The Genius of Birds

LONGLISTED FOR THE 2017 PEN/E.O. WILSON LITERARY SCIENCE WRITING AWARD

For decades, people have written off birds as largely witless, driven by instinct and capable of only the simplest mental processes. But this just isn't true.

In fact, according to revolutionary new research, some birds rival primates and even humans in their remarkable forms of intelligence and social smarts. They make complex navigational decisions, sing in regional accents, and use tools. They deceive and manipulate. They eavesdrop. They kiss to console one another. They share. They give gifts. They teach. They blackmail their parents. They summon witnesses to the death of a peer. They may even grieve ... And they do it all with brains so tiny each would fit inside a walnut.

In The Genius of Birds, acclaimed author Jennifer Ackerman explores the newly discovered brilliance of birds. As she travels around the world, bringing together the latest science from lab and field, she reveals the intelligent bird behaviour that we can see in our own backyards, at birdfeeders, in parks, in city streets, and in country skies, if only we care to look. And in doing so, she reveals what a bird's intelligence may have to say about our own.

Elegantly blending science and travelogue, Ackerman's extraordinary story provides a new appreciation for the talents of birds and what birds can reveal about our changing world. Incredibly informative and beautifully written, The Genius of Birds richly celebrates the triumphs of these surprising creatures.

PRAISE FOR JENNIFER ACKERMAN

'The Genius of Birds offers an often awe inspiring tour ... made the more affecting by the elegance and beauty of [Ackerman's] language ... a fascinating book.' The Sydney Morning Herald

'Wide-ranging and engrossing ... makes it clear that crows — and birds generally — have a lot more going on upstairs than we ever knew.' The Weekend Australian