Birds

Birds are a revelation. Radiating grace, intelligence and humour, they tantalise the human imagination.

Working for years in his studio and in the field, internationally acclaimed photographer Tim Flach has portrayed nature’s most alluring creatures alertly at rest and dramatically in flight, capturing intricate feather patterns and subtle colouration invisible to the naked eye.

From familiar friends, including the king penguin and the black swan, to marvellous rarities, such as the kagu and the Bali myna, Flach conveys the dazzling diversity of birds. Here are all manner of songbirds, parrots and birds of paradise; birds of prey, waterbirds and theatrical domestic breeds. Witness the shy gaze of the southern cassowary and the fearless stare of the Andean condor; marvel at the peregrine falcon – the fastest animal on Earth – in flight, wings outstretched, and the iridescent plumage of the Himalayan monal.

Compelling text by prominent ornithologist Richard O. Prum takes the reader into the deep history of birds, ancestors of the dinosaurs living among us, and sheds light on the distinct behaviours of each species. Discover how female guira cuckoos lay eggs in shared nests, distinguishing their own with unique markings, and why the Nicobar pigeon swallows small colourful stones. Learn of the vulturine guineafowl’s penchant for fallen fruit, the common ostrich’s rapid growth rate, and more as you navigate your way through these pages.

The result of much patience, precision and persistence, Birds features more than 130 extraordinary photographs. Putting us face-to-face with some of Earth’s most magnetic living beings, Flach evokes the magnificence of the animal kingdom – and the urgent need to protect and defend it.

About the Author

Tim Flach is a photographer best known for his stylised portraits of animals and for the originality that he brings to capturing animal behaviour and characteristics. His work is driven by a desire to better communicate stories of the natural world and to explore questions around art, communication and conservation science.

In recognition of his work, he has received numerous awards, including an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Photographic Society and an honorary doctorate from the University of Arts London (Norwich). His photographs are showcased in books, exhibitions and galleries around the world.

Birds is Flach's sixth book, following Equus (2008), Dogs (2010; published in the United Kingdom as Dogs Gods), More than Human (2012), Endangered (2017), and Who Am I? (2019), his first children's book. He works in London, where he lives with his wife and son.