Bird Brains and Behavior: A Synthesis

by Georg F. Striedter, Andrew N. Iwaniuk

Overview

From two avian neurobiologists, a captivating deep dive into the mechanisms that control avian behavior.

The last few decades have produced extensive research on the neural mechanisms of avian behavior. Bird Brains and Behavior marries the enthusiasm of bird enthusiasts for the what, how, and why of avian behavior with the scientific literature on avian biology, offering the newest research in an accessible manner. Georg Striedter and Andrew Iwaniuk focus on a wide variety of behaviors, ranging from daily and seasonal rhythms to complex cognition. Importantly, avian behavior and mechanisms are placed in the context of evolutionary history, stressing that many are unique to birds and often found in only a subset of species.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780262383615
Publisher:	MIT Press
Publication date:	08/05/2025
Sold by:	Penguin Random House Publisher Services
Format:	eBook
Pages:	296

About the Author

Georg F. Striedter is Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior at the University of California, Irvine. His books include Principles of Brain Evolution, Brains Through Time: A Natural History of Vertebrates, and Model Systems in Biology (MIT Press).

Andrew N. Iwaniuk is Professor at the University of Lethbridge. He has published more than 100 research articles, most of which are on bird brains and behavior.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Striedter and Iwaniuk have produced an information-packed treatise on how a marvelously evolved organ underpins lifestyles in a fascinating group of creatures. Their evidence amply illuminates why the term ‘birdbrain’ should be far from derogatory.”
—John C. Avise, Emeritus Professor, University of California, Irvine; author of Phylogeography

“Bird Brains and Behavior contains an outstanding compendium of contemporary brain research related to a range of avian behaviors from locomotion to cognition. The authors’ style is accessible and engaging and should be broadly appealing.”
—Gregory F. Ball, Professor and Vice President for Research, University of Maryland, College Park; coeditor of Brain Aromatase, Estrogens, and Behavior

“Calling all bird-lovers: this is the book for you! Its engaging style describes the diversity of our feathered friends, packed with academic content and presented in an accessible style for specialists and nonspecialists alike.”
—Nicola Clayton, Fellow of the Royal Society; Professor, University of Cambridge

"This book is a must-have for every fan of birds and for every biologist. It’s beautifully illustrated; full of astonishing discoveries about bird abilities, senses, and brains; and written so that everyone can absorb the science without losing their sense of wonder."
—Kenneth Catania, MacArthur Fellow; Professor, Vanderbilt University; author of On the Art and Craft of Doing Science

“How can birds have cognitive abilities that rival those of mammals when their brains appear so different? This key question is a sufficient reason to read this entertaining and insightful book.”
—Catherine Carr, Distinguished University Professor, University of Maryland, College Park