Birds Britannica

by Mark Cocker, Richard Mabey

Birds Britannica is a lavishly illustrated, comprehensive cultural study, species by species, of all the birds in Britain. Neither an identification guide nor a behavioral study (though both of these subjects enter its field), it concentrates on the cultural links and social history of birds and humans, and captures the essence of why birds matter. The product of years of research, it is based in part on contributions from the public who sent in their memories and experiences of birds, making this a rich trove of stories and observations.

Genres: Reference, Birds, Nonfiction, Nature, Natural History, Wildlife

484 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2005

Reviews

[Richard Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful being both a source of information as well as a pleasure to read.

[Roger Morgan-Grenville · Rating 5 out of 5]

A winderful work of scholarship, imagination ,elegance and - most importantly- genuine love. To be read like a good malt whisky should be drunk, little by little each evening.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book. It is not just a list of all the birds one might see in Britain (although it is). It is not just lavishly illustrated with stunning photographs of each (although it is that, too). It is not just a book of ornithological observations (although they are here, as well). But more than this, it relates the story of each species in its cultural context, in how the people of Britain have thought, wrote and made use of the bird in question. A marvellous book for dipping into and looking up, a treasure hoard to be raided again and again. The only problem is, it's damned heavy.

[greythorne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book to dip into and lose yourself in the history of birds, complete with anecdotes about bird behaviour, colloquial bird names from different parts of the British Isles, and glorious photography. Defititely one for the coffee table, though, not the field!

[Serena]

If you who are reading this have on hand a edition of this book can you please verify the page for The Eurasian Collared-Dove’s species name "myth" which may go something like "A poor maid was servant to a very hard-hearted lady, who gave her as wages no more than eighteen pieces a year. The maid prayed to the Gods that she would like it to be known to the world how miserably she was paid by her mistress. Thereupon Zeus created this Dove which proclaims an audible ‘deca-octo’ to all the world to this very day’."

What, if any, ancient Greek, or Greek folklore source is given for this "Greek myth"? I can find nothing mentioning it anywhere before the publication of this book in 2005. Thank you, please get in touch if you know anything!

[Sophy H · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a massive old tome and a library loan so admittedly I haven't read it cover to cover otherwise it would take me months and multiple renewals!

I dipped in to the birds I was fascinated with and those that have been visiting our garden feeders; great spotted woodpecker, sparrows, tits of every variety, finches, sparrowhawk (yes, this has been dive bombing the feeder for the prolific sparrows!), red kite (often seen soaring above the garden), wren, thrush, blackbird, robin, magpie and crows.

The information is easily presented and accessible; the colour photographs are vivid.

A great reference book to look up our visiting feathered friends.