Perhaps because I don’t have much of a scientific background, I picked up this book and assumed that it was ‘just’ about the link between birds and flowers. However, it is about so much more about that! 

I have been a birdwatcher for most of my adult life, and I have been into botany for the last decade or so. However, until I read this book, I admit I had never really given much thought to the link between birds and flowers, above and beyond the fact that they are both crucial parts of our ecosystem. 

One of the main themes of this book is birds as pollinators. Again, I naively assumed that it was only really invertebrates that pollinated flowers. Whilst to a certain extent, this is the case where I live in England, it certainly isn’t the case elsewhere in the world. I have been fortunate enough to see hummingbirds on a couple of occasions whilst visiting friends in the USA. They mesmerised me with their brightly coloured plumage and their incredible ability to almost fly backwards. However, I never really made the connection that by feeding on the nectar from flowers, they were also performing a very important function as pollinators. 

What this book aims to prove is that in fact, a significantly higher proportion of bird species across the world than many people, including myself, assume actually perform roles as pollinators. This does not just include exotically coloured species in far flung corners of the world, it also includes several common and familiar bird species to many of us in the UK! To my considerable shame, I never knew that Blue Tit, Chaffinch and Chiffchaff for example all perform roles as pollinators. 

There is in fact a very interesting list early in the book, which details just how many members of different bird families from across the world have been observed acting as pollinators for flowers. I thoroughly recommend you take a look at this, as you are very likely to be surprised by what you find! 

The book is mainly text, but there are some lovely photographs in the middle pages. As well as showing exotically coloured species from far flung corners of the world, it also includes some species that are more familiar to us in the UK. 

If you are interested in the link between birds and flowers, I would recommend this book!

Reviewed by

David White