Learning birdsong is not just a way to become a better bird-spotter. It is tuning in: a way of hearing the soundtrack of the planet earth...Why do birds sing? What are they trying to say? Birdsong is not just about natural history. It is also about our history. We got melody from the birds as we g[...]

Even the baddest birdwatcher in the world knows something about birds. Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to be an anoraked twitcher with top-of-the-range binoculars to have a good time admiring our often-neglected feathered friends in the sky.[...]

This is 'a new classic' in a new edition! It is fully revised and updated throughout. There are new sections on antimicrobials. From journal reviews of the previous edition: "Drawing on their wealth of experience and knowledge in this field, the authors, who are without doubt among the finest minds [...]