This Bird

Hardback - August 2025 - AU $32.99

Discover the remarkable Australian native birds in your backyard, local parks and streets.

Discover the birds that share our urban spaces. + Full description

What’s so fancy about this bird? What’s so clever about that bird? Perhaps it’s a weightlifter, a marathon flier, an artist, or even a liar.

You don’t need to go far to see intriguing birds, even in the city. From colourful parrots to artistic bowerbirds and fancy fairy-wrens, there’s lots to notice in our local backyards, streets and parks.

Written by Astred Hicks in collaboration with bird scientist Dr Holly Parsons, and featuring Astred’s distinctive and engaging illustrations, This Bird features fun facts about some remarkable Australian native birds and hints on where (and how) to find them!

Reading level varies from child to child, but we recommend this book for ages 6 to 12.

"Charming, eye-catching, fresh and informative. This Bird explores iconic Australian birds as well as some of the more overlooked species, sharing fun facts and important stories as they go."
– Sami Bayly, author of The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Ugly Animals

"Sometimes experienced birders can forget what first sparked our interest in birds. This beautiful book is a delightful reminder of the wonder that birds inspire in us. It finds the sublime in the everyday encounters we have with these endlessly fascinating creatures that we can see literally right outside our windows."
– Sean Dooley, BirdLife Australia

- Short description

Details

Hardback | August 2025 | $ 32.99
ISBN: 9781486318452 | 64 pages | 280 x 215 mm
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Colour illustrations



Features

  • Fun and engaging format showing a unique characteristic of each bird.
  • Highlights key identification features, habitat and behaviour.
  • Provides hints on where and how to find and identify each bird.
  • Outstanding content from award-winning illustrator Astred Hicks.
  • Includes contributions from bird expert Dr Holly Parsons.
  • Encourages birdwatching as a way to connect with nature and the world around us.

Contents

Introduction

This bird looks different from its partner
This bird plays hide and seek
This bird flies marathons
This bird is a moonlight wailer
These birds are noisy
This bird walks on water
This bird is loud
This bird is cheeky
This bird is a swimmer
This bird is a hoverer
This bird loves cities
This bird is 'shellfish'
This bird is strong
This bird has a mistaken identity
These birds live among the trees
This bird is gregarious
This bird has a red butt
This bird eats with a spoon
This bird is more than an angler
This bird is an artist
This bird is a tiny explorer
This bird is fancy
This bird is a digger
These birds are architects
This bird is a liar
This bird is a master of disguise
This bird eats on the fly
This bird has a sweet tooth
This bird is a cruncher

Glossary
Habitats
Index of species
About the authors

Authors

Astred Hicks is a best-selling illustrator, highly awarded book designer, emerging author and complete bird nerd. She is excited about noticing the world around her and hopes to inspire others to do the same. She is also the illustrator of A Hollow Is a Home, Ocean Animals, and Swifty.

Dr Holly Parsons is a bird-loving scientist who spends her days studying the amazing Australian bird life that lives in our towns and cities, and sharing her passion with everyone she meets.