This has to be the most unlikely bird book that I’ve ever seen. An art book of bird skeletons? Never thought that I'd see something like that. And especially one that delves into bird anatomy and physiology. But the biggest surprise about this book is how much I enjoyed it.
The art shows some birds without feathers so that the skin is visible, and others without both feathers and skin so that you can see the muscles. But most often her drawings are of just the bird’s skeleton. And yet these drawings are oddly beautiful. They are also quite compelling as the birds are illustrated engaging in natural behavior: loons swimming as if underwater; Eurasian Sparrowhawks with prey; a frigatebird pursuing a tropicbird.
But I think I've enjoyed the text even more than the art. It deals with bird anatomy, but mainly in conjunction with their outward appearance and lifestyle. In virtually every chapter I learned something new and cool. It also helps that the writing is interesting, understandable, often amusing, and even lyrical at times.
This is just a fascinating book. Obviously, anyone interested in unique art and bird anatomy should love it, but it has much broader appeal than that. I think it would be interesting and relevant to any birder.
Full review of The Unfeathered Bird
The art shows some birds without feathers so that the skin is visible, and others without both feathers and skin so that you can see the muscles. But most often her drawings are of just the bird’s skeleton. And yet these drawings are oddly beautiful. They are also quite compelling as the birds are illustrated engaging in natural behavior: loons swimming as if underwater; Eurasian Sparrowhawks with prey; a frigatebird pursuing a tropicbird.
But I think I've enjoyed the text even more than the art. It deals with bird anatomy, but mainly in conjunction with their outward appearance and lifestyle. In virtually every chapter I learned something new and cool. It also helps that the writing is interesting, understandable, often amusing, and even lyrical at times.
This is just a fascinating book. Obviously, anyone interested in unique art and bird anatomy should love it, but it has much broader appeal than that. I think it would be interesting and relevant to any birder.
Full review of The Unfeathered Bird
