The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America (Bird Books, Books for Bird Lovers, Humor Books)

Consistently hilarious, wildly imaginative/unique, and well-presented (for starters), Kracht's delivering us a fantastic satirical version of your garden-variety bird guide overflowing with profanity and snarky insight.

Before you stop reading, you should know that, despite the comedic angle, this still functions as a competent bird guide: You're given further (legit) resources for how to get into bird-watching more, tips on where to sit, what to bring, how to conduct yourself, and what kinds of feeders to install. Is it as comprehensive as one you'll find in the local library? Hell, no, but that's not what Kracht is trying to do here; what's low-key being done is introducing an appreciation for the animals, but through a different lens then you're used to, and that's his love-hate relationship with the birds.

In addition to the genuinely funny bird descriptions, we're treated, as you'd expect, with illustrations (I presume they're in pen and colored in later?) on each bird. These sketches are perfect representations of the tone of the book: They're educational, unique, but, having a slapdash aspect to them, defiantly impose a level of disrespect.

Any nature lover that doesn't take his or herself too seriously will get a kick out of this. Great coffee table book, a short read, and one-of-a-kind.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the advance read.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I found this book to be a delightful mix of snark and knowlege. The drawings are wonderful.
The book includes maps of migratory patterns and a section on extinct birds.

Would definitely recommend as vacation reading for a trip to Bodega Bay.

I recently moved into a house with a backyard that has made me decide to put up bird feeders and see what would happen...and what happened is eerily described in this humorous look at the birds we share our planet with.

Hilarious but also begrudgingly respectful of these tiny flying dinosaurs, Matt Kracht's book is sure to be the go-to for amateur bird watchers like me.

Ah, this book. It’s utterly irreverent. A good gag gift for a nature lover with an inclination toward low-brow humor. It’s pretty crass; I’m not even sure the title page didn’t have profanity. One could actually learn something from this book. But one would have to be willing to suffer through some ridiculous humor. For some, the renaming of the birds could get stale after a few. Some of the names aren’t all that clever, but every once in a while, I’d laugh out loud. OK, pretty often.

This book is hysterical. As a bird watcher I too get frustrated by certain birds hoping all over the place. The author had my in stitches several times and I know a number of people that this will make a great gift for.

I have been bird watching for as long as I can remember. I must have five bird identification books on Birds of North American, West of the Rockies. But, even if you have all of those and more, you will want this book. This book is both snarky, and serious. Funny and fun. It gives you true facts, mixed in with bizaar thoughts.

He has also renamed birds, mentioned in here, for his humor and amusement.

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The Western MeadowJerk, instead of the Western Meadow Lark. The Dork-eyed Junko, instead of Dark-eyed Junko.

He gives little sort of true, sort of snarky comments about each bird. Until he gets to the crows, whom he refers to as the Damn Crows.

<blockquote>Caw! Caw! Caw! Caw! Caw! Caw! That's pretty much it with these jerks.</blockquote>.

He says a little bit more about the American Robin, whom he called the Dumb-Ass Robin. "They are an excellent source of food for cats".

About the rock pigeon he writes "Oh my god, do I even need to talk about this bird? You can blindfold these birds, and they can find their way home. What's even the point? Save your tiny blindfolds for some other bird, I guess."

This is the sort of guide you can buy as a gift, but that will actually help you identify the birds aorund you. It would also make a good gift to your birding friends.

Lots of fun.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

OK, I love birds and I love sarcasm and this book perfectly blended the two. It had me laughing out loud for most of it and smiling for the rest. Seriously, this is for both bird lovers and bird haters and anyone in between.

The book is a super quick read with some really snazzy illustrations that keep the pages flipping. I’m sure you could actually use this for some form of identification but it is primarily for entertainment. I will say, however, that this seriously motivated me to start keeping a similarly hilarious journal on my bird sighting and what nefarious things they might be up to. I mean, why is that robin just staring at me for hours on end? He’s got to be up to no good…

3.5/5

I quite like this book. The sarcastic humor was right up my alley and I cracked a good amount of smiles, which is always a good thing as I very much appreciate a humorous read. Personally, I know nothing about birds other than how much of a nuisance they can be. Despite how humorous this guidebook is written, it is good to note that the author does provide insightful information about bird watching, which left me a little more informed about birdwatching, or birding.

Unfortunately, when I received this ARC from NetGalley, the pictures were blocked out due to copyright, which I'm sure took a part of the reading experience away from me as I've seen some of the pictures from other reviews and they're hilarious and very well drawn at the same time. I'm certain that my rating would've been higher if I was able to see the drawings in the book.

Overall, despite this being targetted towards bird lovers or something of the sort, it is still very much a beginner's guide friendly for those who know nothing about birds

I was provided with an eARC of this book in exchange for a fair review.

HILARIOUS! I decided to start this late at night after being unable to get to sleep, and then just worked myself up more from laughing so hard. This book was so cleverly written, with just the right mix of real facts (I assume), helpful hints, sass, and swearing. The drawings were great! I would absolutely love to see a second edition of this book (“now with more birds!”) and will def be recommending this to everyone!

Title: Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America



Author: Matt Kracht



Genre: Nonfiction, Bird Guide, Humor,



Plot: Birds are beautiful intelligent creatures who provide us with hours of entertainment in various forms. At least, that is what die-hard bird enthusiasts want us to believe. In reality, birds are jerks and in this hilarious field guide, Matt Kracht explains why with very colorful language and pictures.



We'll meet such classics as the White-Breasted Butt Nugget and the Bland Sparrow. Each bird belongings to its own unique group, such as Lump, Long-Legs or Murder Birds. And all of them have their own unique and noisy call as well as annoying habits and migratory patterns. So settle down and prepare to look at birds in a whole new light.



Likes/Dislikes: This book is a riot to read! Sprinkled with plenty of dry humor, sarcastic commentary and adult language, this is a field guide for every bird enthusiast and their bored partner. While reading it, I showed it to my husband (the bird enthusiast) who then proceeded to read almost the whole thing while laughing. I think it passed the test. My favorite are the Murder Birds.



Rating: PG-16 and up, for language.



Date Review Written: January 24th, 2019



I received a copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley for my honest opinion. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

Birds are everywhere— totally unavoidable. In parks, in your backyard, even stray ones drift into stores. And their prominence has led to the development of a specific kind of person: the birdwatcher. Now there’s a guide for new or expert birders interested in perfecting the favorite pastime of … sitting and watching birds.

The tone of this book is set with the title: The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America. Author Matt Kracht obviously has an interesting relationship these animals, and his blunt attitude stretches beyond the cover. Each bird featured includes a notation about their common name, but Kracht also renames them. The White-Breasted Butt Nugget (White-Breasted Nuthatch) and the Western MeadowJerk (Western Meadow Lark) both make appearances, among a flock of fifty. Some of these work better than others, but they all serve for Kracht to degrade what he considers flying monstrosities.

Beyond just the names, this book is wickedly funny. Kracht embodies an individual with absolute disdain for all things bird. In his world, their only functions are to make annoying noises and steal food, and he won’t hear a word otherwise. Yes, it’s over the top, but Kracht mocks with absolutely infectious glee, almost goading the reader to challenge his view on why these aviary creatures suck.

Even with all the snark, Kracht is careful to load up on facts. He describes their calls, migratory patterns, markings, and includes accurate illustrations. However, it’s the sections that bookend the guide that are both insightful and suggest Kracht might have a softer side when it comes to birds. Here, he discusses the art of birding, picking proper bird feeders, as well as maintaining a bird jounal. His style of ridiculing the hobby and the animal is still on display, but it almost appears to stem from a deep admiration— he’s too cool for bird watching … but it’s still fun.

It’s funny, it’s crass, and as a particularly annoying bird would say, “Caw! Caw! Caw!”

Hilarious, witty and snarky. Keeps you on your toes while classily making fun or ornithology and all things to go along with it.

I generally quite enjoyed this book. I felt an immediate kinship for the snarky, sarcastic tone, especially with it being directed at nature and people who love nature. That said, I felt like the humor wasn't always very consistent-- the actual bird descriptions weren't very funny and typically just said "they're loud and annoying" in slightly different phrasing for almost every bird, while the other sections of the book allowed Kracht to be more clever and funny.

If you've always wanted to try bird watching but find birders a little precious and pretentious, this is the book for you. Part field guide, part satire, bitter author and birdwatcher Kracht hilariously describes common birds and their jerkish behavior, renaming each but also including the common name--i.e., "Western Meadowjerk" (Western Meadowlark), "Damn Crows" (American crow), etc. This ARC did not contain images, so I can't comment on the photos/illustrations that will be included, but I'm sure they will be equally funny/helpful.

A humorous take on birding (or is it bird watching?) Enjoyable, funny, great as a gift for the wildlife lover in your life.

A delightful answer to the question I always ask myself in the morning, "who is outside my window making all this annoying noise?!" Sometimes that answer is a neighbor with a leafblower, but more often the answer is one of these dumb guys. How dare they. Matt Kracht pokes fun at the sport (oh the irony of using the word sport in this review) of birdwatching/birding in a refreshing and kindhearted way. Describing birds by shape, from normal bird to murder bird, the book leads you through whatever little bothers you may find in your backyard or on a trail in any given moment. I was laughing the whole time I read this and couldn't put it down. Anyone who loves birds, or the outdoors, or just simply laughing should read this book.

(Disclaimer: I received this title free from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

A review will be posted on gwenithreads.blogspot.com on the release date, April 1, 2019.

I never thought a field guide to birds would keep me laughing the whole way through, but this book has proven me wrong. This is not your book if you are expecting a comprehensive guide to all North American birds, or if you are uber serious about birding. But if you might appreciate Kracht's love/hate relationship with birds and would get a chuckle out of his sardonic obscenities and name-calling, then pick this up and have yourself a funny afternoon! I did actually learn a little bit about the birds he was so lovingly trashing, and thoroughly enjoyed the scribbly hand-drawn pictures. Fun book for the not-so-serious bird-lover!

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was absolutely ridiculous and hilarious and I loved it! I know all my nature-buff and birding patrons will adore it, so I've ordered a couple copies already. Thank you so much!

This book is hysterical! You don't have to be a ornithologist to love this one. I don't think I have ever read a book with the word butt in it as many times as this one. I love birds already, but I may have been convinced to take up bird watching officially.

Not one for everyone, but bird enthusiasts with a sense of humor will definitely enjoy.

Don't mind me sitting over here giggling over every page turn.

I received this review copy free and early, courtesy of Net Galley and Chronicle Books. This whimsical yet bawdy take on our feathered frenemies will be for sale on April Fool’s Day, which figures.

Kracht—whose name sounds ever so slightly like something a crow might say—illustrates each bird he discusses in a style that is not half bad, with some anger tossed in as seasoning. I have to admit I don’t entirely understand his indignation, given the state of the environment. I myself tend to relish the sounds of birds, most of whom the author refers to as “shit sacks,” “noisy little fucks,” etc; yet clearly his tongue is in his cheek, since he studies them sufficiently to write about them.

Much of the humor will be appreciated by teenagers, and so if you are expecting a teenage guest over the spring and summer holidays and the blue language won’t be considered inappropriate in your family, you might want this book for your guest room.

If I could change one thing about this book, I’d expand the section devoted to “Murderers,” meaning birds of prey. This is where the art is the best and also the funniest, and so I don’t understand why he only includes four birds here, one of which is the bald eagle, which even Kracht cannot diss. Most of all I wonder how a Seattle birder can omit the Peregrine Falcon, a magnificent and adaptive bird that dwells on the ledges of many of our city’s tallest buildings. Go figure.

If this eccentric little book sounds like something you or those you gift might like, you can get it April 1, 2019.

The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America by Matt Kracht is a book I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. This book is going in my favorite folder for sure! This is hilarious! I laughed out loud and giggled all the way through! The author has a wicked sense of humor, clever, witty, and the funniest art!
His bird "guide" has everything from rules to follow, tools, how to keep a journal, and his own description and art of birds.
He has his name for the birds and then the common name. A description of the birds then their color or tips about them or both. Then the picture. My gosh, my stomach hurt from laughing! I read bits to my mom who is in her 80's and she started laughing!
This is a book for any bird lover, animal lover, or anyone that needs a good laugh!
This a great comedy book yet I did learn too!

Everyone has a favorite animal, and usually this feeling extends to a least favorite animal. For me, my favorite is moose, and my least favorite, at a neck-and-neck tie would be monkeys and birds. And it appears that, for at least half of my list, Matt Kracht shares my sentiment.

A Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America is exactly as it sounds. If you are a bird, you should probably be insulted right about now. The book is structured into different types of birds, from “Backyard A**holes” to “Egotists and Show-Offs.” Each page features a different bird, with an altered, more appropriate name (think Western Meadowjerk instead of Western Meadowlark), a few details that will allow you to recognize them in the field (like their hat size), and a really nifty sketch of the birds.

While there is quite a bit of humor in this book, there were little nuggets of knowledge hidden in the bios for the birds. And the sketches were actually fantastic and very distinct for each species. The author truly knows birds, but understands what little turds they can be. I respect that.

I thought this was a fun read am glad I was provided the opportunity to review it.

*I would like to thank the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Matt Kracht has written a very funny, tongue in cheek guide to some of the most common birds found in North America. He has humorously renamed them so that we might easily remember them. For example, there is the White Breasted Butt Nugget, the Western Meadow Jerk or, simply, the damn crows. He tends to feel about crows the same way I do. The entire page is filled with Caw, Caw, Caw, Caw, Caw..... Yes, that really is all that you need to know about the damn crow, isn't it?

Kracht also accompanies each delightful paragraph of information with his own personal illustrations. Okay, some are better than others depending on how well he likes the bird. I won't even show you the illustration of the crow which resembles something a two year old with a black marker might draw in a fit of rage. Again, very aptly done when considering the caw-caw-caw of the crow. Most, however, are beautifully rendered.

Despite the irreverence, the information throughout the book, the details, the drawings - with a few noted exceptions - the maps, and the highlights are very informative. If I were teaching children about birds.... okay, well, there is some mild cursing but aside from that, I can assure you that kids definitely would remember these birds better than they would a regular field guide. Absolutely! I know that I will! It also makes for a terrific coffee table book and conversation piece. Guests have adored it! I adore it! I haven't laughed this hard or this much in a very long time!!

Thank you to #netgalley, #ChronicleBooks and @MattKracht for my copy of #TheFieldGuidetoDumbBirdsofNorthAmerica

This is a legit bird guide, it's just a fun and humorous way to do a guide. Fun and enjoyable. A nifty gift for the bird lover/watcher in your life.