, the importance of earth in their diets and the parrot trade, although there is a fair bit information which bogged me down and felt a little unnecessary content. It's enlightening, but a little boring in places.

[Elizabeth de Moya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She died of non smoking related lung cancer while she was writing the book. And she was a scientist at UC Davis, which is renowned for its animal science programs. It is a good scientific reference albeit somewhat short at under 300 pages. God I love parrots!

[Abdullah Jee · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully designed and illustrated discussion of the natural history of Parrots.