The Story of Birds is a riveting exploration of the dinosaurs that still live among us today. Billions of birds share our planet, filling the skies with vibrant colors, beautiful songs, and extraordinary diversity, but their origins stretch back more than 150 million years to small carnivorous dinosaurs. In lively and energetic prose, expert palaeontologist Steve Brusatte traces the incredible evolutionary journey of birds, revealing how they conquered the skies and became one of the most successful groups of animals on Earth. Along the way, readers encounter astonishing creatures from across history, including towering elephant birds that stood as tall as basketball hoops and laid eggs the size of watermelons, massive demon ducks heavier than cows, gigantic seabirds with wingspans like aeroplanes, and fearsome penguins as large as gorillas. Majestic, fascinating, and full of wonder, this book transforms the way we see the birds around us and uncovers the remarkable prehistoric legacy hidden within every feathered creature.

About The Author

Steve Brusatte is a renowned paleontologist, author, and dinosaur expert known for his groundbreaking research and engaging science writing. Originally from the Midwestern United States and now based at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, he has traveled across the world excavating dinosaur fossils and studying prehistoric life. Working alongside international researchers, Brusatte has helped identify and name more than fifteen new dinosaur species, including the famous tyrannosaur Qianzhousaurus, often nicknamed “Pinocchio rex,” and the feathered raptor Zhenyuanlong. Beyond academic research, he is widely recognized for making paleontology accessible to general readers through his books for both children and adults. His acclaimed popular science book The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs (2018) became a bestseller in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, earning praise for its vivid storytelling and scientific insight. Steve Brusatte’s expertise is frequently featured in newspapers, magazines, and television documentaries, including the National Geographic special T. rex Autopsy, where he participated in the dissection of a scientifically accurate life-sized Tyrannosaurus rex model