What Birds Eat

In North America, more than 900 bird species have natural diets ranging from seeds, foliage, nectar, and nuts to fish, insects, crustaceans, carrion, and mammals--and sometimes other birds. As birds have adopted various diets, their anatomy and behavior have evolved in response. The unending search for food, however, also places birds directly in the path of three accelerating changes: urbanization, pollution, and climate change. What Birds Eat explores the senses that birds depend on--sight, sound, odor, taste, and touch--and their food ingestion, with a special look at bird crops, gizzards, and the digestive adaptations that distinguish birds from other animal groups. Extensive feeding profiles then detail what various species eat naturally and how we can support those diets in backyards and feeders. What Birds Eat enriches our understanding, allowing us to engage more meaningfully with birds along the way.