Smithsonian Handbook of Interesting Bird Nests and Eggs

By: Douglas G. D. Russell

Published by Smithsonian Institution, 2024-09-17

Bird lovers can admire the artistry and beauty of bird nests and eggs with strikingly sharp images of more than 100 specimens

A pocket-sized gift for birders

The innovation of birds is on full display in more than 100 samples collected from across the world. The detailed entries include:

• Full-color photographs
• Nest, clutch, and egg size
• Collection site location
• Bird conservation status
• Specimen collection date, spanning 1768–2020

• Nest construction and materials, such as lichens, fungi, leaves, seaweed, spider webs, plastic, and more
• Fascinating background on the role of studying nests in conservation efforts

This book reveals how a simple bird's nest or egg can tell extraordinary stories about the birds behind them, help reconstruct a habitat’s flora and fauna, and offer potential answers to important evolutionary and ecological questions.

From the Cape Penduline Tit nest that includes a false chamber to trick predators to the unique patterning of a Great Auk egg allowing parents to always recognize and care for their own egg, this insightful handbook peers into the brilliance and architectural skills of birds. Smithsonian Handbook of Interesting Bird Nests and Eggs is an essential read for birdwatchers and nature lovers.