THE COMPLETE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS: A Definitive and Illustrated History, beautiful object to delight and beguile bird people this Yule

THE COMPLETE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS: A Definitive and Illustrated History
RANDI MINTEOR
Wellfleet Press
$24.99 hardcover, available now

Rating: 5* of five

The Publisher Says: The Complete Language of Birds offers stunningly illustrated profiles of nearly 400 bird species, covering both their physical and mystical qualities.

Expand your bird knowledge with this gorgeous encyclopedia of nearly 400 bird species around the world, unique for its inclusion of both their physical and mythological characteristics.

If you’re a nature lover who thrives on bird videos and photography, go beyond the scope of standard field guides with this comprehensive reference. Each entry of The Complete Language of Birds provides not only the bird’s name and physical qualities, but also its history, symbolic meanings, and hidden properties from mythology, legends, and folklore.

Within the pages of this colorful volume, you’ll find:

Beautiful illustrations and descriptions of common and unusual birds

Notes on the surprising properties and powers of birds

Discussions of the symbolism and mythological significance of each bird species

Dive into an unusual dimension of historical and arcane knowledge with the study of birds.

A collection of fun and interesting facts about birds gathered from science and culture, the stunning illustrations and lively descriptions make this an engaging guide you’ll return to again and again.

Elegantly designed and beautifully illustrated, the Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia series offers comprehensive, display-worthy references on a range of intriguing topics, including dream interpretation, techniques for harnessing the power of dreams, flower meanings, and the stories behind signs and symbols.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: Wow. Just...wow.

Even the explanatory notes we begin with are stunning as well as legible and useful.

The "A"s are placed in an impossible composition, but one that very clearly exemplifies the quality of art and design we'll be seeing throughout the book.

The informative "A"s are less elaborate, as one would expect, but no less beautifully illustrated, and clearly legible with the descriptive text being very logically placed and broken into discrete entries.



More opening spreads to drool over. I was especially delighted by the "R"s...that toucan!

My favorite bird: the hoopoe! I hope one day to see one in the plumage. (Don't like to say "flesh" about les birbs, it tends to be misinterpreted by those as do not know me.)

This section is just for fun, of course, and fun it certainly delivered to me. I'm fascinated by the fantasies humans have stitched together out of reality. Some details:

Honest to Gussie! The "Chickharney" had to be dreamt up by someone who ate a bushel of ergot-tainted rye. I don't *think* the synthesis of LSD had been discovered back then....

I left this read feeling genuinely delighted and refreshed. I'm so happy that it's available for a very reasonable price for all y'all's gifting needs this Yuletide...and beyond of course, but the world's economy might necessitate some price hikes next year, so do it now and get the gorgeous for the right price.

Your birding-lover giftee will very likely appreciate and enjoy it. Your coffee table will positively revel in it as an ornament. It's a lovely object with good information in it.

THE FIELD GUIDE TO THE DUMB BIRDS OF THE WHOLE STUPID WORLD, great Valentine gift for your birder love

THE FIELD GUIDE TO THE DUMB BIRDS OF THE WHOLE STUPID WORLD
MATT KRACHT
Chronicle Books
$15.95 trade paper, available now

Rating: 4.5* of five

The Publisher Says: This must-have sequel to the bestselling parody book The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America proves that all birds are fascinating, wonderful, idiotic jerks—no matter where in the world they reside.

Following in the tracks of the first uproarious and beloved bird book in the series, this hilarious sequel ventures beyond to identify the stupidest birds around the world. Featuring birds from North and South America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania, author Matt Kracht identifies the dumb birds that manage to live all over the freaking place with snarky yet accurate names and humorous, anger-filled drawings. Offering a balance of fact and wit, this uproarious profanity-laden handbook will appeal to hardcore birders and casual bird lovers (and haters) alike.

ENTERTAINING AND EDUCATIONAL: This laugh-out-loud funny spoof guide to all things wings includes a matching game, a bird descriptor checklist, and tips on how to identify a bird (you can tell a lot by looking into a bird's eyes, for example). Plus, each entry is accompanied by facts about a bird's (annoying) call, its (dumb) migratory pattern, its (downright tacky) markings, and more.

POPULAR AUTHOR: Matt Kracht is an amateur birder, writer, and illustrator who enjoys creating books that celebrate the humor inherent in life's absurdities. Based in Seattle, he enjoys gazing out the window at the beautiful waters of Puget Sound and making fun of birds. Other amusing titles from Matt include The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America and OMFG, BEES!

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: Do you love a birder? You do?! Why? Couldn't you find a normal person, one that doesn't glue (super expensive, need upgrading all the time) binoculars to their face at the smallest rustle of a leaf?

Well, it's your life, you do you. Or them, I suppose....

As Valentines Day is coming up very, very quickly, you might need a last-minute gift idea since you have the terrible taste to hang out with a bird nut. No doubt forgetting it's the romantic holiday is completely within such a goofball's capabilities. If the hinted-after super-de-dooper binocs are outside your budget, but something bird-y is still required, believe me when I tell you a reference book ain't a lot cheaper than the binoculars. Go for this book, it's more fun than you usually have with the bloody birds, and it's about $20.

Enjoy the artwork.

Even *I*, no bird-fancier bones in me anywhere, got a ton of good laughs at the expense of all these dumb birds from all over the entire stupid world.