Human Nature of Birds: A Scientific Discovery with Startling Implications

by Theodore Xenophon Barber

A provocative new study of birds, humans, and the deepest prejudices of Western science--developed from six years of independent research by a behavioral scientist. In the spirit of the New York Times bestseller The Hidden Life of Dogs. Color photos.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Animals, Nature, Birds

226 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1993

Reviews

[Rebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Contrary to some other users who reviewed this book, I enjoyed its anecdotes and agreed with the author that anecdotes serve an important function in that birds, like humans, are individuals, and two birds from the same species can be very different from one another.
The information presented in this book was fascinating and entertaining to read. I feel that I know much more about birds now and have an increased appreciation of their abilities and, more broadly, their very existence.
However, the book's organization could have been better, and towards the end of the book, the author goes off on a tangent about other animals with intelligence (interesting, but not related to the topic as stated in the book's title) and about humanity's degradation of the planet (not so interesting, just the same old statistics and doom-and-gloom, which, though true and important, is not what I wanted to read about when I picked up this book). The book ends with an unscientific prediction that humanity will become enlightened in its view of the earth and other animals--a prediction I find far-fetched. I wish the author had stuck to his topic, spending more time on the intelligence of birds, instead of spending so much of the book on the "startling implications" part, which was opinion and not science. Nonetheless, I'd recommend this highly for its information and anecdotes on birds.

[Mary Amato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intelligence, instincts, friendships, emotions--Barber covers it in a direct way. Love his chapter on friendship with humans, in particular.

[Rachel Darling · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent read. In 2025, biological science does in fact recognize that animals have personalities and intelligence (though we still use scientific jargon to define exactly which facet of these words we are examining).

I would argue that attributing “human nature” to birds is itself too human-centric, though perhaps not for the lay public that is mostly unaware of other species’ behaviors. We can talk and write about intelligence, emotions (as indicated by behavioral responses - we can’t actually interview most birds to see what they’re ‘feeling’), and problem solving without making reference to humans at all. We are, in fact, just one type of animal.

[Carolyn]

A treatise on the intelligence and awareness of birds. Emphasizes their ability to connect meaningfully with other birds and their ability to feel emotions akin to joy, love and grief. Birds are amazing creatures. Gave me newfound respect for Aves.

[Liv · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping for harder science, and fewer anecdotes. :S Very nice piece of work if you want to hear about people and their pets, but I think this emphasis detracts from the books goals as I perceived them. Spends quite a bit of time "railing" against the current dogma in animal behaviour. Whether or not that's warranted, it's not helpful in that quantity, and subsequently backing your side up with a few stories about a budgie falling in love is not convincing and makes you look like a fluff bunny.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Birds have far more going on in their minds than many people would imagine or even wish to know. The author argues that birds are intelligent, sentient beings—not the feathered automata that scientists once thought.

Of course, the moral and social implications of this information is clear. As a whole, our treatment of birds has been rather abysmal.