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The Curious Bird Lover's Handbook
You don't have to be a dedicated birdwatcher to be a bird lover. Millions of us love the sight and sound of them. And yet most of us know very little about their remarkable behaviour, incredible diversity and the story of their evolution.
How do migrating birds know where to go?
Are birds really descended from dinosaurs?
How do birds have sex?
This handbook sets about answering every interesting question there is to ask about birds. There are over 10,000 species in the world, including over 500 in Britain, some rare and endangered, some bizarre and beautiful, others common and familiar. As this captivating and often humorous handbook reveals, all of them are fascinating.
The hardback edition titled "Bald Coot and Screaming Loon" was published in 2009. This paperback edition has been updated and includes a new foreword from the author.
How do migrating birds know where to go?
Are birds really descended from dinosaurs?
How do birds have sex?
This handbook sets about answering every interesting question there is to ask about birds. There are over 10,000 species in the world, including over 500 in Britain, some rare and endangered, some bizarre and beautiful, others common and familiar. As this captivating and often humorous handbook reveals, all of them are fascinating.
The hardback edition titled "Bald Coot and Screaming Loon" was published in 2009. This paperback edition has been updated and includes a new foreword from the author.
224 pages, Paperback
Published February 27, 2018
24 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 8, 2021
I used to read a lot of books like this as a kid - most of them written by Giles Brandreth. It's a collection of short snippets - some interesting facts, interspersed with segments of poetry, "letters to the Times", and pointless little lists such as birds whose names describe what they look like (crossbill, blackcap, redwing,...)
This type of thing was probably more impressive in the 70s, but nowadays it just reads as though the author has done an Internet search for "birds" and scribbled down every result that came up. In fact, in the introduction he admits that, 6 months before writing the book, he knew nothing about birds. It's also surprisingly out of date, having been written in 2009, and it repeats itself quite often and quite often contains factual errors. Still, it's a quick and often interesting read, the kind of thing you might give as a Christmas present.
This type of thing was probably more impressive in the 70s, but nowadays it just reads as though the author has done an Internet search for "birds" and scribbled down every result that came up. In fact, in the introduction he admits that, 6 months before writing the book, he knew nothing about birds. It's also surprisingly out of date, having been written in 2009, and it repeats itself quite often and quite often contains factual errors. Still, it's a quick and often interesting read, the kind of thing you might give as a Christmas present.
December 6, 2017
Most people have fleeting glimpses of wildlife every day, occasionally mammals, but most frequently birds. You will see them out of your office windows, or hear them singing and if you have a bird table they will frequent your garden too. But even though we encounter them fairly often, most people know very little about them, their habits and just how we have ended up with such a diverse range of different types.
In this book Niall Edworthy aims to enlighten us to the facts, figures of the 10,000 different species of birds and how they have evolved, how they survive and other fascinating aspects of their lives. We will find out what bird lives the longest, the number of heartbeats per minutes, why some eat grit and if they are intelligent or not.
It is full of facts, poems sketches and irreverent details on our feathered friends, but I think this is more of a book for the general reader rather than the dedicated birder. There were some factual errors, such as peregrine speed claimed to be 180km/h then elsewhere as 180mph when they have been clocked much faster. Ok overall really.
In this book Niall Edworthy aims to enlighten us to the facts, figures of the 10,000 different species of birds and how they have evolved, how they survive and other fascinating aspects of their lives. We will find out what bird lives the longest, the number of heartbeats per minutes, why some eat grit and if they are intelligent or not.
It is full of facts, poems sketches and irreverent details on our feathered friends, but I think this is more of a book for the general reader rather than the dedicated birder. There were some factual errors, such as peregrine speed claimed to be 180km/h then elsewhere as 180mph when they have been clocked much faster. Ok overall really.
April 20, 2024
Great read packed full of facts and information on birds written with a touch of humour
June 22, 2017
Loved it, loved it, loved it. For someone who likes birds the book is full of really good information written in a really accessible way.
September 5, 2024
3.75. At times a bit too simplistic for me but I understand that the target audience is the general public that loves birds. Made trivial affairs out of more serious topics but then in the last section of the book about birds survival took the time to explain the current challenges facing bird populations, and what needs to be done. Full of interesting fun facts that I didn't know about, which I appreciated. I definitely think it's an amazing book for someone who has a slight interest in birds and want to learn more, to get interested in other topics and developing their knowledge. Referenced important people in Ornithology I hadn't heard of before and studies I want to know more about. The Curious Bird Lover's Handbook made me curiouser for sure.
September 5, 2017
If you're a bird lover, then this is just the perfect little book for you. Full of facts and interesting information, this is a book to pick and and put down and enjoy in small bite sized reads in order to savour it. This makes for a wonderful gift option as well as buying for yourself.
April 12, 2018
As a bird watcher I found this book fascinating. It is a volume to be dipped into not one to read from start to finish..
It is full of interesting and often obscure facts and figures.
I will return to it time and again with enjoyment.
It is full of interesting and often obscure facts and figures.
I will return to it time and again with enjoyment.
July 12, 2020
A fun, quick read - a collection of brief articles about birds, focusing on things that are odd and little-known. The only downside for me is that I've never heard of about 1/2 the birds mentioned in the book, since the author is in Britain and I'm in Canada.
August 4, 2023
A quick read filled with facts about birds. There are many little details about birds which we might not even have thought about, like, why do birds lay eggs? How do they know when and where to migrate? Why do they eat grit? And things like that. It’s a fun read with some beautiful poems on birds.
October 17, 2019
Ok book but with incorrect info
Stopped reading ..
Stopped reading ..
June 16, 2022
Nicely illustrated and lots of interesting bits of information, but the scrapbook format and, at times, outdated or poorly researched facts made it a difficult book to finish.
June 27, 2022
A nice enough little book about birds! I liked the facts however the out of context poetry felt a bit like it was just shoved in to fill space!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews