The Genius of Birds

The Genius of Birds is a 2016 book by nature writer Jennifer Ackerman.[1]

The Genius of Birds
First edition (US)
AuthorJennifer Ackerman
LanguageEnglish
SubjectBird intelligence
PublisherPenguin Press
Publication date
April 12 2016
Pages352
AwardsNew York Times Bestseller
ISBN1594205213

Content

The Genius of Birds highlights new findings and discoveries in the field of bird intelligence. The book explores birds as thinkers (contrary to the cliché "bird brain") in the context of observed behavior in the wild and brings to it the scientific findings from lab and field research.[2]

New research suggests that some birds, such as those in the family corvidae, can rival primates and even humans in forms of intelligence. Much like humans, birds have enormous brains relative to the rest of their bodies.

Ackerman highlights the complex social structures of avian society. They are capable of abstract thinking, problem solving, recognizing faces, gift giving, sharing, grieving, and meaningful communication with humans. Ackerman goes in depth to highlight scientific studies that uncover behavior such as tool usage, speaking in regional accents, navigation and theory of mind.

Reception

The book is a New York Times Best Seller[3] and was named one of the 10 best nonfiction books of 2016 by The Wall Street Journal.[4]

Translations
  • Finnish: Viisaat linnut. Translated by Heli Naski. Jyväskylä: Atena. 2017. ISBN 9789523003293.
  • German: Die Genies der Lüfte. Translated by Christel Dormagen. Hamburg: Rowohlt. 2017. ISBN 9783498000981.
  • Norwegian: Fuglenes fantastiske liv, lit. 'The Wonderful Life of Birds'. Translated by Rune R. Moen. Oslo: Gyldenhal. 2017. ISBN 9788205500464.
  • Polish: Geniusz ptaków. Translated by Barbara Gutowska-Nowak. Kraków: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego. 2017. ISBN 9788323343332.
  • Spanish: El ingenio de los pájaros. Translated by Gemma Deza Guil. Barcelona: Ariel. 2017. ISBN 9788434425262.
  • Czech: Genialita ptáků. Translated by Vendula Hlavová. Brno: Nakladatelství Kazda. 2018. ISBN 9788090742062.
  • Estonian: Geniaalsed linnud. Translated by Helen Urbanik. Tallinn: Tänapäev. 2018. ISBN 9789949852642.
  • Chinese: 鸟类的天赋; pinyin: Niǎo lèi de tiānfù. Translated by Shen Hanzhong and Li Siqi. Nanjing: Yilin Press. 2019. ISBN 9787544774970.
  • Lithuanian: Genialieji paukščiai. Translated by Kasparas Pocius. Vilnius: Kitos knygos. 2019. ISBN 9786094273360.
  • Catalan: L'enginy dels ocells. Translated by Laura Patricio Sedano. Ribaroja del Túria: Cossetània Edicions. 2023. ISBN 9788413562544.

References
  1. Ackerman, Jennifer (12 April 2016). "The Genius of Birds". Jennifer Ackerman. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  2. Ackerman, Jennifer (12 April 2016). The Genius of Birds. Penguin Press. ISBN 978-1594205217.
  3. "The Genius of Birds by Jennifer Ackerman". GoodReads. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  4. The WSJ Top 10 Nonfiction Books of 2016
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