A wonderful addition to the Welcome to the Museum series. Produced in association with the RSPB the book is hugely diverse and covers species across the world. The back cover reminds us “birds are a barometer of how we are treating our planet.” The reader is reminded that sadly many birds are in decline and over 1,400 species are threatened. The RSPB, a charity for the conservation of birds and nature, is committed to reversing the decline of over 70 priority species in the UK and around the world.
This book is a superb introduction to birds, The page size is imposing and dignified, and the gallery of birds is fascinating. The illustrations repay close scrutiny and are accompanied by fascinating information. I did not know that in ratites it is the male that primarily incubates and cares for the chicks. Or that shorebirds perform displays to lure predators away from their nests, such as faking a broken wing or incubating a “nest” that doesn’t exist. Sometimes they pretend to be rodents, crouching down and squeaking to distract the danger. Or that birds of prey have an eye for detail at a distance that is at least twice as good as a human’s, or that hummingbirds can reach a speed of 80 kilometres an hour during chases. Did you know that crows have exceptional intelligence and their memory helps them relocate food they have buried. They can even remember the faces of humans who have “wronged” them.
There is a detailed index and I particularly liked the “To Learn More” section with eleven websites to enable further research.
A splendid volume that encourages anyone to explore the extraordinary world of birds.
Brenda Marshall
Aviarium: Welcome to The Museum
Curated by Tegan White and Dominic Couzens
Big Picture Press
ISBN 9781800787797
£26
Published 2026
