Birdpedia: A Brief Compendium of Avian Lore
by Christopher W. Leahy
From Princeton University Press:
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.
Birdpedia is a miscellany of bird information, from migration to Audubon to birds in politics. It is basically a slimmed-down version of the author’s previous book, The Birdwatcher’s Companion. While that older volume was fodder for serious birders, this book’s target audience seems to be, as the author puts it, “curious reader[s]”. But no matter who you are, I bet you’ll learn something here.
Birdpedia: A Brief Compendium of Avian Lore
by Christopher W. Leahy
Hardcover; 272 pages
Princeton University Press; July 6, 2021
ISBN: 9780691209661
$16.95
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Posted by Grant McCreary on July 1st, 2021.
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