The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America: 05/04/19

The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America by Matt Kracht wasn't on my recent releases radar. But I have online friends who know I'm a birder and a painter of birds. So when this book was released and I wasn't tweeting about it, I had a number of people recommending it.

This book is part field guild and part roasting of some of North America's common birds. The author explains in the introduction how a class assignment on birding went horribly wrong and how he's been frustrated with birds ever since.

The book has the author's sketches of birds which are actually well done and if you know the species, are recognizable. But then he gives them angry parody names like: Poopers Hawk (Cooper's Hawk) and Western Kingbutt (Western Kingbird).

Besides the observations on extant birds, there are also sections on extinct ones, types of bird feeders, tips for watching, the seasons and birding, and keeping your own bird journal.

All in all it's a fun book but I'm taking one star off for its design in print form. The typeface is a tiny, like 8pt thing that is barely different in color from the paper its printed on. The small size and dull color makes it impossible for me to read without a magnifying glass. Even with magnification it's still a tedious affair to read. If you're like me and need glasses when reading, get the ebook version.

Four stars

Comments (2)

Comment #1: Sunday, May 05, 2019 at 06:55:40

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz

I will have to pass on your review to all of my birder friends. I was curious about this book.

Comment #2: Monday, May 06, 2019 at 21:58:00

Pussreboots

It's a fun and quick read but get the ebook version if you wear glasses.