The Love Lives of Birds

From the lifelong devotion of the American crow to the dalliances of the eastern bluebird, from the bald eagle s dazzling aerial display to the male ruby-throated hummingbird s reputation as a deadbeat dad courtship, mating, and parenting differ dramatically among birds. Ornithologist and author Laura Erickson takes readers on a romance-fueled romp through the love lives of 35 species, exploring the diversity of avian approaches to pairing up. Each species spotlight pairs Erickson s remarkable depth of scientific knowledge with her talent for drawing humorous and insightful parallels between human and bird. The result is a riveting read for bird-watchers and nature lovers alike.

“"With expert knowledge and irresistible prose, Laura Erickson has a unique ability to make the lives of birds exciting and compelling for every reader. This book is a delight -- warm, wonderful, and brimming with insights and surprises. Highly recommended!" -- Kenn Kaufman, naturalist, conservationist, author of Kingbird Highway , and editor of the Kaufman Field Guides "What a delightful book! If you love birds, you will love these musings on the secrets of bird love. Who knew that crows had such tender and discreet displays of affection? Or that the courtship of limpkins was so snail-centered? Or that chickadees inhabit a Jane Austen-like world of courter and courted? Erickson unveils this captivating news in prose so lively, witty, and clever it charms from cover to cover." -- Jennifer Ackerman, New York Times best-selling author of The Genius of Birds and The Bird Way "An entertaining and lighthearted look at various bird species' mating habits... Terrific color illustrations by Veronica Lilja add to the fun. Bird enthusiasts and nature lovers in general shouldn't miss this." -- Publisher's Weekly”

"With expert knowledge and irresistible prose, Laura Erickson has a unique ability to make the lives of birds exciting and compelling for every reader. This book is a delight -- warm, wonderful, and brimming with insights and surprises. Highly recommended!"
-- Kenn Kaufman, naturalist, conservationist, author of Kingbird Highway, and editor of the Kaufman Field Guides

"What a delightful book! If you love birds, you will love these musings on the secrets of bird love. Who knew that crows had such tender and discreet displays of affection? Or that the courtship of limpkins was so snail-centered? Or that chickadees inhabit a Jane Austen-like world of courter and courted? Erickson unveils this captivating news in prose so lively, witty, and clever it charms from cover to cover."
-- Jennifer Ackerman, New York Times best-selling author of The Genius of Birds andThe Bird Way

"An entertaining and lighthearted look at various bird species' mating habits... Terrific color illustrations by Veronica Lilja add to the fun. Bird enthusiasts and nature lovers in general shouldn't miss this."
-- Publisher's Weekly

Laura Erickson is the author of The Love Lives of Birds and The Bird Watching Answer Book, and is coauthor of Into the Nest. A recipient of the American Birding Association s prestigious Roger Tory Peterson award, she has served as science editor at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, an editor of Bird Scope magazine, and a columnist and contributing editor for Birdwatching magazine. She produces For the Birds, a long-running public radio program and podcast, and lives in Duluth, Minnesota.

What They Do for Love A bird's playbook for romance is as rich and varied as our own, from the crow's lifelong devotion to the chickadee's Jane Austen-like social dynamics. In this scintillating survey of 35 species' mating and partnership habits, Laura Erickson opens our eyes and deepens our connection to our avian neighbors by revealing the astonishing array of ways birds court and couple up.

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