Stuff Every Bird Lover Should Know

Stuff Every Bird Lover Should Know is a helpful little book perfect for the birder in all of us. Written by science journalist Alice Sun, this pocket-sized book is packed full of valuable information. This is not a bird identification guide, but Sun does include descriptions of some common backyard birds. For how small it is, Sun’s book offers so much more than you might expect. In its mere 140 pages, it delves into the evolution of birds, anatomy, bird behavior, bird watching, stewardship, and much more. Even though Sun’s approach is mostly scientific, she also includes mythology, superstitions, and idioms all about birds.

As mentioned, this book is small, and much of the information it provides is basic and introductory. For someone just getting into birding or simply wanting to make their yard a more welcoming place for our feathered friends, the knowledge here is a great place to start. Sun concludes with a section on further resources, including bird identification sites and birding book recommendations. This book is best suited for those new to birding or looking to get into it.