Birdsong for the Curious Naturalist

DONALD KROODSMA is a world-renowned authority on birdsong and professor emeritus of ornithology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. As a research scientist, he published widely on birdsong for more than 50 years. More recently he has authored books that introduce the general public to birdsong: the award-winning The Singing Life of Birds, The Backyard Birdsong Guides, Birdsong by the Seasons, and Listening to a Continent Sing. He lives in Hatfield, Massachusetts.

Birdsong made easy to understand, lavishly illustrated with color photos, and accompanied by more than 700 online recordingsFrom a leading expert, Birdsong for the Curious Naturalist is a basic, how-to guide that teaches anyone-from beginner to advanced birder-how to listen. In understandable and appealing language, Kroodsma explains why and how birds sing, what various calls mean, and what to listen for from the birds around us. The descriptions are accompanied by color photos of the birds, as well as QR codes that link to an online collection of more than 700 recordings. With these resources, readers are prepared to recognize bird sounds and the birds that make them. Kroodsma encourages readers to find the joy of birdsong and curiosity-to observe, listen intently, be curious, ask questions, and realize that many unanswered questions about birdsong don't have to rely on scientists for answers but can be answered by any curious naturalist.