'One of the stars of modern palaeontology' – National Geographic
'An unqualified success from beginning to end' – New Scientist
'An enjoyable tour of evolutionary science' – Financial Times
'A delight . . . unflaggingly fascinating' – The Sunday Times
'A gifted writer . . . Brusatte makes us look anew at these feathered beasts' The Times, Best Summer books

Billions of birds share the planet with us. With their flamboyant plumage and joyous dawn serenades, many of them are impossible to miss. But how did they get here, how did they break the bounds of Earth and begin to fly, and how does their legacy shape our world?

In delightfully energetic prose, expert palaeontologist Steve Brusatte takes us through their 150-million-year history, from their origins among small carnivorous dinosaurs to the 10,000-plus species that thrive today. Along the way, we meet fantastic birds from all around the world, some known only through fossils. There are elephant birds that stand as high as a basketball hoop and lay eggs as big as watermelons; demon ducks that weigh more than cows; aeroplane-sized seabirds that soar the world’s thermals; and predatory penguins the size of gorillas.