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Remarkable Birds
Everything you didn’t know about the avian a fascinating compendium showcasing the extraordinary wonders of birds, illuminated with exquisite ornithological illustrations, prints, and drawings Humans share the Earth with more than 10,000 species of birds and have always been enchanted by them. Birds can be a sign of the changing seasons, a symbol of freedom, or simply a breathtaking vision of beauty. Remarkable Birds approaches these fascinating creatures thematically across eight sections covering all aspects of humans’ relationship with birds. “Songbirds” celebrates the greatest bird virtuosi, such as the nightingale, while “Birds of Prey” includes majestic hunters such as the harpy eagle. “Feathered Travelers” describes astounding journeys made by birds including tiny hummingbirds that migrate huge distances. “The Love Life of Birds” illuminates the most brilliant displays upon which different species rely to find a mate―notably the extravagant plumage and dances of birds of paradise. “Avian Cities” explores the spectacular, large colonies of species such as the flamingo, while “Useful to Us” examines the diverse ways we find birds valuable, such as the turkey or the canary. “Threatened & Extinct” describes some species that have been lost forever, and others on the brink. Birds have also had great mystical significance and “Revered & Adored” considers such species as the sacred ibis, believed by the ancient Egyptians to represent the god Thoth. 200 illustrations, 176 in color
240 pages, Hardcover
Published September 13, 2016
10 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Mark Avery
17 books13 followersMark Avery is an English scientist and naturalist. He writes about and comments on environmental issues. He worked for the RSPB for 25 years until standing down in April 2011 to go freelance. He was the RSPB’s Conservation Director for nearly 13 years.
Avery lives in rural Northamptonshire and is a member of the RSPB, the Wildlife Trusts, the BTO and the National Trust for Scotland. He is a trustee of the World Land Trust.
Avery lives in rural Northamptonshire and is a member of the RSPB, the Wildlife Trusts, the BTO and the National Trust for Scotland. He is a trustee of the World Land Trust.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 12, 2022
5 Stars
I absolutely adored this book by Mark Avery.
As a bird and nature lover, I still find nature books to be very hit or miss. I am so glad that this was not only a joy to read and that is taught me a decent amount but also that it is a feast for the eyes. The illustrations and images used are so gorgeous and really add a lot to this brilliant book.
I love that the book is very different to anything I've ever read. It is split up into 8 sections:
Songbirds
Birds of Prey
Feathered Travellers
The Love Life of Birds
Avian Cities
Useful to Us
Threatened and extinct
Revered and Adored
It was a great way of looking at different aspects of birds and then by focusing on 6 or so birds in each section meant I was engaged and learning but not overwhelmed.
Its a perfect book and even a perfect cofffee table book for any nature lovers home.
I absolutely adored this book by Mark Avery.
As a bird and nature lover, I still find nature books to be very hit or miss. I am so glad that this was not only a joy to read and that is taught me a decent amount but also that it is a feast for the eyes. The illustrations and images used are so gorgeous and really add a lot to this brilliant book.
I love that the book is very different to anything I've ever read. It is split up into 8 sections:
Songbirds
Birds of Prey
Feathered Travellers
The Love Life of Birds
Avian Cities
Useful to Us
Threatened and extinct
Revered and Adored
It was a great way of looking at different aspects of birds and then by focusing on 6 or so birds in each section meant I was engaged and learning but not overwhelmed.
Its a perfect book and even a perfect cofffee table book for any nature lovers home.
April 22, 2021
This book was created with passion, you can just feel it. Its not just another coffee table book with pretty pictures, and smart writeups and luxurious binding. Its creator, Mark Avery, the scientist, naturalist and wildlife campaigner has imbued this work with soul. Not a single spread can I say was anything but stunning artwork by well known ornithologists like Prideaux John Selby, Harry Kirke Swann and of course John James Audubon and by others, lesser known to me like Jemima Blackburn, the incredible Victorian era Scottish woman who painted some truly lovely pictures. Also included is art by the great Japanese printmakers Hokusai and Hiroshige, engravings by Gustave Dore, Indian art, Medieval art all sorts of other visual feasts are contained within these pages. Here's a few spreads for you to see what I'm talking about.
https://thamesandhudson.com/remarkabl...
That being said, the accompanying text is no afterthought either. From picking which birds to include and what to tell us about them, the text does an appreciable job to delight, intrigue and amuse. Many times I curiously conducted my own parallel google searches that led me to clips such as :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSB71...
Where the sweet sir David Attenborough tells us about the vocal capabilities of male lyrebirds, so named for the lyre like shape of their tailfeathers.
The creamy matte sepia toned paper is perfect for the old timey ornithological illustrations. Binding is lovely and sturdy and sown in.
I learnt about a lot of birds that I didn't know about. I'm not a big bird enthusiast beyond the few bossy babblers who bully me into feeding them every winter and a crow pheasant that I see creeping about the bushes at dusk, up to some dodgy business no doubt. I didn't know that the harpy eagle, named after the Greek mythological bird monsters looked the way it did. Its honestly trippy.
https://www.daily-dust.com/harpy-eagle/
I mean I could probably go on and on. This is such a great book. A modern classic in my eyes and a great way to get informed about conservation efforts and what we would be losing if we don't act now.
https://thamesandhudson.com/remarkabl...
That being said, the accompanying text is no afterthought either. From picking which birds to include and what to tell us about them, the text does an appreciable job to delight, intrigue and amuse. Many times I curiously conducted my own parallel google searches that led me to clips such as :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSB71...
Where the sweet sir David Attenborough tells us about the vocal capabilities of male lyrebirds, so named for the lyre like shape of their tailfeathers.
The creamy matte sepia toned paper is perfect for the old timey ornithological illustrations. Binding is lovely and sturdy and sown in.
I learnt about a lot of birds that I didn't know about. I'm not a big bird enthusiast beyond the few bossy babblers who bully me into feeding them every winter and a crow pheasant that I see creeping about the bushes at dusk, up to some dodgy business no doubt. I didn't know that the harpy eagle, named after the Greek mythological bird monsters looked the way it did. Its honestly trippy.
https://www.daily-dust.com/harpy-eagle/
I mean I could probably go on and on. This is such a great book. A modern classic in my eyes and a great way to get informed about conservation efforts and what we would be losing if we don't act now.
December 31, 2018
Fantásticas ilustraciones y textos muy interesantes. El mejor regalo de Navidad.
December 4, 2016
This wasn't just an interesting book, I found the experience of reading it quite curious. I was keen to read a 'nice' book from Mark Avery and this looked pretty sumptuous with that fabulous pelican on the cover. The introduction was promising with the way the book was divided up into categories of species appealing (for example a section on threatened birds - the extinct and the back from the brink)
And then, after diving eagerly in, for a while it felt as if I was swimming through treacle and I am not entirely sure why. I think perhaps I felt weighed down by the illustrations, as if the project pairing Avery's words with old paintings hadn't quite worked... there are a lot of brown birds in nature and although this wasn't much about them, that was the feeling I was getting somehow. I think I needed more variety of illustrative style - I particularly welcomed the Japanese painting of the raven.
Somewhere along the line, I got with the programme again. There was something about it that reminded me of a more expansive, and thus even more satisfying and delicious, Tweet of the Day. I particularly applaud the decision to determine the length of each entry by what there was to say rather than writing to a set length for each species.
And then, after diving eagerly in, for a while it felt as if I was swimming through treacle and I am not entirely sure why. I think perhaps I felt weighed down by the illustrations, as if the project pairing Avery's words with old paintings hadn't quite worked... there are a lot of brown birds in nature and although this wasn't much about them, that was the feeling I was getting somehow. I think I needed more variety of illustrative style - I particularly welcomed the Japanese painting of the raven.
Somewhere along the line, I got with the programme again. There was something about it that reminded me of a more expansive, and thus even more satisfying and delicious, Tweet of the Day. I particularly applaud the decision to determine the length of each entry by what there was to say rather than writing to a set length for each species.
July 21, 2023
A one-way ticket to birdwatching.
August 17, 2025
Sumbled upon this book totally randomly and loved that the luck brought this one to me at this exact time of my life.
It has not a scientist approach, but is rather full of miscellaneous anecdote about plentiful of birds species, their behavior, most uncommonly characteristics, relation to our culture. The fact that all the page are bedecked by stunning illustration from various sources and times only enhance the experience.
May i add that i was glad for the prose which flows beautifully specially for a wildlife book.
Each section passed, i couldn't stop doing my own research and marvel at the result.
A wonderful book for all bird lovers
It has not a scientist approach, but is rather full of miscellaneous anecdote about plentiful of birds species, their behavior, most uncommonly characteristics, relation to our culture. The fact that all the page are bedecked by stunning illustration from various sources and times only enhance the experience.
May i add that i was glad for the prose which flows beautifully specially for a wildlife book.
Each section passed, i couldn't stop doing my own research and marvel at the result.
A wonderful book for all bird lovers
November 11, 2020
Это самая красивая - из популярных - книжка про птиц, что я видела. Давно мечтала о чем-то таком - чтобы кто-нибудь наконец снабдил новую книгу хорошо напечатанными антикварными орнитологическими иллюстрациями в полную страницу. Это прекрасный подарок (в моем случае себе самой) и радость от владения ею стоит каждого потраченного рубля.
В плане информативности она скорее для тех, кто про птиц знает совсем мало, и для меня в текстах многовато восторженного бла-бла, но картинки все искупают, все.
В плане информативности она скорее для тех, кто про птиц знает совсем мало, и для меня в текстах многовато восторженного бла-бла, но картинки все искупают, все.
December 31, 2019
Ok. Nothing more.
April 14, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. Small chapters with several different birds that share one particular attribute. The articles are informative and brief and has beautiful art.
October 1, 2016
What a lovely and informative book, it would make an excellent gift to any birder or naturalist (or anyone, really!).
In each chapter, Avery writes about several birds that are all linked (e.g 'Birds of Prey' or 'Feathered Travellers'). Their life cycles and influences are nicely explained, and beautiful artworks from various artists acompany each page. :)
In each chapter, Avery writes about several birds that are all linked (e.g 'Birds of Prey' or 'Feathered Travellers'). Their life cycles and influences are nicely explained, and beautiful artworks from various artists acompany each page. :)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews