Enter the world of birds for an incredible journey through the skies, into trees, and even underground. Parrots, hummingbirds, eagles, and more swoop across the pages of this colorful bird book, which combines gorgeous illustrations and photos to help young enthusiasts learn all about the wonderful world of birds. From frozen icescapes to sweltering deserts, from prehistoric ancestors to amazing adaptations, they’ll discover the surprising homes and habits of our feathered friends. They’ll also find out about how we can help protect birds and their natural habitats. The Extraordinary World of Birds, illustrated by Claire McElfatrick, takes children on a fascinating journey, showing them just how amazing birds are, what they do for our planet, and how we can help them. It includes bird families such as gamebirds, flightless birds, and perching birds, plus amazing facts on how birds talk to each other, what they eat, how they find partners, and how they are able to fly.

A heavily designed and stunning look at the many birds of the sky--perfect for fans of Botanicum. From the bitter cold polar regions to the lush tropics, birds have found incredible ways to adapt and survive anywhere. White-winged diuca finches nest high upon freezing glaciers and mightly peregrine falcons circle skyscrapers in busy cities. Look up! What birds can do is extraordinary. The statuesque golden eagle spots prey from miles away. You can tell what time of day an owl hunts by looking at the color of its eyes. With its long, muscular legs, the secretary bird has a powerful kick that is enough to kill large prey like snakes and hares. Discover which bird is the fastest, the smallest, the smartest, the most colorful and more in this nonfiction compendium, complete with descriptions from wildlife expert Miranda Krestovnikoff and stunning linocuts from artist Angela Harding.

In this dazzling photo essay, Laman and Scholes present gorgeous full-color photographs of all 39 species of the Birds of Paradise that highlight their unique and extraordinary plumage and mating behavior.

Eleven-year-old December knows everything about birds, and everything about getting kicked out of foster homes. All she has of her biological mum is the book she left behind, The Complete Guide to Birds, Volume One, and a photo with a message: 'In flight is where you'll find me.' December knows she's truly a bird, just waiting for the day she transforms and flies away to reunite with her mum. The scar on her back must be where her wings have started to blossom – she just needs to practise and to find the right tree. She has no choice; it's the only story that makes sense. When she's placed with Eleanor, a new foster mum who runs a taxidermy business and volunteers at a wildlife rescue, December begins to see herself and what home means in a new light. But the story she tells herself about her past is what's kept December going this long, and she doesn't know if she can let go of it ... even if changing her story might mean that she can finally find a place where she belongs.

Sam Keen, the New York Times best-selling author of Fire in the Belly, has spent a lifetime reflecting on nature. In Sightings, a collection of essays, bird watching forms the basis for observations spiritual and soulful, witty and wise. He describes his childhood ramblings in the silence of the Tennessee wilderness as feeling distinctly more spiritual than the hard pews of his grandmother's church. Later in life, the presumed extinction and subsequent rediscovery of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker prompts a meditation on the nature of the sacred. Blessed with moments of beauty and the insight to recognize them as such, Keen translates the marvels of nature into the language of heart and soul.

A visually rich selection of the finest bird photography from around the world, presented by renowned ornithologist David Allen Sibley and sourced from Instagram’s inspiring photographer community We love birds, but they can be tricky to photograph. Enter the expert avian photographers of Instagram who are uploading astounding captures of beauty and wit to be viewed on your phone screen. Posting from all corners of the globe, this new generation of image-makers has raised the bar and then some with their technically brilliant, characterful portraits. But on small screens, a good many subtle features are hard to take in. This book showcases Instagram’s gorgeous bird photography in breathtaking detail, alongside text from renowned ornithologist David Allen Sibley. The images are featured with anecdotes and technical details, always with name, location, and of course, Instagram account, for further bird joy, providing insight and guidance to bird enthusiasts and aspiring photographers alike. Contributors: Oleg Alexeyev, @oleg_alexeyev_photo (600+ followers) Ganesh Balakrishnan, @the_lord_of_the_light (1.2k followers) Glenn Bartley, @bartleys_photo_workshops (9.2k followers) Kevin Biskaborn, @kevinbiskaborn (25.3k followers) Peter Brannon, @peter.brannon (12.5k followers) Drew Buckley, @drewbphotography (7.4k followers) Digvijay Chaugle, @_birdboy_ (4.5k followers) Vincent Chiang, @vincent_ckx (1.8k followers) Greg Christoph, @gregxoph (2.7k followers) John Crawley, @jc_wings (126k followers) Mark Eastment, @markeastmentphotography (1.3k followers) Jess Findlay, @jessfindlay (40k followers) Elijah Gildea, @elijahs_photography (27.6k followers) Heinrich Human, @heinrich_human (745 followers) Vishesh Kamboj, @visheshkambojj (3.3k followers) Ben Knoot, @benknoot (47.6k followers) Robert Kreinz, @rkreinz (10.6k followers) Kimmo Lahikainen, @_lahki_birds_ (2.1k followers) James Lowe, @jameslowe783 (2.9k followers) Eli Martinez, @sdmdiving (54.6k followers) Rina Miele, @rinamiele (8.8k followers) Gururaj Moorching, @gururaj_moorching (3.1k followers) Jason Ogbourne, @jasonogbourne (4.1k followers) Robert S. Parker, @robert.s.parker (30.6k followers) Shelley Pearson, @shelley_pearson_ (101k followers) Pradeep Purushothaman, @pradeep.wildlens (8.4k followers) Ananth Ramasamy, @ananth.ramasamy (15.2k followers) Scott Rolph, @aussiebirdphotography (4.2k followers) Stefano Ronchi, @stefanoronchi (7.9k followers) Erik Ruiterman, @erikruiterman (2.1k followers) Juho Salo, @aussiebirdphotography (4.2k followers) Praveen Siddannavar, @praveensiddannavar (6.7k followers) Franka Slothouber, @frankaslothouber (7.0k followers) Alecia Smith, @alecia_birds (2.5k followers) Georgina Steytler, @georgina_steytler (66.9k followers) Femke van Willigen, @ajoebowan (7.4k followers) Alice Worswick, @alice_worswick (700+ followers)

After her four kids were nearly grown and she was about to turn 50, Phoebe Snetsinger was told she had less than a year to live. Snetsinger, a St. Louis housewife and avid backyard birder, decided to spend that year traveling the world in search of birds. As it turned out, her doctors were wrong, but Phoebe's passion had been ignited and she spent the next eighteen years crisscrossing the globe recklessly staking out her quarry. En route she contracted malaria in Zambia, nearly fell to her death in Zaire, and was kidnapped and gang raped on the outskirts of Port Moresby. Yet none of this curbed her enthusiasm. By the time she died in a bus accident while birding in Madagascar in 1999, Phoebe was world renowned and had seen more species-8,500 of the roughly 10,000-than anyone in history. A fascinating portrait of a hobbiest whose obsession contributed to both her success and her demise, Life List brings Phoebe Snetsinger and the wild world of amatuer ornithology to vivid life.