Feathers by Thor Hanson - Book Review

Feathers by Thor Hanson is a triumph of one mans quest to uncover how these undervalued bird adornments have paved the way for avian flight, whilst acting as a time capsule into how Theropod meat eating dinosaurs took to the air and eventually evolved into the birds we know and love today.

Since this book was published in 2011 it has received a wave of praise, all of which is well founded within each and every captivating page.

Hanson’s personal adventures around the globe landed him within situation as varied as interviewing Las Vegas showgirls complete with elaborate head dresses; spending time with fishing experts consumed in the unique art of tying flys and meeting a myriad of biologists and paleontologists inspired by birds and their evolution.

As the book ‘takes flight’ you are led on a journey that it enthralling, entertaining and often insightful; revealing some fascinating biological research and industrial history.

The author's narrative has a sense of charm and relays the feeling that he is a close friend discussing his adventures over a pint, on a chilly winter’s eve.

If I were forced to raise a couple of quibbles they would be perhaps that less pages could have been dedicated to how humans have used feathers for their own personal gain and more on the biological discoveries of feathers with their inspiring beauty, form and function. However some will most likely prefer more of the former, so the book in some way does offer an orni-anthro balance.

Another aspect from a bird ringer’s perspective, which I felt could have been included in more detail is how feathers reveal so much about a bird’s age, sex, moult strategy and even feeding range, such as by undertaking isotope analysis to discover where and what birds have been eating throughout there annual life cycle.

One behavioural discovery described that did ‘blow’ me away was a study into the Club-winged Manakin. A bird native to Ecuador that performs a mating display with a form of stridulating wing movement only found otherwise in Grasshoppers and Crickets. 

Having covered some of this material back during my undergrad days, along with general reading, it was a pleasure to unearth it again, complete with recent findings and in-depth explanations into how discoveries were made in the field, the lab or whilst musing over a desk. As with all science the ball (or wing) doesn’t stop and since 2011 several new discoveries into bird and feather evolution have been made, such as those well publicised by BBC Nature.

To summarise, this book is a must read for everyone and anyone with a mere interest in birds, nature or even fashion and industry. With its entertaining flow and fascinating discoveries there's enough to keep you turning the pages, intrigued as to what’s to come.

For more information on British birds and their feathers, see the BTO’s book shop for some excellent books