Birdpedia: A Brief Compendium of Avian Lore

by Christopher W. Leahy, Abby McBride (Illustrator)

A captivating A-Z treasury about birds and birding



Birdpedia is an engaging illustrated compendium of bird facts and birding lore. Featuring nearly 200 entries--on topics ranging from plumage and migration to birds in art, literature, and folklore--this enticing collection is brimming with wisdom and wit about all things avian.

Christopher Leahy sheds light on hawk-watching, twitching, and other rituals from the sometimes mystifying world of birding that entail a good deal more than their names imply. He explains what kind of bird's nests you can eat, why mocking birds mock, and many other curiosities that have induced otherwise sane people to peer into treetops using outrageously expensive optical equipment. Leahy shares illuminating insights about pioneering ornithologists such as John James Audubon and Florence Bailey, and describes unique bird behaviors such as anting, caching, duetting, and mobbing. He discusses avian fossils, the colloquial naming of birds, the science and history of ornithology, and more. The book's convenient size makes it the perfect traveling companion to take along on your own avian adventures.

With charming illustrations by Abby McBride, Birdpedia is a marvelous mix of fact and fancy that is certain to delight seasoned birders and armchair naturalists alike.Features a real cloth cover with an elaborate foil-stamped design

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

273 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 6, 2021

About the author

Also known as Christopher Leahy

Reviews

[Shyamal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Might be something interesting for someone new to birds but for the more knowledgeable, it would be a slipshod collection of entries from an encyclopedia and one would be better off reading up on Wikipedia where one could also trace sources.

[mahaha]

i’m going to be dropping “crepuscular” into casual convo

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this is not dry and purely factual in the way an encyclopedia is, I personally found it to be even better. It's a warm, pleasant read covering a myriad of topics related to bird observation - notable people from its history, observation strategies, habitat info, biological info, and -as promised in the title - a bit of lore. What a joy!

[Carol Bedin · Rating 3 out of 5]

My kids gave me this for Christmas, lots of fun bird facts in pretty random order. Good bedtime reading.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful and informative book of random bird/birding/birder facts compiled in alphabetical order. Opening the book of delightful tidbits of bird information is like diving into a box of chocolates-- you never know what you'll get. For example, a brief bio of Eleanora of Arborea is followed by a longer section on Evolution of Bird Life; a section on birds in Painting is followed by a bio of Roger Tory Peterson, and then by Piracy and Plumage.

The author has accumulated and compiled much information about the origins, structures, senses, migration, and other aspects of bird life, as well as details about literature and arts that celebrate birds. Biographies of important names in ornithology are included.

I learned new things about giant birds, women who advanced bird conservation, birds in politics, bird songs and mimicry, and much more.

[Josh M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Suitable for a quick casual read due to its modular and bite sized sections, this book fills a casual and time filling nook. I cant imagine an avid avian pupil could gain much from its shallow/short inductions and I also cant imagine that an avian newbie (like me) could catch more than a few basic facts due to the word choice and assumptions made of base knowledge. Although its not my job to worry about the audiences reception, or the number of book sales, etc, I could tell there was not a trivial amount of knowledge left on the table to this gap.

[Marjie C-O · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up. Both educational and entertaining. The author did belabor some (for me) unnecessary topics, such as how various birds taste when cooked. Surely there are myriad other bird and bird-related subjects more worthy of discussion, especially at such length. But overall a pleasure to dip into a broad range of avian attributes in this manner.

[Abe Something]

I can't rate this --it is truly an alphabetized collection of encyclopedic entries on bird behavior, birding, and famous birders.

Despite this, I read the book from cover to cover, like any maniac who opts to read an encyclopedia would. I learned a few very cool things about birds, I was introduced to some famous birder/conservationists, and I am better for it.

[ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was so much fun to read, i love bird facts. and i think the best part about this is that i can read this book 1000 times and i know it’ll be so fun every time because i’ll never be able to retain all this information. loved it!! cant wait to read my Insect book 🤗🤗🤗

[Brian Hutzell · Rating 5 out of 5]

One need not be an avid birder to enjoy this "brief compendium of avian lore." This is the fifth book in Princeton Press's "Pedia" series that I've read, and it is my favorite so far.

[Jo Rootkevitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

First non-fiction book of the year and enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. Dry humor and a wealth of information on birds. Will return to it.

[Izzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good intro if you like birds and want to know basic information on them without it being too overwhelming.

[AnaMaria Mendoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

just a bunch of fun facts about birds and birding, what more could a girl want!

[Vjera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun entries and cross references. Most things I knew but a few new. I like the feel, size, and color of the book (soft texture, small, and yellow).

[William Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great compedium of all the things any bird-aficianado should know. A primer to the common knowledge of birders. Broken up into bite-size, encyclopedia-esque articles.

[Elliott Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m gonna start a birding club because of this book

[Gabie Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love you bird facts

[Brian Bohmueller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid avian info organized and written well with the occasional bit of humor. The illustrations are hit or miss. Overall a good bird primer.

[Mere Flesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect to take on a walk and, if desired, packed with enough interesting facts to make YOU seem interesting while you take that date out on their first birding adventure. You nerd.

Well-organized. Small enough to fit comfortably in your pocket. Engaging. Surprising!

[Marie Hesler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love to read books about birds.