Price: $35.00 - $18.99
(as of Sep 17, 2024 15:56:52 UTC – Details)
The bird book for birders and nonbirders alike that will excite and inspire by providing a new and deeper understanding of what common, mostly backyard, birds are doing—and why: “Can birds smell?”; “Is this the same cardinal that was at my feeder last year?”; “Do robins ‘hear’ worms?”
“The book’s beauty mirrors the beauty of birds it describes so marvelously.” —NPR
In What It’s Like to Be a Bird, David Sibley answers the most frequently asked questions about the birds we see most often. This special, large-format volume is geared as much to nonbirders as it is to the out-and-out obsessed, covering more than two hundred species and including more than 330 new illustrations by the author. While its focus is on familiar backyard birds—blue jays, nuthatches, chickadees—it also examines certain species that can be fairly easily observed, such as the seashore-dwelling Atlantic puffin.
David Sibley’s exacting artwork and wide-ranging expertise bring observed behaviors vividly to life. (For most species, the primary illustration is reproduced life-sized.) And while the text is aimed at adults—including fascinating new scientific research on the myriad ways birds have adapted to environmental changes—it is nontechnical, making it the perfect occasion for parents and grandparents to share their love of birds with young children, who will delight in the big, full-color illustrations of birds in action.
Unlike any other book he has written, What It’s Like to Be a Bird is poised to bring a whole new audience to David Sibley’s world of birds.
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Customer Reviews
4.8 out of 5 stars
654
4.7 out of 5 stars
502
4.8 out of 5 stars
6,567
4.8 out of 5 stars
2,059
4.8 out of 5 stars
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4.8 out of 5 stars
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From the most trusted name in birding–beloved by millions of backyard enthusiasts and experts alike–comes a completely new and definitive guide to the birds of North America: the most comprehensive, authoritative, and up-to-date work of its kind From the creators of the world’s most trusted field guides-comes a completely new and unparalleled reference work: the most comprehensive, authoritative, and up-to-date guide to the trees of North America. The bird book for birders and nonbirders alike that will excite and inspire by providing a new and deeper understanding of what common, mostly backyard, birds are doing–and why COMPLETELY REVISED AND UPDATED: From renowned birder and illustrator David Sibley, the most authoritative guide to the birds of the West, in a portable format that is perfect for the field. Virtually every bird found in eastern North America is brought to life in this portable guide, an essential companion in the field and a staple in any birdwatcher’s library—a birding bible for more than four million enthusiasts! The most comprehensive field guide available to North American mushrooms–a must-have for any enthusiast’s day pack or home library–from the go-to reference source for over 18 million nature lovers.
Publisher : Knopf; Illustrated edition (April 14, 2020)
Language : English
Hardcover : 240 pages
ISBN-10 : 0307957896
ISBN-13 : 978-0307957894
Item Weight : 3.14 pounds
Dimensions : 8.84 x 1.02 x 11.26 inches
5
Reviewer: Kathie P.J.
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Perfect for every birder and bird enthusiast
Review: This book is a gem for bird enthusiasts of any level. I bought this book as a gift for my daughter who has become an enthusiastic backyard birder. As a birder myself I find it irresistable to just open it to any page and discover a large array of interesting and fascinating details. This book discusses a large variety of birds and “what birds are doing, and why” according to the author. This is more than a conventional bird identification guide. It is a treasure trove of topics including attention to the attributes, behavior, environment and lives of 96 different common species. Most of the book presents nearly lifesize illustrations and detailed, broad and fascinating revelations about physical, behavioral and environmental aspects of their lives. The scope of information seems unlimited and is very readable. There is a short additional section about what to do in situations like finding a baby bird or having a bird fly into a window. You can also find very helpful advice about how to become a birder. Reading it makes me want to take a walk or look out the window in case I see a bird I can look up in this book and find a totally new way of looking at it.
Reviewer: Tracy
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great gift
Review: I bought this book for a good friend of mine, who is an avid Birder. He absolutely loved this book, he couldn’t stop raving about it! So informative and such beautiful pictures
Reviewer: Jenn
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Wonderful gift for bird lovers
Review: I gave this as a Christmas gift to my step dad who’s obsessed with birds. He was delighted. It’s a truly beautiful book that is thoughtfully written. I love this author. Makes a lovely display book as well.
Reviewer: Mike
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Beautiful Book
Review: Excellent study of birds and how they function in nature. Absolutely beautiful pictures and a mountain of information. Great gift for family and friends.
Reviewer: Guitarist
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A 74th year birthday gift to myself .. and I was surprised at the Total Coolness !
Review: Amazing organization of details for an amateur birder. Suitable for a young enthusiast and an adult bird lover….The way it seems best to use this is go thru the intro.. and it steers you to fact after fact.. expanded slightly as you go there. I had to take a break… it captivated me.. all the things I didn’t know – but wanted to know – needed to know….I shot a few bird releases for Portland Audubon – so I have an interest.But, I need to learn … and learn…So I tried this one from Sibley. How nice it is. Simple and quick info. Solid basis too.AND Amazon delivered in less than a day.. I clicked the mouse and heard the feet on the steps of the porch. Yikes!Being trapped in a Covid-19 – SpaceStation, … this was like a shipment of DoveBars to me… YAY!…..and the product proved out..it goes with my two other Sibley books.. that I used a LOT.I can hand THIS to someone…slightly interested … and KNOW it will get used.I’ll say it this way : it is a MiddleSchoolLevel of Nathaniel Bowditch from a sailor’s shelf. Each section needs another course to finish. Take the bite that you seem to like the flavor of….THANKFUL ….. is my one word response.UPDATE:some buyers found the book too simple.. but I think it is well organized for the intended simple purpose. There is plenty I dont know…and I think it is a good book to nibble at daily for beginners – young and old. I dont NEED the chemistry or biology details.. to get what the title says – I find it a fun reference to go back to clarify things.I have ‘Birding’ books – that’s not what this is. What is HERE is not so usually found in a birder’s book – IMOI dont mind paying for a solid rugged book that would survive for years at the cabin. Sorry – I’m hooked.
Reviewer: A. Johnson
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Gorgeous, oes what Sibley intended, BUT
Review: I couldn’t decide how to give an ovreall rating to this book. It is unquestionably beautiful. It does what Sibley says it intended to do – short essays, fascinating general knowledge, not an ornithological education.The essays are interesting and easy to read.So what is my issue?In the first two days I have had this book I have ended up spending an inordinate amount of time (hours) following up researching some of the statements in the essays that can be only read as definitive statements of fact. Several set off alarms.Take for instance the discussion of rictal bristles at the bottom of page 97. Sibley quickly debunks the old idea that their purpose was to net prey, but then he goes on to state the function as eye protection. If you go to his references in the back of the book you will see that Roger Lederer’s 1972 Wilson Bulletin article, “The role of avian rictal bristles” is cited. Go read Dr. Lederer’s article. While it points out that the rictal bristles sometimes appear to be arranged like eyelashes, it does not suggest that they function as eye protection. In fact, Dr. Lederer, in his article, ultimately speculated they are for sensory purposes.While there is a study with Willow Flycatchers that showed if you taped the rictal bristles down, the flycatchers had an increased chance of having small particles hit their eyes, and there is some evidence of a protective function, I believe the consesus in the ornithology community is that the function is sensory not protective. I am going to make an assumption that most people who are planning to purchase this book will read it casually and/or use it as a coffee table book, and will not dig behind the essays. If you fail to follow up, you may walk away with misunderstandings. That bothers me.It has happened with more than the one essay. That bothers me too.What do I love about this book? Kudos to David Sibley for including his references so it is possible to look to his sources if we question his statements. Frankly I had a great time exploring and learning. That was fun. I was led to fascinating topics I might never have discovered otherwise. Karman Vortex streets and seal predation anyone?4 stars was my compromise. I am happy to have the book.
Reviewer: Selina Rain
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Gorgeous
Review: This is simply a gorgeous book to have around. If you love birds as I do, this is a special anecdotal book to have in your home.
Reviewer: Luis Humberto Montemayor
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: El libro es grande y eso no me lo esperaba. Es una lectura muy amena y que puedes empezar desde el capÃtulo que gustes, no tiene un orden definido.Las ilustraciones de Sibley para esta obra son hermosas, como era de esperarse de él.
Reviewer: Jane
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: The book arrived quickly and was sold at a fair price. Thank you!!!
Reviewer: Nika
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: A great book about birds with fantastic illustrations and wonderful quality edition!
Reviewer: Christopher R. Siddle
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: The short entries, usually three to a page, are excellently chosen and written in simple language, accessible to the non-birder or child, but interesting and often new for many, many experienced birders. As a birder of 60 years’ experience, and occasionally professional bird guide and wildlife surveyed, I was delighted with What’s It Like to be a Bird and think it may prove to be the best North American bird book of 2020.
Reviewer: John K Layton
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Liked the superb illustrations and layout. Used to increase my knowledge of birds in general, North American birds in particular.
