Promotional Partners: Trinity River Audubon Center and Perot Museum of Nature and Science
“Can birds smell?” “Is this the same cardinal that was at my feeder last year?” “Do robins ‘hear’ worms?” “Are birds afraid of heights?” In What It’s Like to Be a Bird, David Sibley answers the most frequently asked questions about the birds we see most often. This special, large-format volume is geared as much to nonbirders as it is to the out-and-out obsessed, covering more than 200 species and including more than 330 new illustrations by the author. While its focus is on familiar backyard birds–blue jays, nuthatches, chickadees–it also examines certain species that can be fairly easily observed regionally.
David Sibley’s exacting artwork and wide-ranging expertise bring observed behaviors vividly to life. And while the text is aimed at adults–including fascinating new scientific research on the myriad ways birds have adapted to environmental changes–it is nontechnical, making it the perfect occasion for parents and grandparents to share their love of birds with children and teens, who will delight in the big, full-color illustrations of birds in action. Readers will also learn about birds’ complex decision-making skills and emotional lives.
David Allen Sibley is the author of The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior, The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America, Hawks in Flight, and Sibley's Birding Basics. He has contributed to Smithsonian, Science, and the New York Times. His books have sold more than 1.75 million copies.
"There are 47 million birdwatchers. But there is only one David Sibley.” —National Audubon Society
Sneak peek and preview: go birdwatching with David Sibley in this WGBH interview.
Explore our feathered friends in works of art and match them to their real-life inspiration.
Click here—fun for all ages!
TICKET PRICES
Virtual ticket: $10
One book + one ticket: $50; this ticket type includes a book and signed bookplate that will be shipped directly to your home. All book sales benefit the Dallas Museum of Art.