Books on Animals
Birds (excluding poultry and birds of prey)
If you want to buy a book, clicking on the book cover will take you directly to that book on the Amazon.co.uk web site.
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Advice:
birds: bird watching in Spain
Poultry
Falconry
and birds of prey
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Birdwatching holidays in the UK and abroad
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The Zebra Finch: A Synthesis of Field and Laboratory Studies
Zebra finches are tough little birds which are found in Australia and parts of Indonesia. They became popular cage birds in Europe in the 19th century, and were then taken up by laboratories researching bird behaviour and other aspects of biology. Richard Zann is a great admirer of zebra finches, and his affection for these birds is evident in his book, which brings together studies on pet, laboratory and wild zebra finches.
'The Zebra Finch' is a serious academic work, which is nevertheless accessible to hobbyists who simply like zebra finches. The charming illustrations of Michael Bamford are both informative, and have that 'aah' factor. Non-biologists who read New Scientist for pleasure should have enough knowledge to understand the text, though you may need to resort to a dictionary of biology now and then. It is definitely worth persevering if you keep zebra finches. There is a lot of useful material on bird behaviour, for example how zebra finches court and communicate with each other, which can greatly add to the pleasure of keeping these birds. This is an especially useful book for anyone who wants to breed zebra finches, because of the wealth of information on how the birds breed in the wild, which can help keepers to create ideal conditions for their captive zebra finches. There are also useful appendices, for example on colour morphs found in domesticated zebra finches, seeds eaten by wild zebra finches, and zebra finch body languge and calls. There's an extensive bibliography, and an author and a subject index. It's quite a pricey book, but well worth the investment for people who keep zebra finches, because it's a text that you are likely to turn to again and again
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Bird Migration: A General Survey (Oxford Ornithology S.)
This is a revised, updated and expanded version of Peter Berthold's classic study which first came out in 1990. It brings together work on different aspects of bird migration, and is quite easy to read, even for people who aren't biologists but just find the topic fascinating. As late as the 18th century, some experts believed that swallows went into swamps for the winter, coming out into daylight to fly in the spring. Today we know a little more about where birds travel to, but there are still areas of controversy, which Berthold skillfully outlines.
'Bird Migration' is essential reading for birdwatchers who want to deepen their knowledge. It also very interesting reading for people who keep captive birds. Many different types of migration are explained, from the heroic long-distance journeys of swallows and warblers, to shorter forays. There is an interesting discussion of why birds migrate, and why their migratory patterns can change. Berthold also gives a useful account of changes in the behaviour and physiology of migratory birds kept in captivity. People who are interested in ecology will also find this book interesting, for its account on the effects of global warming and other environmental trends on bird migration, and the effects of human activity on migrating birds.
This book is well illustrated, with maps, graphs and photographs. There is a useful glossary, a very long bibliography for readers wanting to follow up sources, and a comprehensive index.
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The Parrot Who Owns Me
Joanna Burger’s account of her relationship with her parrot clearly shows what strong bonds these birds can develop with humans. She adopted an orphaned parrot called Tiko after having studied wild birds extensively. This book is fascinating both for parrot owners, and anyone interested in birds. It is moving without being mawkish, full of enjoyable anecdotes, definitely a ‘feel-good book’, and one that teaches you a lot, in a very enjoyable way.
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Guide to a Well-behaved Parrot
Mattie Sue Athan is a well known specialist in parrot behaviour, and her ‘Guide to a Well-behaved Parrot’ is an excellent introduction to this topic. There is advice on preventing problems, as well as how to tackle them if they arise. Novice owners will find this book very helpful for tips on handling their parrot, and understanding how their pet sees the world. Experienced owners can also find interesting insights and tips, such as new ideas for games, and ways of showing affection that parrots appreciate.
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Keeping African Grey Parrots
David Alderton writes with authority from his extensive experience with birds in general, and African Greys in particular. This is one of the most rewarding members of the parrot family to develop a relationship with, though it is not one to be undertaken lightly, as the author points out. It is well worth reading this book before taking a decision on whether to buy an African Grey. They are not birds that one can put in a corner and forget about, but if you are well prepared with the knowledge that this book provides, it can be the start of a wonderful relationship. Experienced owners will find that their bird can constantly surprise them, and this book can help them realise the potential delights in communicating with another species that their bird can offer.
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Care for Your Budgerigar
The official RSPCA guide to keeping budgies, originally written by Tina Hearne, and updated for this edition with new material and photos. Tina Hearne writes clearly, and covers a lot of ground. This is a short, introductory guide, covering all aspects of budgie care, such as choosing a budgie, housing and feeding it. Anyone wanting to specialise in budgies and keep several in an aviary is likely to want more information, but this is a very good starting point, which younger budgie owners are likely to enjoy, as well as adults.
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The Budgie
This is an excellent guide to budgie care for novices, which is well illustrated and well set out. It is suitable for children as well as adults. All aspects of budgie care are dealt with, from choosing your budgie to dealing with the loss of a beloved bird. This book costs a little more than Tina Hearne's budgie guide, but also contains more information to help novice owners.
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The Complete Book of Parakeet Care
A gem of a book for budgie lovers. There are beautiful illustrations of budgies in the wild and in captivity, and there is fascinating information about their life in the wild, and the way they relate to each other. Children are catered for in a chapter geared to their needs as budgie owners. There is also a lot of help with choosing, housing and feeding your budgies and making sure they don't get bored. One way to ensure they are happy is to find them a friend, and this guide gives help with introducing budgies to each other. You also have help with training them, and a guide to what to do if they look ill. The information on breeding is useful for novices, though serious budgerigar breeders will find Cyril Rogers' 'World of Budgerigars' more useful. This book is not quite as accessible to children as either Tina Hearne and Julie Ann Rach's books, but would be suitable for older children who have gone beyond the basics.
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World of Budgerigars
(5th edition)
This is an essential book for serious budgerigar enthusiasts, especially those who want to breed budgies. Cyril Rogers was a geneticist at Edinburgh University, who also became a well-known author on keeping and breeding birds. He had a particular interest in new colour combinations and other mutations. He was president of the National Council for Aviculture in the UK, and was part of the management committee for the National Exhibition of Cage and Aviary Birds. He was also a great communicator, and his 'World of Budgerigars' is a gripping read for budgie lovers, despite dealing at times with some very technical topics.
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The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Caged and Aviary Birds
A guide to all aspects of bird care, from choosing the birds, to exhibiting and breeding them. This guide will meet the needs both of people who have a bird or two in their home, and the more specialist owners of aviary birds. It is accessible to children, so is a good choice for younger bird owners, or families wanting their children to understand their birds' needs.
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101 Essential Tips: Caring for Your Pet Bird
A short guide to all aspects of bird care, such as choosing birds, feeding, health and disease, handling and training. This book is especially suited for younger bird owners and novices, though experienced owners can pick up a few tips.
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The Pet Parrot Book
Peter Snyder is a neurologist who works with human patients, and carries out research at the National Aviary, US. He is not only very knowedgeable, but writes well, and deftly combines information with anecdote in this engaging book. There is a strong focus on parrot-human relationships, as well as chapters on parrots' relationships with other pets, on housing, diet and health. There is advice on preventing and tackling behavioural problems, and on training parrots. The book is well illustrated and well set out.
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Why Does My Parrot?
A guide to parrot behaviour and psychology, which helps explain why some parrots develop behavioural problems, and how to tackle them. You can gain a clear understanding of your parrot's needs from this book. Parrots can get bored easily, and the type of environment you give your parrot, and how you interact with him are both important. Much of the book uses a question and answer format to deal with typical problems encountered by parrot owners, and their solutions.
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Canaries
A very good introductory guide to keeping canaries. There are questions for would-be canary owners to let them decide whether they should keep canaries, and how many to buy. There is a note explaining that canaries like company, and aren't happy alone. The book is very well set out, and is likely to appeal to younger readers as well as adults. There is a very good section on understanding canaries, which explains how to tame them, what they like and don't like, and how to play with them. There is also a troubleshooting guide. This book is part of the family pet series, and it more than adequately fulfils its task of explaining canaries' needs to all members of the family.
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Lovebirds
A clearly written guide to keeping lovebirds, covering all aspects of lovebird care, such as feeding, health and disease, and breeding. This is an introductory guide, which is suitable younger owners of lovebirds as well as adults. It makes a special effort to explain the needs of lovebirds in a way that younger owners will follow, has good illustrations, and is well set out.
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The Parrot in Health and Illness
A guide to parrot healthcare and ailments which includes advice on first aid and choosing a vet with specialist knowledge of parrots. There are also explanations of various parrot disorders, which help with understanding your vet's diagnosis and treatment decisions. This is a very useful reference book with enough information for experienced owners as well as novices, and wide coverage of parrots' health needs.
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Cockatiels
This is an exceptional book about keeping cockatiels as pets. It is mainly concerned with birds housed indoors rather than in outside aviaries. There is a section on housing which shows how to provide a stimulating environment for your bird or birds, with a design for an indoor aviary and instructions on how to build a climbing tree. Other topics include feeding and reproduction, and there is a special chapter on understanding cockatiels.