Book Review: Of Birds and Birdsong

Of Birds and Birdsong by M. Krishnan

Rating: 5/5

Of Birds and Birdsong is one of those books that capture your heart as soon as you lay your eyes on their pleasing cover and title. But, it’s neither the cover nor title that holds the real appeal of this book; it’s the content: a beautiful collection of writing on birds that really forces you to pick it up and finish it in one sitting. Every single chapter – that were initially articles appearing in various publications around the nation – are pure masterpieces: a constant flow of words that are full of precise details or casual observation on birds of India, either rare or common. But, it’s indeed M. Krishnan’s writings on common species that fascinate me so much. Such beautifully-crafted words that make even the commonest of Indian birds, such as House Sparrows, House Crows, or Common Mynahs, appear to be as fascinating as any other rare and attractive species found in India. And, yet these writings are not boring research papers, full of detailed observation they are alright, but so nicely sprinkled with just the right amount of humour that even the heart of a non-birder would be entertained up to the brim, should they decide to pick it up for reading. The chapters that pleased me the most are The Poor Man’s Dog, Pigeon Post, Friendly Hobgoblins, Sparrows, and almost all of the chapters in the section ‘The Ear that Hears’ are praiseworthy, the way in which he describes bird songs so effortlessly.

I must admit that it’s not really just the beauty of writings that make me love this book so much, but it’s also how I found this book filled with so much information about the nature, habits, and habitats of birds. Indeed, this book has added a whole new perspective in the way I observe birds and the way I write about them. It’s not only important to write beautifully about birds to make your writing enjoyable for all sorts of the audience by adding humour and such, but it’s also how you blend bald facts and mundane observation and then put them in such well-crafted, precise and compelling words that the readers’ enjoyment gets doubled with the knowledge they gain about our feathered-friends.

Of Birds and Birdsong is yet another precious jewel added to the treasure of bird literature in India, and I definitely recommend this book to anyone who feels even a little leaned towards learning about one of the most important natural wealth of India that we are so proud of: more than a thousand species of birds.