The Birding Dictionary

With birding more popular than ever, this clever pocket-sized guide is a unique gift that celebrates the obsession with hilarious definitions and witty illustrations of terms that birders know and love. 

Acclaimed science communicator and cartoonist Rosemary Mosco offers a clever, humorous “dictionary” that’s perfect for any birder. The Birding Dictionary is filled with hilarious and informative definitions for more than 200 birding terms, plus over 50 witty full‑color illustrations. Terms range from bird species, anatomy, and behaviors to the insider jargon that all birders know and speak fluently, from “alpha code” to “zygodactyl.” With equal parts quirky humor and accessible science, it’s a delightful gift for every bird enthusiast.

Includes:
 
American Robin noun: a device that converts worms into 100-decibel songs outside your bedroom at 4 a.m.
 
metamorphosis noun: the process in which a rare bird transforms itself into a common bird when you lift up your binoculars to view it, point it out to an expert, or look more closely at your photos later.

stakeout noun: a gathering of birders that evokes action-movie vibes, but mostly involves waiting in a damp field, shifting from foot to foot, and looking up until your eyes ache.