Ten Birds That Changed the World

Shortlisted for the Wainwright Nature Prize

“Mr. Moss is a captivating storyteller, whose crystal-clear prose offers handsome rewards, especially in those passages that rely on personal observation.”

“A fascinating, eye-opening, and endlessly engaging work of natural history.”

"Moss digs deep and answers many questions within chapters that are rich with both natural and historical facts... Ten Birds That Changed the World is an engrossing tribute to our feathered neighbours."

“This is a fascinating look at key moments in world history told through the lens of a different bird of the time for each one.”

“[Moss] is an ideal guide to this in-depth look at 10 consequential species and the threats to their continued survival… The author’s thorough and well-argued book brings urgent attention to all the species that now face oblivion due to the global climate crisis… Take a fascinating flight into human history on the wings of 10 important bird species.”

“[A] penetrating history…The blend of history and science highlights the deep connections between humans and the natural world, and the cultural insights enlighten….This flies high.”

“This well-crafted book expertly highlights global societies’ treatment of birds.”

“Stephen Moss’s Ten Birds That Changed the World is a model of contemporary nature writing. Its blend of science, history, and the cultural significance we human animals attach to the other life around us had me riveted. When I closed this book, the emperor penguins I watch online, the eagles that soar my local river, the wild raven who’s befriended me—all these and more had taken on a depth of meaning and relevance I never quite grasped before.”

“There are thousands of bird species on earth, but with a very well-chosen ten, Moss provides a panoramic look at how the feathered ones have influenced human mythology, science, politics, and even self-understanding. These interconnections are as fraught as they are beautiful in this complex time of climate crisis when so many birds, after influencing our culture for so long, now depend on humans for the possibility of survival in an uncertain future. Moss is a knowledgeable and companionable guide throughout this riveting volume, which inspires a love of birdlife that is more essential than ever.”

“Moss writes with the scope of a scholar and the confidence of a careful observer, finding fresh and fascinating insights into the lives and legacies of ten iconic birds. A thoughtful, thought-provoking, and thoroughly enjoyable book.”

“This is a journey into an extraordinary world—an outwardly familiar world, but one that has been shaped and contoured by birds in ways we can only begin to imagine. Through the stories of those birds, Moss shows us how our lives owe so much to them, and why we should care for their kind a little more.”