(Note: I listened to this on audiobook and found the narrator to be subpar, this might have effected my experience)

"Beaks Bones and Bird Songs" is a book about avian survival that zooms in on what many people overlook: the extreme situations birds go through regularly just to live. We view birds as living carefree lives of freedom and grace, when in reality they are constantly on alert against the thousand things that could kill them.

This book was interesting for sure, and there are certain parts that will stick with me. But the further along I got, the harder it got to pay attention and keep myself invested. I'm somebody who's pretty obsessed with birds, and even I reached a point of "ok, we get it, they're really strong!"

The tone of writing is a bit dry, and the fresh perspective on this topic only lasts for a couple chapters. For me, the beginning of the book was the most interesting (there's one great passage in which the author describes the kind of athleticism required by birds that fly over a mountain range every year as they migrate, and spoiler alert, it's pretty darn athletic).

For somebody with an academic interest, this book helps add on to a foundation of knowledge on behavioral ornithology. For anybody else, it's not the kind of non-fiction book that can keep a casual reader entertained. ( )

Very informative but also very sad. Humans are such a detriment to all of the natural world. ( )

Very interesting info about birds with regards to their 5 senses, location and habitats. Easy to read. Does not get bogged-down with scientific-speak, only when it is necessary. Lots of interesting facts and observations. I read this book in the summer while sitting out on my balcony as numerous birds surrounded me as they went about their daily lives. Such synchronicity!! ( )

Birds are amazing, and not just because of Roger Lederer’s (or my) bias. His new “Beaks, Bones, and Bird Songs” is a comprehensive book about birds, not limited to the elements mentioned in its title. In particular, he explains the evolved physical and behavioral characteristics of these animals and why they’re important in the face of threats ranging from the immediate to long-term. There is always a trade-off, a disadvantage for every advantage. However, it’s not a totally bleak picture: how adaptable birds can be comes up many times in many ways. Plus, there are many unknowns, meaning more areas for future research, which can help inform conservation.

Lederer tells you why there is not one perfect, universal bird, but thousands of species. His examples come from all across the ornithological spectrum, with the extreme ends often helping illustrate their incredible diversity. The Kiwi is often at one of these ends, as are hummingbirds, and penguins. The species are from all over the world, not just the familiar ones in North America, and he chooses to mention them in context of certain adaptations. Photos are included in case you have never seen (or maybe never even heard of!) a certain species, and some figures complement the writing, such as the physical forces involved in flight, though these are better seen on paper rather than in an ebook.

While it took me a while to finish, this is the kind of book you can pick up at any point and continue from where you left off. Very well organized throughout, the author’s academic background guides the scientific layout. It is crammed full of information, but in concise, digestible sentences, never excessive or boring. It builds on what was previously discussed, and the author provides a summary at the end of each chapter. There’s always more to learn about birds. After you read this book, you can observe them and have a better idea of why they are doing what they are doing.

Note: this e-book was provided through Net Galley. For more reviews, follow my blog at http://matt-stats.blogspot.com/ ( )