The Wind Birds: Shorebirds of North America

by Peter Matthiessen

In this nature-writing classic, now available for the first time in paperback, National Book Award winner Petter Matthiessen captures the essence of the world's most fascinating group of birds. "The restlessness of shorebirds, their kinship with distance and swift seasons, the wistful signal of their voice down the long coastlines of the world make them, for me, the most affecting of wild creatures," writes Matthiessen. He conveys the biological and behavioral intricacies of shorebirds without dulling their romance and wonder.

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

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Peter Matthiessen is the author of more than thirty books and the only writer to win the National Book Award for both non-fiction (The Snow Leopard, in two categories, in 1979 and 1980) and fiction (Shadow Country, in 2008). A co-founder of The Paris Review and a world-renowned naturalist, explorer and activist, he died in April 2014.

Reviews

[Jerry Wall · Rating 4 out of 5]

What have the shorebirds to teach us? It takes someone who cares about such questions as Mattheissen to show us and this book is his delightful way of doing just that.Birds have much to admire in their ability to use 3 d space to move and play in, to relish and utilize. The birds have also much to show us in their adaptation and application of themselves to the environment.
The Eskimo Curlew made long transoceanic flights and its thin skin was stretched so taut with stored-up fat that in the days when it was shot by thousands from the sky, the fat would sometimes burst out of its breast when it struck the ground. In New England, for this reason, it was called the dough-bird. p. 57
I was one day watching a flock of plovers, quietly feeding on the ground, when, in a moment, all the birds were seized by a joyous madness, and each one, after making a vigorous peck at his nearest neighbor, began wildly running about, each trying in passing to peck other birds, while seeking by means of quick doublings to escape being pecked in return. p. 94
speaking of joyous madness .. . woodcock. . . plays feather music * * * the snipe may fly short distances upside down & also travel with such speed and force [to create] a zoom or boom * * *
causing this shy creature to be known in Europe as the "thunderbird." p. 96
. . . 80 to 93 percent of all wild-bird eggs fail to reach maturity. . . . p. 112

[Ross Mckinney · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Wind Birds" reflects Mathiessen's sincere love of shore birds. The prose is clear, but the organization is not what I would have chosen. Each chapter reflects some aspect of shore birds and their life: nesting, migration, gender behaviors. Within that chapter he bounces from species to species to species. It was hard to keep track. As a result, to be useful this is not a casual read. Like ruminations on the Torah from an aged rabbi, it helps if you already know the story. Recommended for geeks who live near mud flats. And for birders who might simply want to know more.

[Harry Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those birders or bird carvers that love shorebirds, this is an excellent book. A good study on comparative bird behaviors among various species as well as containing information on bird biology. There's an extensive bibliography for those interested in more specific information. I found Peter Matthiessen's style to be more conversational in tone & not overly professorial. Which is good because this could have been a very DRY book otherwise.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

“one hears them in the distance; in the hot summer stillness, the pearly whistle of the semipalmated plover stirs the heart.”

you’ll love this book if u already love shorebirds, otherwise u will think it’s boorrriiingggg

[Steve LaForest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shorebirds, natural history of Long Island.

[Wendy Feltham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, though it took me a very long time to read it. Peter Matthiessen is such a master writer and and naturalist, I thought I'd love it. I wonder if the organization of the book is why it took me so long to get through it? Or perhaps it's really meant for a more experienced birder than I am. I found it hard to sort through all the information to have a coherent understanding of any one species. Nevertheless, the illustrations and myriad of facts are fascinating, and I do recommend this book (for a serious birder!).

[Bob Peru · Rating 5 out of 5]

you learn a lot about shorebirds in this book. a whole lot in only 200 pages or so.