Birds of a Feather: Field Notes and Portraits

FEATURING A FOREWORD BY LEGENDARY WILDLIFE ARTIST ROBERT BATEMAN

Blending beautiful illustrations, guidebook facts and spirited memoir, Birds of a Feather shares the delightful charm of familiar birds—and reminds us that even birds of ordinary feathers are worth protecting.

Every stray feather was once shed by a bird—and for every feather he’s found, naturalist Don Gunn has a story about the species it belongs to. In Birds of a Feather, Gunn weaves together personal anecdotes, natural history and elegant illustrations to create a colorful portrait of birds that can be spotted around the United States, Canada and the UK. Whether he’s fending off a great-horned owl attack, attempting to lure in a troublesome peacock with a penchant for cheese, or simply enjoying the antics of the sparrows, thrushes and juncos at his bird feeder, Gunn captures the lively spirit of his feathered neighbors with the passion of a long-time birder.

Inside this book, you'll discover: 

• Stories and illustrations of over 40 different birds from raptors to waterfowl, including song birds, herons, grouse and many more
• 110 elegant, full-color original illustrations of birds that are frequently spotted in the United States, Canada and the UK, as well as illustrations of their individual feathers
• Bird identification facts, feather characteristics, and natural history that help readers recognize common bird species and better understand their behavior
• Personal birdwatching adventures, humorous wildlife encounters, and decades of observations from acclaimed naturalist Donald Gunn
• Insight into how habitat loss, climate change, and human activity are affecting bird populations—and why conservation matters

Birds of a Feather combines stories of Gunn’s own avian encounters with guidebook-style facts for identifying species. Guided by the feathers he’s found as he wanders the forests and shoreline, he reflects on the rapid changes to bird habitat and behavior he’s noticed over decades of observation. The gradual disappearance of owls, herons, grouse and other species from their habitats serves as a reminder of the effects human activity can have on nature—but not all is yet lost. At once an appreciation for birds of all feathers and a call to connect with and protect the natural world, Birds of a Feather invites readers to slow down and notice the birdsong carrying through the trees, the flutter of wings above and the feathers that drift down to rest on the ground.

Don Gunn is an artist, naturalist and interpretive design consultant. He has created content on natural and cultural history for museums and visitor centers across Canada and Scotland. His artwork has appeared in many books on BC’s natural history, including Birdfinding in British Columbia (Greystone Books, 2013), An Enchantment of Birds (Greystone Books, 2007), The Carnivores of BC (Royal BC Museum, 2008) and The Rodents and Lagomorphs of BC (Royal BC Museum, 2005). He lives on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.