A Most Remarkable Creature

The Hidden Life and Epic Journey of the World's Smartest Birds of Prey

De: Jonathan Meiburg

Narrado por: Jonathan Meiburg

“Utterly captivating and beautifully written, this book is a hugely entertaining and enlightening exploration of a bird so wickedly smart, curious, and social, it boggles the mind.”—Jennifer Ackerman, author of The Bird Way

“A fascinating, entertaining, and totally engrossing story.”—David Sibley, author of What It's Like to Be a Bird

An enthralling account of a modern voyage of discovery as we meet the clever, social birds of prey called caracaras, which puzzled Darwin, fascinate modern-day falconers, and carry secrets of our planet's deep past in their family history.

“As curious, wide-ranging, gregarious, and intelligent as its subject.”—Charles C. Mann, author of 1491

In 1833, Charles Darwin was astonished by an animal he met in the Falkland Islands: handsome, social, and oddly crow-like falcons that were "tame and inquisitive . . . quarrelsome and passionate," and so insatiably curious that they stole hats, compasses, and other valuables from the crew of the Beagle. Darwin wondered why these birds were confined to remote islands at the tip of South America, sensing a larger story, but he set this mystery aside and never returned to it.

Almost two hundred years later, Jonathan Meiburg takes up this chase. He takes us through South America, from the fog-bound coasts of Tierra del Fuego to the tropical forests of Guyana, in search of these birds: striated caracaras, which still exist, though they're very rare. He reveals the wild, fascinating story of their history, origins, and possible futures. And along the way, he draws us into the life and work of William Henry Hudson, the Victorian writer and naturalist who championed caracaras as an unsung wonder of the natural world, and to falconry parks in the English countryside, where captive caracaras perform incredible feats of memory and problem-solving. A Most Remarkable Creature is a hybrid of science writing, travelogue, and biography, as generous and accessible as it is sophisticated, and absolutely riveting.

Oh I hated it to end

Loved the meaty, meaningful story. Important. Thank you for writing it. Opened my eyes to context of natural world.

Wonderful surprise

I have some interest in birds and chose this book on a whim. I had no idea what a great book it would be! So well written. The authors descriptions and prose keep one thoroughly engaged. And not just about the cara cara, but biology, archeology, world history, genetics , geography and the social aspects of birds and humans. Add some tropical forest adventure and you will stay up listening.

Expertly narrated, bird calls an all!

Perfect book for a naturalist!

I loved this book, the authors story was fascinating and engaging. I’m recommending it to my naturalist friends!

Is darwin continued.

Beautiful descriptions of life on earth by a scientist who cherishes it. Is well worth listening.

Fascinating! Deeply thought-provoking!

A must for bird lovers / evolutionary biology fans and more…
An amazing romp through our ancient earth history from dinosaurs until now. A tantalizing invitation to ‘go bush’ and explore extraordinary remote parts of S. America. Heart-warming to boot. What else would entice you? Read it!