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Extreme Birds: The World's Most Extraordinary and Bizarre Birds
A photographic showcase of 150 birds at the extremes of nature
Extreme Birds reveals nature's ingenuity and sometimes its sense of humor. The species showcased in this book are chosen for their extraordinary characteristics and for behaviors far beyond the typical. They are the biggest, the fastest, the meanest, the smartest. They build the most intricate nests, they have the most peculiar mating rituals, and they dive the deepest or fly the highest. These are the overachievers of the avian world.
Extreme Birds reveals nature's ingenuity and sometimes its sense of humor. The species showcased in this book are chosen for their extraordinary characteristics and for behaviors far beyond the typical. They are the biggest, the fastest, the meanest, the smartest. They build the most intricate nests, they have the most peculiar mating rituals, and they dive the deepest or fly the highest. These are the overachievers of the avian world.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published October 10, 2008
3 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
Dominic Couzens
83 books16 followersDominic Couzens is an expert bird guide and author. He has published numerous books and articles on natural history, including for BBC Wildlife and Bird Watching, specialising in birds and mammals. His books include Extreme Birds, Atlas of Rare Birds, The Secret Lives of Garden Birds, and Top 100 Birding Sites of the World.
He travels widely for writing and speaking, and his website is www.birdwords.co.uk.
He travels widely for writing and speaking, and his website is www.birdwords.co.uk.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 20, 2020
In addition to being a gorgeous coffee table book, this heavy volume is packed with information, and is truly an astounding "world records" book about our amazing feathered friends!
What bird has the widest wingspan? Why, it's Wandering Albatross. With wings that span 12 feet and up, this bird needs to coast on air currents because it's too exhausting to flap those tremendous wings too many times.
The Peregrine Falcon rates as the fastest. During a dive to catch prey, this bird has been clocked at an astounding 112 mph. The force of the impact is usually enough to break the victim's neck instantly.
In case you were wondering, the longest nonstop journey made by any bird is the 6,460 mile trek made by the Bar-Tailed Godwit. After breeding in Siberia, they travel, without touching dry land to spend the winter in Australia and New Zealand.
One of the silliest birds you'll ever meet? New Zealand's Kea. These birds love to torment hikers by stealing food, and mugs. Then they slide down the sides of tents, delivering an early morning wake-up call to all those slumbering inside. They also slide down snowy slopes on their backs, and have even been seen making snowballs.
Some of the categories may be stretching it - the most useful esophagus? Really? Turns out it belongs to the Greater Prairie Chicken. The male inflates it to attract females: the rosy-red color and loud booming sound is apparently irresistible to the ladies.
Some of nature's biggest binge eaters are the Andean Condors - they frequently overindulge in yummy carcasses so much that they cannot take flight. Their only choices? Stay on the ground for hours until things digest, or vomit up the excess food until they can take off. Bet this kind of makes you look a little more favorably on your Thanksgiving guests, eh?
And, finally - here's my own story about my encounters with the world's deadliest bird - the Cassowary.
The third largest of all living birds, these creatures rarely attack unless provoked, but when they do strike, they can use their large and nasty claws to slash, stab, and disembowel a victim.
Indeed, the one summer I spent working at a small zoo, the owner told me he feared the cassowary more than the tiger. It was my job to help feed in the early mornings, and a large number of the zoo's animals were fed Purina Monkey Chow. (Seems weird, I know, but it does provide a "complete and balanced diet" for any number of critters.) The female Cassowary liked to hang around while I was feeding. We were supposed to toss several handfuls of chow over the fence, then be on our way, but one day I sat cross-legged on the ground and shoveled the dry rectangles under the gate. To my surprise, this deadly predator sat down opposite me, and ate as I pushed the food her way. Was she starving? Curious? Hoping to nab one of my fingers? Or just enjoying some companionship during a meal? I'll never know, but it became "our thing" every morning until I returned to college in the fall. So, yeah - that's my "thrilling" tale of wildlife adventure.
But, back to the book - I highly recommend it to all bird and nature lovers! It's the next best thing to going bird-watching. (And, unless you drop the book on your toe, it's probably safer, as well.)
What bird has the widest wingspan? Why, it's Wandering Albatross. With wings that span 12 feet and up, this bird needs to coast on air currents because it's too exhausting to flap those tremendous wings too many times.
The Peregrine Falcon rates as the fastest. During a dive to catch prey, this bird has been clocked at an astounding 112 mph. The force of the impact is usually enough to break the victim's neck instantly.
In case you were wondering, the longest nonstop journey made by any bird is the 6,460 mile trek made by the Bar-Tailed Godwit. After breeding in Siberia, they travel, without touching dry land to spend the winter in Australia and New Zealand.
One of the silliest birds you'll ever meet? New Zealand's Kea. These birds love to torment hikers by stealing food, and mugs. Then they slide down the sides of tents, delivering an early morning wake-up call to all those slumbering inside. They also slide down snowy slopes on their backs, and have even been seen making snowballs.
Some of the categories may be stretching it - the most useful esophagus? Really? Turns out it belongs to the Greater Prairie Chicken. The male inflates it to attract females: the rosy-red color and loud booming sound is apparently irresistible to the ladies.
Some of nature's biggest binge eaters are the Andean Condors - they frequently overindulge in yummy carcasses so much that they cannot take flight. Their only choices? Stay on the ground for hours until things digest, or vomit up the excess food until they can take off. Bet this kind of makes you look a little more favorably on your Thanksgiving guests, eh?
And, finally - here's my own story about my encounters with the world's deadliest bird - the Cassowary.
The third largest of all living birds, these creatures rarely attack unless provoked, but when they do strike, they can use their large and nasty claws to slash, stab, and disembowel a victim.
Indeed, the one summer I spent working at a small zoo, the owner told me he feared the cassowary more than the tiger. It was my job to help feed in the early mornings, and a large number of the zoo's animals were fed Purina Monkey Chow. (Seems weird, I know, but it does provide a "complete and balanced diet" for any number of critters.) The female Cassowary liked to hang around while I was feeding. We were supposed to toss several handfuls of chow over the fence, then be on our way, but one day I sat cross-legged on the ground and shoveled the dry rectangles under the gate. To my surprise, this deadly predator sat down opposite me, and ate as I pushed the food her way. Was she starving? Curious? Hoping to nab one of my fingers? Or just enjoying some companionship during a meal? I'll never know, but it became "our thing" every morning until I returned to college in the fall. So, yeah - that's my "thrilling" tale of wildlife adventure.
But, back to the book - I highly recommend it to all bird and nature lovers! It's the next best thing to going bird-watching. (And, unless you drop the book on your toe, it's probably safer, as well.)
January 24, 2022
For all of those who are out there and enjoying the world of birds whether you are actual birders or just enjoy reading about them here is a book to please your eye. Although a bit clunky the reader is introduced to the winners of so many different avian extremes whether found in breeding, traveling, parenting, growing up and so man other topics.
The book is divided into different categories that explore extreme body parts, behavior and lifestyle. With each change of chapter there is a listing of extreme titles but no giveaway as to who will be receiving it although the reader well-versed in birds may be able to guess some of the winners. From there the book explores in a two-page spread the title as well as the winner by displaying a picture of the bird followed by an information page.
The only thing I didn't like about this presentation was that it listed what the bird was known for as an attribute and in most cases it was just a repeat of the titular achievement thus was repetitive. And then there were a few spots where a word was missing or misspelled but not enough to take away from the whole.
This book with its bright photographs for illustrations and its easy-to-read pages will make for a great present to those who love birds in general and even to the avid birders that you may know.
The book is divided into different categories that explore extreme body parts, behavior and lifestyle. With each change of chapter there is a listing of extreme titles but no giveaway as to who will be receiving it although the reader well-versed in birds may be able to guess some of the winners. From there the book explores in a two-page spread the title as well as the winner by displaying a picture of the bird followed by an information page.
The only thing I didn't like about this presentation was that it listed what the bird was known for as an attribute and in most cases it was just a repeat of the titular achievement thus was repetitive. And then there were a few spots where a word was missing or misspelled but not enough to take away from the whole.
This book with its bright photographs for illustrations and its easy-to-read pages will make for a great present to those who love birds in general and even to the avid birders that you may know.
June 23, 2017
Oh my gosh, this is a gorgeous book. Just beautiful in every way--the photos, the fonts, the design, the colours of the pages--and so entertainingly written! It's a book-lover's book, one that makes you realize something is lost online, and that books still have unique value amidst all the nature videos on offer today. You want this in your hands. It's really exceptional. I just loved it. There were some familiar facts, and much completely new to me. It captured the awe-inspiring diversity of nature and reminded me what a wonderful world this is. Reading this book is enough to make you laugh at any ideas we have as to what sort of behaviour is 'natural.' There's a bit of everything on display here, with gorgeous plumage.
November 8, 2022
A fabulous book! Admittedly, the "extreme" banner is a bit exaggerated, and the awards ("cleverest hunter", "strangest way to cool off") are often subjective, but that's all just a fun premise to explore the wonderful diversity of birds, many of which truly are quite extraordinary and bizarre. It's a large coffee-table-style book, and each two-page spread features a gorgeous picture and a few fascinating paragraphs about some kind of bird - from large to small, from pole to pole, from albatross to woodpecker.
I learned so many remarkable things about so many birds. Yes, yes, everyone knows about the albatross's wingspan and the peregrine falcon's speed... but did you know about the ptarmigan's multiple plumage changes to stay camouflaged in different seasons? Or the jacana's long toes that let them live their entire lives on lily pads? I was most awed by many of the complex abilities and behaviors related to defenses, eating, or movement. A small warning: since much of animal life involves that struggle to acquire a mate and pass on those genes, don't be surprised that a good proportion of the book's content revolves around, shall we say, the birds and the bees, from tender courtship rituals to some more scandalous sexual proclivities. It's great for consuming in small chunks, a few pages at a time, and I often found myself pausing to look up more information about these amazing creatures.
I learned so many remarkable things about so many birds. Yes, yes, everyone knows about the albatross's wingspan and the peregrine falcon's speed... but did you know about the ptarmigan's multiple plumage changes to stay camouflaged in different seasons? Or the jacana's long toes that let them live their entire lives on lily pads? I was most awed by many of the complex abilities and behaviors related to defenses, eating, or movement. A small warning: since much of animal life involves that struggle to acquire a mate and pass on those genes, don't be surprised that a good proportion of the book's content revolves around, shall we say, the birds and the bees, from tender courtship rituals to some more scandalous sexual proclivities. It's great for consuming in small chunks, a few pages at a time, and I often found myself pausing to look up more information about these amazing creatures.
July 11, 2023
Just a note to self. In my experience families go through these obsessions--ping pong tournaments, chess, particular sports, and so on, and this is true for mine, too. We all got into somewhat more serious birding lately, though the Cornell Bird App, and so suddenly all these bird books like this show up strewn around the house. This one is cool. I would have liked it at 7 or 17 or (now) 70, as the pics the team chose for all the weird birds are fantastic. Extraordinary and bizarre, yep.
It's one of those Guinness Book of World Records books, in a way: Longest Legs, Widest Wingspan, Smelliest, Longest penis (true! Lake Duck in South America, cuz you wanted to know, admit it), biggest, smallest, most voracious appetite, produces the most eggs, and so on.
It's one of those Guinness Book of World Records books, in a way: Longest Legs, Widest Wingspan, Smelliest, Longest penis (true! Lake Duck in South America, cuz you wanted to know, admit it), biggest, smallest, most voracious appetite, produces the most eggs, and so on.
November 14, 2019
This might fall into the category of "coffee table book" due to the 100+ beautiful photos, but the accompanying text is full of fascinating details about tons of different species of birds. You'l learn, for example, which bird has the largest testes. You may then gaze upon his proud face and find yourself wishing you were him.
December 30, 2023
One of the BEST “bird books” I’ve read. I especially loved the fact that it was 1 bird per page. Easy enough to follow and not packed full of nonsense info. Also, had a bit of comedy in it too, which I again loved!
December 12, 2017
fun book with great photos.
May 16, 2023
An excellent resource for the unit we are studying, the children loved this book.
April 28, 2013
And The Winner Is------
This extraordinary picture book is like an oversized Field Guide to strange and unusual birds. It's also a testament to the power and creativity of Natural and Sexual Selection. Science tells us that birds may have evolved from dinosaurs and the cold, malevolent, stare of the Shoebill hints that this could be the case. Couzens starts out the book with a brief introduction followed by a series of stunning photo's under four different headings: Extreme Form, Ability, Behavior and Families. Each bird listed gets a full page (11 X 10 in.) photo accompanied by a short essay on what makes that bird "extreme". There are about 260 photo's ranging from the smallest Bee Hummingbird to the largest Ostrich. The picture credits at the end of the book lists all the photographers whose work is included. Anyone familiar with birding and nature magazines will probably recognize some of the names. The sheer variety of birds listed in this book is staggering. Oddities such as Hornbills, Bee-eaters, Lyrebirds and the Bird of Paradise are just the tip of the iceberg. For birders, nature lovers or photographers this book is essential reading. The essays pack a lot of information onto one page, giving the reader a glimpse into bird biology, behavior, coloration and relationships. As to which bird is the most bizarre; well my favorite has always been the Hoatzin, it's like looking back in time to some strange reptile/bird hybrid. But I'm sure you'll have your own opinion on that. So check this book out, study the candidates, weigh the issues and cast your vote for the most Extreme Bird.
Last Ranger
July 27, 2011
Dominic Couzens has compiled a sort of Guinness Book of Bird Records with this offering. It includes all sorts of records set by birds in a lot of categories you would not have guessed. There is, for instance, the smelliest bird, the crested auklet, which smells like tangerines (from the caption, you’d think he’d have picked something truly offensive). There’s also the most poisonous bird, which is aptly named the hooded pitohui. There are also categories for “snuggest underwear,” “ugliest looks” (the marabou stork – and the article about this particular species is a must-read), “longest tongue,” and “worst flier,” just to name a few. For bird watchers and enthusiasts, who will be delighted with the high quality photographs and glimpses into the fascinating lives and varieties of birds presented in this fun book.
December 3, 2014
Holy heck! Who knew birds were so interesting and diverse? I mean, yes, lots of colors, some in the tundra, some in trees, some in water, big feathers, little bills, twit twit, caw caw. But birds with neurotoxins on their feathers? Or ones that create and use tools? How about birds that perform dances cross-species to help one species mate? Here are birds that kick their prey to death...including humans! Some birds spend their entire lives building intricate nests, replete with pebbled walkways up to the "gate" for no other purpose to interest a mate... who then builds her own nest. Other birds don't mate until they are 18 years old. And let's not forget the ugliest birds, smelliest, worst fliers, longest tongued and the heaviest testes- making up 8% of the birds weight and weighing more than their brains.
August 7, 2009
Excellent photos and filled with fun facts!
1. An ostrich's eye measures 2 inches in diameter and is 5x larger than a human eye. (It is also the largest eye of any land mammal and is comparable to the body size of the smallest hummingbird. Astonishing!)
2. The bee hummingbird's nest is 3/4 inch in diameter as well as depth.
3. The southern cassowary has stabbed and disemboweled humans. Since 1990 there have been six serious attacks on humans, one in which a zookeeper was killed.
4. Africa's marabou stork regularly kills flamingos as tourists watch. Gruesome!
5. A male African sandgrouse soaks his belly feathers in water before returning to the nest, where the chicks gather under him to get a drink.
1. An ostrich's eye measures 2 inches in diameter and is 5x larger than a human eye. (It is also the largest eye of any land mammal and is comparable to the body size of the smallest hummingbird. Astonishing!)
2. The bee hummingbird's nest is 3/4 inch in diameter as well as depth.
3. The southern cassowary has stabbed and disemboweled humans. Since 1990 there have been six serious attacks on humans, one in which a zookeeper was killed.
4. Africa's marabou stork regularly kills flamingos as tourists watch. Gruesome!
5. A male African sandgrouse soaks his belly feathers in water before returning to the nest, where the chicks gather under him to get a drink.
January 12, 2015
Birds are amazing ~ and this book highlights SO many peculiarities among different species! You'll never look to the sky quite the same way again...
The photos are stunning, and the stories are informative; sometimes touching, but often hilarious. I can't help but marvel not only at the critters themselves, but also at the humans who must have observed them closely enough to discover their secrets!
I shall continue to read any Dominic Couzens book I can get my beak ~ uh, "hands" on. (He is also the author of "100 Birds to See Before You Die," which was just as incredible as "Extreme Birds.")If you love birds, check out his books! If you don't love birds, check out his books... you'll be a bird lover after the first ten pages.
The photos are stunning, and the stories are informative; sometimes touching, but often hilarious. I can't help but marvel not only at the critters themselves, but also at the humans who must have observed them closely enough to discover their secrets!
I shall continue to read any Dominic Couzens book I can get my beak ~ uh, "hands" on. (He is also the author of "100 Birds to See Before You Die," which was just as incredible as "Extreme Birds.")If you love birds, check out his books! If you don't love birds, check out his books... you'll be a bird lover after the first ten pages.
August 25, 2010
Fun book full of large pictures of birds and fun facts about them. Not as many weird attributes as I was hoping for, and sometimes the bird photos didn't fully satisfy me (I want a photo of the attribute and a clear shot of the bird as well). Also, I think it would have benefitted from maps on each page with the bird's geographic regions marked (you know, like in the bird books). But I'm a map person. Sometimes (ok, often) the text got into either cheesey humor or boring content, so I don't think I'll be selling it to my primary audiences any time soon. But it was a fun one to have around the house for the last few days of my mom's visit for us to read parts of to each other.
February 21, 2012
The photographs in this book are very beautiful and I enjoyed the accompanying information about the bird and what makes it special. I learned a lot, actually. The book is large and somewhat cumbersome, so it is better to read in the daytime on the lap than at night in bed whilst laying on your side. It is also deceptively long. You'd think that with as short as the entries are it would be a breeze. Nope, it took longer than I had anticipated. Check out online the call of the three-wattled bellbird. It sounds a short siren burst.
It's a good read if you enjoy birds, love factoids or are interested in the animal kingdom in general.
It's a good read if you enjoy birds, love factoids or are interested in the animal kingdom in general.
November 29, 2008
This book was easy to flip through and had some great photos and information. It was fun, like I expected it to be. However, it suffers from "the cover photo is by far the best of the book" syndrome, as well as "shocking is the new entertaining" syndrome. You see, I wasn't expecting to read about which bird has the largest penis or which birds have the longest copulation. Um, why can't we stick to plumage, sounds, flight and brains for heavens sake? I think I just dated myself.
April 2, 2016
This book is amazing if you like birds! It has many different facts about types of birds and even their anatomy. What I really like about this book is that it is not just limited to the birds of north america it has birds from all around the world in it! If you are interested in ornithology or just plain like birds read this book!
August 18, 2011
Even if you aren't a birder, this is a fun and informative and at times astonishing book. Jerry got it for me at the library (its BIG and expensive). Longest courtship, fastest eater, loudest voice, loudest drumming, most promiscuous, etc. gorgeous photos as well.
July 28, 2015
The text is really good. It's like an encyclopedia of very specific bird behaviors. Fun to read with my 9-year-old, who wants to know, what is the fastest bird? What bird dives the deepest? Which bird eats the most, do owls eat cats, etc.
December 4, 2008
Another picture book I couldn't help from grabbing - really fun to read about those crazy birds - and some wonderful photographs!
June 2, 2012
so freaking interesting and awesome photos!
January 14, 2016
Lots of cool info.
June 21, 2016
Fascinating display of God's magnificent creation!
March 11, 2016
Amazing book, I only with there had been more detail.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews