What Birds Eat: How to Preserve the Natural Diet and Behavior of North American Birds

“To read there are probably some twenty-six million birdwatchers in the United States is a revelation. This ‘factoid’ accompanies a host of generously illustrated information in What Birds Eat, surely the most appealing and beautiful bird book of the year. Even those not among dedicated ornithologists will enjoy pages chock a bloc with details and complimented by glorious color photos.

Although we may not pay due attention always to the birds that surround us, the book will grab attention. ‘How many know, for example, that rodents are a major source of food for owls, and see along with this information a page of nine alternative rodent species?

Author Kim Long set out to explain the behavior as well as how to preserve the nutritious natural diet of North American birds, acknowledging that hungry birds will eat store-bought birdseed rather than starve. The alphabetized pages of profiles provide both common and Latin names, places birds choose to find food, such as on the ground, in trees, or in ponds, and preferred types of diet such as omnivorous, mostly granivorous, or mostly insectivorous.

In a short review, one cannot describe every page, but notable details include types of the beak, seed samples, and an aquatic animal menu. The chapters, clearly organized and reader-friendly, recognize the challenges and solutions to ensure the birds’ good health. What a delightful book!”