Every birder is familiar with David Allen Sibley’s beautifully illustrated field guides. So one might expect that there’s little in the avian world that would surprise Sibley at this point. Not so, he explains in the introduction to his new book: “One of the themes that impressed me throughout my work on this book is that a bird’s experience is far richer, more complex, and more ‘thoughtful’ than I’d imagined.” The engrossing tome consists of essays organized by bird type, and every page features at least one gorgeous, informative illustration. Sibley doesn’t necessarily expect readers to make their way from front to back. Each essay stands alone, but all are interconnected—providing a deeper understanding of avian evolution, instinct, and survival—and helpful cross-references suggest which page to flip to next. The excerpt below from the introduction gives a peek into the book’s rich contents. All birds have feathers, but Sibley’s captivating exploration...