Books › The Birds of America
The Birds of America
First published 1947 · 1056 pages
A monumental, breathtaking gallery of the natural world that invites you to lose yourself in the meticulous details of feathers and flight.
What it feels like
Opening this monumental work feels like stepping into an untouched, nineteenth-century American wilderness. The experience is inherently leisurely, inviting you to linger over the breathtaking watercolors that capture the vibrant energy and meticulous details of each species. There is a profound reverence in these pages, a quiet awe that permeates the tranquil, nature-focused mood. It is less a book to be read cover-to-cover than a gallery to be wandered through, offering a steady accumulation of wonder at the diversity of avian life. The accompanying notes are precise and historical, grounding the soaring artistry in scientific observation. This is a treasure for birdwatchers, art historians, and anyone who finds peace and inspiration in the intricate, wild beauty of the natural world.
- Mood
- awe-inspiring
- tranquil
- historic
- contemplative
- Tone
- reverent
- observational
- meticulous
- passionate
- Pace
- leisurely
- Themes
- beauty of the natural world · scientific discovery · artistic devotion · American wilderness · preservation of species
- The writing
- Visual and descriptive, relying primarily on breathtaking, detailed illustrations accompanied by precise, historical naturalistic notes.
- The arc
- A steady accumulation of wonder and respect for the diversity and intricate beauty of avian life.
- Who it's for
- Nature lovers, birdwatchers, and art enthusiasts who appreciate historical illustration and the intersection of science and art.
Content notes
- animal death (historical specimen collection)
About the book
The Audubon Society Baby Elephant Folio differs in a number of ways -- besides its dimensions -- from earlier editions of The Birds of America and from John James Audubon's original, massive Double-Elephant Folio, the heaviest volume of which weighs 56 pounds. These plates are organized not in the order that Audubon produced them for his subscribers but phylogenetically; that is, in a modern scientific classification sequence that somewhat parallels the evolutionary history of a genetically related group of organisms -- from the most primitive living examples to the most recently evolved -- in this case going from loons to sparrows and buntings. The numbering of our plates follows the taxonomical sequence of orders, families, and species in the Check-List of North American Birds prepared by the American Ornithologists' Union, as adapted and up-dated by the American Birding Association.
Description from Open Library.
Books like The Birds of America
See why they match
The genius of birdsJennifer AckermanA perspective-shifting exploration that transforms the everyday creatures outside your window into marvels of evolutionary brilliance.
How birds flyElsa JaspersenA bright and breezy introduction to the mechanics of flight that empowers early readers to explore the natural world.
Looking for birdsSid SoloA bright, simple exploration of colorful birds designed to build confidence in the newest of readers.
The beak of the finchJonathan WeinerA sun-baked, meticulously observed journey to a remote island that transforms the abstract concept of evolution into a thrilling, visible reality.
JournalHenry David ThoreauA quiet, deeply observant walk through the woods with a mind that sees the universe in a single leaf.
Invertebrate zoologyRobert D. BarnesAn encyclopedic, deeply rigorous exploration of the bizarre and beautiful architecture of spineless life.