Douglas J. Futuyma

This is a great book for those who are interested in either birds or evolution. And if, like me, you are interested in BOTH, then the book is a “must buy”. The author is an evolutionary theorist who describes himself as an “enthusiastic birder”.

Futuyma covers everything from Archaeopteryx to adaptation; from classification to co-operation; from extra-pair copulation to extinction; and from sexual selection to speciation.

There are excellent explanations of evolutionary concepts as show more applied to birds, and throughout the book the author refers to examples of the practical research being done by ornithologists.

Most of the book is written in such a way that it can be understood by interested amateurs, although I did find one or two sections (such as the chapter on variation) rather heavy going.

Just about the only things that slightly irritated me were the author’s frequent references to the birding holidays he has had in so many parts of the world, and his comment about “world birding” becoming popular. Most of us are not in the financial position to do so much whizzing around the world for our birdwatching! show less

7/9/22