When it comes to species of birds that, upon seeing, it is all but impossible not to stop and gape in unrestrained, unapologetic astonishment, the birds of paradise are right near – if not actually at – the top of the list. Similarly, regarding fascinating avian behavior, few can best the bowerbirds in their feats of enticement through architectural and design skills.
Now, thanks to the dedication and dilligent effort of author and Field Guides’ leader Phil Gregory, the entirety of the 108 recognized species contained in these two ornithological families are presented together in the new Birds of Paradise and Bowerbirds; An Identification Guide from Princeton University Press.
No longer thought to be closely related to one another, the members of these two bird families do share an Autralasian endemism, largely Papuan, in fact; which is what brought Mr. Gregory – given his longtime interest in and study of the birds of this region (to which his award-winning 2017 book Birds of New Guinea stands as testimony) – to write this fascinating, lavishly illustrated book.
