The Wisdom of Birds: An Illustrated History of Ornithology Paperback – 7 Mar. 2011

It's a book? I read it?

This is a very serious, but beautifully-illustrated book; the whimsical title is slightly misleading. It is a history of ornithology from the seventeenth century to the present day. It is predominantly centred on Britain, but with important input from Europe and North America. It shows how legend and superstition gave way to systematic and serious study of birds and their behaviour. Not a light or easy read, but a worthwhile purchase for amateur and professional naturalists.

This is a work of love, a work of science and a work of art. The author's knowledge of his subject is immense and his ability to communicate excellent. I am no scientist but found myself completely absorbed by the information contained about common as well as exotic birds. I learned more from this book than any other I have read on the subject and couldn't wait to progress to Bird Sense.Special praise for the illustrations which are stunning, many from private collections which we would never otherwise have the chance to see.

This is an absolute gem of a book. Perhaps it's something of an esoteric subject, but then most of the books I buy come under this category. However, it is a book which is so readable and entertaining that just about anyone could appreciate it. For those interested in birds and bird-watching this is a must read. I've yet to read the same author's "Bird Sense", but that omission will be addressed in the very near future. Brilliant.

This book tells what we (humans) have learned about birds over the centuries. It is an excellent and lucid examination of Man's wisdom, or sometimes lack of it. Tim Birkhead is an academic who can communicate brilliantly with the ordinary reader. From bird intelligence, migration, physiology to reproduction, the author covers a wide range of material. The illustrations also are terrific. A 'must have' book for all bird lovers with any wisdom at all!

Really readable. We are not twitchers but intrigued by the birds in our cottage garden. It explains so much in layman terms. A book that you can just settle down to read even if you know nothing about birds. Definitely a buy if you ever wonder why birds behave they way they do!

I was loaned the book by a friend and decided I wanted my own copy. Very pleased with it. Thankyou

This book is an absolute must for anyone who loves birds - in all shapes and forms - as I do. I was delighted to finally manage to get an affordable copy after first seeing it at full-price in a bookshop.