10 MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOKS ABOUT BIRDS NOW

1. BIRDS IN PICTURES

“Birds in Pictures,” by photographer Markus Varesvuo, offers a delightful portfolio of beautiful birds, ranging from piratical skuas in Shetland to dancing cranes in Japan. We’ve enjoyed Markus’ stories as well. The book is a little jewel.

New Holland Publishers.

2. THE WONDER OF BIRDS: WHAT THEY TELL US ABOUT OURSELVES, THE WORLD, AND A BETTER FUTURE

“The Wonder of Birds,” by Jim Robbins, is a fascinating look at the relationships between birds and humans. Robbins believes that birds are our most vital connection to nature because they are virtually omnipresent in one way or another. They inspire us with their song, their flight, their freedom. They cause us to look skyward. They urge us to dream.

Robbins also looks at how birds have helped human development, with everything from teaching us how to fly to providing us with clothing and food, to helping us better understand the human brain and body, to teaching us about being human in the natural world.

Offering views of cutting edge scientific research as well as ancient cultural traditions, “The Wonder of Birds” gives us everything from biological to ecological to spiritual food for thought. 

This book is an extraordinary must-have for any bird-lover’s library.

Spiegel & Grau.

3. THE EXTRAORDINARY BEAUTY OF BIRDS: DESIGNS, PATTERNS AND DETAILS 

“The Extraordinary Beauty of Birds: Designs, Patterns and Details,” by photographer Deborah Samuel and Mark Peck, is an exquisite book that focuses on the aesthetics of birds. Texture, color, shape, contrast, are all examined. Sure, they are all a result of evolution, survival of the fittest, but how and why did they come to be so beautiful?

Samuel’s photographs are breathtaking. Many offer unparalleled detail that we can almost touch.  

Detailed scientific descriptions of each bird, egg, and nest, written by Mark Peck, an ornithological expert at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, are fascinating.

This book can turn anyone into a bird lover.

Prestel.

4. BIRDS

“Birds,” by artist Hunt Slonem & Anthony Haden-Guest, offers a collection of paintings by Slonem and essays by Haden-Guest, in a lavishly produced hardcover edition.

Slonem’s paintings were influenced by the exotic, lush landscapes of his childhood and youth in Hawaii and Nicaragua. 

Rich impressions rise off the pages, with texture and movement, while Slonem’s unique “cross-hatching” technique evokes the bars of a birdcage. We feel the tension between freedom and captivity.

This book belongs on coffee tables, with gorgeous reproductions of Slonem’s artwork, as well as metallic ink and silver-gilded edges, a ribbon marker, and an acetate jacket. 

Glitterati Publishers.

5. BEAUTIFUL BIRDS OF MICHIGAN’S EASTERN UPPER PENINSULA 

“Beautiful Birds of Michigan's Eastern Upper Peninsula,” by Paul Rossi, is museum-quality "coffee table" book filled with 105 gorgeous photos.  

Perfect for photographers who love to take photos of birds, each photograph in the book is accompanied by a narrative about how the photograph was taken, how each bird behaved, and the environmental circumstances which led to the photograph. 

Self-published.

6. THE CUCKOO: THE UNINVITED GUEST

“The Cuckoo: The Uninvited Guest” by Oldrich Mikulica, Tomas Grim, Karl Schulze-Hagen, & Bard G. Stokke, explores the peculiar behaviors of cuckoo birds. Cuckoos, who have earned a reputation of being “crazy” are actually quite opportunistic and strategic. They are, in essence, nest parasite, laying their eggs in other bird species’ nests. 

The book explores the evolution and natural history of these birds, with stunning photos that  present extraordinary intimate detail.

Wild Nature Press.

7. THE ART OF MINDFUL BIRDWATCHING: REFLECTIONS ON FREEDOM & BEING (MINDFULNESS SERIES)

“The Art of Mindful Birdwatching: Reflections on Freedom & Being,”  by Claire Thompson, is like the Zen of Birdwatching. Thompson shares the practice of mindfulness to enhance our birdwatching experiences and how birdwatching can, in turn inspire mindfulness. 

Leaping Hare Press.  

8. OWLS OF THE WORLD

“Owls of the World,” by James Duncan, is a beautiful go-to book about owls, filled with beautiful illustrations and photos. You’ll learn all you want to know about owl behaviour and life cycle, including hunting, courtship, breeding and special adaptations for nocturnal life.

There is a chapter on each owl family, from the huge eagle owls to the diminutive pygmy owls and owlets.

New Holland Publishers.

9. PARROTS OF THE WORLD

“Parrots of the World,” by Steve Brookes, is a beautifully illustrated book, with gorgeous photos, that explores various a wide range of parrot species. Text includes info about parrot feeding, courtship, breeding and adaptations. There is a chapter on each parrot family, from the huge macaws and cockatoos to the diminutive hanging parrots and parrotlets.

There are parrots with fascinating specialities, such as the Kea, Burrowing Parrot and Night Parrot as well. The book also includes info about human threats and conservation.

New Holland Publishers.

10. FEATHERS: DISPLAYS OF BRILLIANT PLUMAGE

 “Feathers: Displays of Brilliant Plumage,” by award-winning National Geographic photographer  Robert Clark, is a magnificent volume of exquisite images of all kinds of feathers.

 With detailed close-ups and informative text about the utility and evolution of the feather, it will tickle the fancy of bird lovers, natural history buffs, and photography enthusiasts alike.

Chronicle Books.  

Read more about Birds in Costa Rica Bird Paradise Just Got More Beautiful, 10 Beautiful Images, Quotes & Ideas About Birds and See & Save Mind-Blowing Birds in Cuba Now.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact Daily Fix posts.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: by Markus Varesvuo. Steller’s Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) fighting over food with White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) in Hokkaido, Japan. From “Birds in Pictures” book, by Markus Varesvuo. Courtesy of New Holland Publishers.
2. Image: “Birds in Pictures.” Book by Markus Varesvuo. Courtesy of New Holland Publishers.
3. Image: “The Wonder of Birds.” Book by Jim Robbins. Courtesy of Spiegel & Grau.
4. Image: by Denver Holt. Jim Robbins holding an owl. From “The Wonder of Birds.” Courtesy of Penguin Random House / Spiegel & Grau.
5. Image: “The Extraordinary Beauty of Birds: Designs, Patterns and Details.” Book by Deborah Samuel. Courtesy of Prestel.
6. Image: by Deborah Samuel. Black Sicklebill feather. From “The Extraordinary Beauty of Birds: Designs, Patterns and Details.” Book by Deborah Samuel. Courtesy of Prestel.
7. Image: “Birds.” Book by Hunt Slonem. Courtesy of Glitterati Publishers.
8. Image: “Beautiful Birds of Michigan's Eastern Upper Peninsula.” Book by Paul Rossi. Courtesy of Paul Rossi.
9. Image: “The Cuckoo: The Uninvited Guest.” Book by Oldrich Mikulica, Tomas Grim, Karl Schulze-Hagen, & Bard G. Stokke. Courtesy of Wild Nature Press.
10. Image: “The Art of Mindful Birdwatching: Reflections on Freedom & Being” Book by Claire Thompson. Courtesy of Leaping Hare Press.
11. Image: “Owls of the World.” Book by James Duncan. Courtesy of New Holland Publishers.
12. Image: “Parrots of the World.” Book by Steve Brookes. Courtesy of New Holland Publishers.
13. Image: “Feathers: Displays of Brilliant Plumage.” Book by Robert Clark. Courtesy of Chronicle Books.
14. Image: by Robert Clark. “Wilson’s Bird of Paradise.” From “Feathers: Displays of Brilliant Plumage,” book by Robert Clark. Courtesy of Chronicle Books.
15. Image: by Robert Clark. “Superb Starling Wing Feathers.” From “Feathers: Displays of Brilliant Plumage,” book by Robert Clark. Courtesy of Chronicle Books.
16. Image: by BN App - Download now!
17. Image: From “The Cuckoo: The Uninvited Guest,” book by Oldrich Mikulica, Tomas Grim, Karl Schulze-Hagen, & Bard G. Stokke. Courtesy of Wild Nature Press.