The Genius of Birds
This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2017) |
 First edition (US) | |
| Author | Jennifer Ackerman |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Bird intelligence |
| Publisher | Penguin Press |
Publication date | April 12 2016 |
| Pages | 352 |
| Awards | New York Times Bestseller |
| ISBN | Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). |
The Genius of Birds is a 2016 book by nature writer Jennifer Ackerman.[1]
Content
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]- Finnish: Viisaat linnut. Translated by Heli Naski. Jyväskylä: Atena. 2017. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..
- German: Die Genies der Lüfte. Translated by Christel Dormagen. Hamburg: Rowohlt. 2017. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..
- Norwegian: Fuglenes fantastiske liv, lit. 'The Wonderful Life of Birds'. Translated by Rune R. Moen. Oslo: Gyldenhal. 2017. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..
- Polish: Geniusz ptaków. Translated by Barbara Gutowska-Nowak. Kraków: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego. 2017. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..
- Spanish: El ingenio de los pájaros. Translated by Gemma Deza Guil. Barcelona: Ariel. 2017. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..
- Czech: Genialita ptáků. Translated by Vendula Hlavová. Brno: Nakladatelství Kazda. 2018. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..
- Estonian: Geniaalsed linnud. Translated by Helen Urbanik. Tallinn: Tänapäev. 2018. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..
- Chinese: 鸟类的天赋; pinyin: Niǎo lèi de tiānfù. Translated by Shen Hanzhong and Li Siqi. Nanjing: Yilin Press. 2019. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..
- Lithuanian: Genialieji paukščiai. Translated by Kasparas Pocius. Vilnius: Kitos knygos. 2019. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..
- Catalan: L'enginy dels ocells. Translated by Laura Patricio Sedano. Ribaroja del Túria: Cossetània Edicions. 2023. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ The WSJ Top 10 Nonfiction Books of 2016
