Description
Book SynopsisThe untold story of a stunning discovery: not only can birds smell, but their scents may be the secret to understanding their world. Winner of the PROSE Award for Best Book in Popular Science and MathematicsThe puzzling lack of evidence for the peculiar but widespread belief that birds have no sense of smell irked evolutionary biologist Danielle Whittaker. Exploring the science behind the myth led her on an unexpected quest investigating mysteries from how juncos win a fight to why cowbirds smell like cookies. In The Secret Perfume of Birdspart science, part intellectual history, and part memoirWhittaker blends humor, clear writing, and a compelling narrative to describe how scent is important not just for birds but for all animals, including humans. Whittaker engagingly describes how emerging research has uncovered birds' ability to produce complex chemical signals that influence their behavior, including where they build nests, when they pick a fight, and why they fly away. Mate
Trade ReviewFrom tangerine-scented auklets to mossy-smelling juncos, birds are more fragrant than you might think.
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Simon Ings, NEW SCIENTISTWhittaker blends science writing and memoir to explore how birds make use of odors in her delightful debut. Whittaker's a natural explainer, and her willingness to poke fun at herself only enhances her fascinating account. Fans of Jon Dunn and Jonathan Meiburg will be charmed.
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Publishers WeeklyA delightfully meandering account...Whittaker presents a new lens for bird lovers to view common species, and she had me wondering what some of my favorite birds smell like... The book's greatest success is how it depicts the reality of doing science...It takes a diverse group of perspectives—and the humility to reconsider our biases—to truly understand our world.
—Ryan Mandelbum,
Scientific AmericanWhittaker's wide-ranging book combines memoir, intellectual history, and the results of her own scientific research on avian chemical communication, which challenges the long-held belief in ornithology that birds don't have a sense of smell. Whittaker also discusses her unorthodox academic career and her personal life (including her roller derby alter ego 'Chunk Rock Girl'), adding zest to the science.
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Library JournalBeautifully written.
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BirdWatchingFull of vivid descriptions of fieldwork adventures, fun facts about bird scents, detailed scientific explanations that always stay very readable....A charming and readable background to a little-studied area of ornithology.
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BTO News (British Trust for Ornithology)Whittaker convincingly busts the myth of avian anosmia....[The Secret Perfume of Birds]rewards the reader with fascinating insights into the fields of animal behaviour and chemical communication.
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The Inquisitive BiologistTable of ContentsPreface. Follow Your Nose
Chapter 1. The Most Ancient and Fundamental Sense
Chapter 2. Following the Bird's Nose
Chapter 3. Deciphering the Secrets of Smells
Chapter 4. What Does Sexy Smell Like?
Chapter 5. Making Scents of Bacteria
Chapter 6. Thanks for Sharing
Chapter 7. MHC: Magical Happiness Controller?
Chapter 8. Girl Power
Afterword. A Breath of Fresh Air
Acknowledgments
Glossary
References
Index
