Bird (DK Eyewitness Books) Review
Dorling Kindersley have become well known for producing clear, visually oriented reference books for adults and children. They had previously published a score of smaller volumes on the subject of birds, but nothing quite like this: a definitive guide, as they claim. The book is best described as an encyclopaedia of birds. Measuring 30 x 25 cm (12″ x 10″) and weighing over 4.5 pounds, it has the heft of an encyclopaedia and certainly isn’t a field guide. At the same time it is an avian art gallery that exhibits some of the most exciting photographs of the world’s most wonderful birds.
The book is split into three parts. The 44 page introduction discusses physiology, flight, behaviour, conservation and more. It is nicely concise, making use of numerous photographs and diagrams to explain what birds are. The second, 28-page section explores habitats in the same way. This leaves the lion’s share – some 390 pages – for the systematic accounts, which cover all bird families and a selection of over 1,200 species. There is an introductory section for each taxonomic group – species are grouped by Order in the case of Non-passerines and Family for the Passerines. The majority of species are illustrated by a photograph in addition to range map with a short text on the salient features of the bird.
An audio CD prepared by Cornell’s Macauley Library of Natural Sounds is included. It is a delightful audio sample of vocalisations from 60 species from around the world.
This is just the sort of book that would have engrossed me for hours as a child. I remember spending many a happy evening poring over my Mitchell Beazley World Atlas of Birds, which would have been the nearest equivalent back then. Already my kids have spent more time looking through the book than I have! It’s not too hard to imagine that this book, left idly on a coffee table, will persuade many a non-birding adult to pick up a pair of binoculars for the first time. In fact, it may just be the ideal book to explain to the fascination of birds to the uninitiated. I spend a lot of time watching birds in the wild and even I found myself gasping at some of the photographs. The double page spreads of a hunting Great Grey Owl, King Penguins under water, a Spotted Sandpiper chick hunkered down amongst leaf litter, Toco Toucan, Bohemian Waxwings and Northern Cardinal were, for me, particular evocative.
This is a book I can heartily recommend to birders of all stripes – especially beginning birders, armchair travellers and anyone who likes to celebrate the beauty and diversity of birds. A sort of book equivalent of David Attenborough’s “Life of Birds”.
Chris Sharpe, 4 June 2008. ISBN: 075663153X
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Customer Reviews
All I expected – Salvador Malenchini – Argentina
Good price for a superb book. Great edition, best photos (plenty of them), hard cover, good CD info. This is a very good choice for bird lovers, animal lovers, photo lovers, scene lovers, color lovers, etc.
Wonderful Book! – Evelyn Doherty – Hattiesburg, Mississippi United States
I bought this for my son, who has Aspergers. He gets obsessed with things, and now its birds. It doesn’t go too much into detail, so not what you would need if you were a Ornithologist. The book has beautiful pictures, and is perfect for a 12-year-old and his 30 something mother.
Amazing book – Patricia – Chile
Thousands of photographs of a worlwide selection of birds as well as information on migration, breeding, classification and life cycles.
I would highly recommend this book for everyone.
Incredible – Chance A. Dunlap –
What a book. Not a technical manual on any particular bird family, but an incredible production of photos and great information. This book will be enjoyed by anyone who opens it. Perfect for birdlovers, nature fanatics, and those who deserve an incredible gift.
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