From the Bookshelf – Books about Birds

Have you ever noticed subject themes in your own book collection? I was hunting for a specific printmaking process book last week and started to notice just how many books I have in my library – all about birds. I didn’t find the book I was looking for (it’s probably somewhere safe, never to be seen again!), but I started to pull out my books about birds.

Birds have been a source of interest and inspiration for me as an artist and someone who loves the natural world. Over the years, my admiration has taken many forms – from observing their behaviour in my semi-rural living environment to capturing them through art. Sometimes, I sit outside my house and can count more than 10 different bird calls around my home. I guess it’s not surprising that this interest has also found its way onto my bookshelves.

In this post, I’ll share my collection with you. You’ll find books about bird species and their behaviours alongside stunning works that focus on the art and beauty of birds. Whether you’re an artist, a nature enthusiast, or simply someone who loves birds as much as I do, I hope you’ll find something here to inspire you.

Below is a list of book titles, in order as photographed above:

• Cockatoo, published by Thames & Hudson Australia 2017
• The Book Of The Bird by Angus Hyland & Kendra Wilson
• Australian Magpie by Gisela Kaplan
• The Hand Guide to the Birds of New Zealand by Hugh Robertson and Barrie Heather
• Field Guide to Australian Birds by Michael Morcombe
• Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
• I am a Magpie I am a Currawong by Bridget Farmer
• The Bush Birds by Bridget Farmer
• Feathered Heads – A Celebration of Australian Birds (2) by Angela Robertson-Buchanan
• Pressing On: A Decade of New Linocuts by Robert Gilmore
• Wings of Water by Alan Marshall
• Kookaburra Kookaburra by Bridget Farmer
• The Bird Art Of William T. Cooper by Wendy Cooper
• Bird: The Definitive Visual Guide by Dorothy Kindersley
• Every Australian Bird Illustrated, published by Rigby 1975

If you’d like to explore these books further, I’ve grouped them into categories below and included publisher details to help you track down your own copies:

• Books about Birds in Art
• Books About Birds
• My Favourite Bird Book
• Birds in My Artwork

Books About Birds in Art

Cockatoo
Australia is blessed with an incredible variety of birds – vivid colours, large and small and a symphony of screeches, squawks and songs. This little book showcases cockatoos through the eyes of various artists, featuring a mix of mediums, including paint, pencil, digital and drawing. Each artwork is paired with a fascinating fact about these magnificent birds, celebrating their beauty and character.
Published: Thames & Hudson Australia, 2017
ISBN: 9780500501122

The Book Of The Bird – Angus Hyland & Kendra Wilson
Another little book celebrating birds and the artists who depict them. Featuring a beautiful mix of paintings, illustrations and photographs, it pairs stunning artworks—both classic and contemporary—with engaging stories and insights about the bird species portrayed.
Published: Laurence King Publishing, 2016
ISBN: 978-78067-750-7

The Bird Art Of William T. Cooper – Wendy Cooper
The newest addition to my library, this book is a treasure trove of William T. Cooper’s exquisite bird art. It showcases stunning finished works alongside intimate sketchbook drawings and the artist’s notes, offering a glimpse into his creative process. Cooper is a master of painting birds and the natural environment around them.
Published: National Library of Australia, 2023
ISBN: 9781922507600

Feathered Heads – A Celebration of Australian Birds (2) by Angela Robertson-Buchanan.
This limited-edition photo book is a tribute to Australia’s rescued and endangered birds. Angela Robertson-Buchanan’s up-close and personal photographs beautifully capture each feathered subject’s unique personality and playful cheekiness. If you’re a bird lover, I highly recommend following Angela on Instagram @thebirdphotog, where she shares her remarkable photography and heartfelt stories about the rescued birds she cares for.

I have referenced Robert Gilmore’s Pressing On and Alan Marshall’s Wings Over Water in a previous post. These books are full of birds in printmaking art.

Books About Birds

Every Australian Bird Illustrated
This was the very first book about birds I ever owned. I must have been around 10 years old when Mum and Dad bought it for me, a gift I chose myself – likely as a reward for an achievement at school. I remember pouring over the pages, fascinated by the photographs that filled every one. Flicking through it now, those images are still etched in my memory, as vivid as ever. This book is not a collector’s item, but to me, it is special – a reminder of where my love for birds started.
Published: Rigby 1975
ISBN: 0727000098

Australian Magpie – Gisela Kaplan
I’ve always had a fondness for magpies. As a kid, I overcame my fear of being dive-bombed while riding my bike during the breeding season and came to appreciate their unique character and individual personalities. This book has been an invaluable reference, offering insight and inspiration while I created my Magpie Stories linocut prints and artist books.
Published: CSIRO Publishing, 2019
ISBN: 9781486307241

Bird: The Definitive Visual Guide – Dorothy Kindersley
Confession: I bought this book because the cover practically demanded a place in my library. It was in the front window of my local bookstore, Rosetta Books, and I couldn’t resist. The title, the striking photograph, the sheer presence of the book – it all called out to me! And I’m so glad I gave in. This incredible guide explores birds from all corners of the globe, diving into their habitats, species and behaviours, packed with hundreds of breathtaking photos and detailed map illustrations.
Published: Penguin Random House 2022
ISBN: 9780241490310

Field Guide to Australian Birds – Michael Morcombe
I bought this book shortly after moving to Maleny, where my home was surrounded by a symphony of bird songs from dawn to dusk. I had never experienced such an incredible diversity of birdlife on my doorstep, and it was intoxicating. Inspired by this constant chorus, I began recording the birds I spotted around my home. This little project grew into a record of birds I’d encountered over the years, and even now, I continue marking off new sightings in my current home (and beyond).
At one point, I had a system of colour-coded tags stuck to the pages to keep track of my observations. While I’ve since abandoned that system, this book remains a trusted companion—well-worn, regularly used and an indispensable reference in my library.

Published: Steve Parish Publishing 2010
ISBN: 174021417 X

My Favourite Bird Book

Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach

I first read Jonathan Livingston Seagull just before or just after starting high school. The copy I had back then has long since moved on—likely given away without a second thought. Then, in 1991, I stumbled across this copy while browsing a second-hand bookstore in Seattle. It was like finding an old friend, and it brought back memories of the story, giving me the perfect excuse to read it again.

The personal touch makes this copy even more special: an inscription inside the front cover and a 1972 newspaper clipping tucked between the pages. At the time, I had just spent a few days on Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands of Washington State, where I learned that Richard Bach himself lived. It felt serendipitous, as though the book had been waiting for me to find it. I wonder what perfect day Julie and Dorothy shared?

Published: The Macmillan Company 1970

Birds in my Artwork

Birds have been a subject in my printmaking artworks for nearly 10 years. I reference my own photographs, aiming to capture some of the unique characteristics of each bird species. From the bold personality of magpies and the soft mystery of tawny frogmouths to the lively energy of cockatoos, they inspire my linocut and cutout prints. Birds bring mystery and beauty to my art, just as they have to my bookshelf, filling both with endless fascination.