The Love Lives of Birds: Courting and Mating Rituals

The Love Lives of Birds: Courting and Mating Rituals

Laura Erickson
$20.95
Publication Date: October 27th, 2020
Publisher:
Storey Publishing, LLC
ISBN:
9781635862751
Pages:
152

Description

From the lifelong devotion of the American crow to the dalliances of the eastern bluebird, from the bald eagle’s dazzling aerial display to the male ruby-throated hummingbird’s reputation as a “deadbeat dad” — courtship, mating, and parenting differ dramatically among birds. Ornithologist and author Laura Erickson takes readers on a romance-fueled romp through the love lives of 35 species, exploring the diversity of avian approaches to pairing up. Each species spotlight pairs Erickson’s remarkable depth of scientific knowledge with her talent for drawing humorous and insightful parallels between human and bird. The result is a riveting read for bird-watchers and nature lovers alike.

About the Author

Laura Erickson is the author of The Love Lives of Birds and The Bird Watching Answer Book, and is coauthor of Into the Nest. A recipient of the American Birding Association’s prestigious Roger Tory Peterson award, she has served as science editor at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, an editor of Bird Scope magazine, and a columnist and contributing editor for Birdwatching magazine. She produces For the Birds, a long-running public radio program and podcast, and lives in Duluth, Minnesota. 

Praise for The Love Lives of Birds: Courting and Mating Rituals

“With expert knowledge and irresistible prose, Laura Erickson has a unique ability to make the lives of birds exciting and compelling for every reader. This book is a delight — warm, wonderful, and brimming with insights and surprises. Highly recommended!”
— Kenn Kaufman, naturalist, conservationist, author of Kingbird Highway, and editor of the Kaufman Field Guides

“What a delightful book!  If you love birds, you will love these musings on the secrets of bird love.  Who knew that crows had such tender and discreet displays of affection?  Or that the courtship of limpkins was so snail-centered?  Or that chickadees inhabit a Jane Austen-like world of courter and courted?  Erickson unveils this captivating news in prose so lively, witty, and clever it charms from cover to cover.”
— Jennifer Ackerman, New York Times best-selling author of The Genius of Birds andThe Bird Way

"An entertaining and lighthearted look at various bird species’ mating habits... Terrific color illustrations by Veronica Lilja add to the fun. Bird enthusiasts and nature lovers in general shouldn’t miss this."
— Publisher's Weekly