This Bird

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Noticing Our Urban Birds

By: Astred Hicks with Holly Parsons

eBook - August 2025 - eRetailers

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

Reviews

"This Bird is a delightful resource to stimulate curiosity, foster a connection with nature and build awareness of the live unfolding in treetops, skies, mangroves and gardens"
Jasmine Pirovic, Books+Publishing, 17 June 2025

"A fantastic layout with beautiful illustrations, vibrant colour palette and graphics helps make this an easy to navigate read. Featuring loads of birds that most Australians will see daily or weekly, This Bird uses icons and symbols to help readers learn about diet, habitat and their distinctive features. Bite sized information that won’t overwhelm beginning readers and will keep confident readers entertained."
telarahpslibrary (Instagram), 1 August 2025

"A celebration of curiosity and close observation. It’s part science and part art, and perfect for budding birdwatchers, schools, and families keen to connect with nature where they are"
abbys_fabulous_library (Instagram), 3 August 2025

"The illustrations are beautifully playful and scientifically accurate. I love how the background is neutral to ensure the birds are the focus. The infusion of simple diagrams are a brilliant way to incorporate science."
our.tiny.moments (Instagram), 2 August 2025

"This is more than a picture book, it’s an informative keepsake that equates to a young reader’s version of the well-known ‘What Bird is That?’."
Little Darlings (Facebook), 7 August 2025

"Another quality release from CSIRO Publishing that inspires curiosity and encourages exploration of the world around us."
Barbara Braxton, The Bottom Shelf, 7 August 2025

"This Bird is another beautifully illustrated and engaging non-fiction title designed to pique the curiosity of readers aged 7 to 12-years-old. Its clear and attractive layout and vivid language make it ideal for leisurely browsing, allowing readers to dip in and out at their own pace, making it particularly suitable for older reluctant readers."
Barbara Swartz, CBCA Reading Time, 7 August 2025

"The pages are vibrant and richly illustrated, with images that fi ll the space and bring each bird vividly to life. The breadth of bird species included, paired with fun fascinating facts, makes this book a wonderful introduction to the avian world."
Emily Ross, Good Reading Magazine, August 2025

"Filled with fascinating facts and striking illustrations presented on colourful glossy pages, this is a one-stop-shop for information about birds that exist in our Australian urban spaces."
Kathryn Beilby, ReadPlus, 7 August 2025

"It is chock-full of Astred's gorgeous illustrations. It's got lots and lots of information... I think it's just the thing to get kids out and about looking for feathered friends in their neighbourhoods."
Allison Tait, Your Kids' Next Read, Episode 213, 30 July 2025

"This is an absolutely gorgeous book for curious kids, as they learn more about the birds around them. From birds that can walk on water, to birds that are the masters of disguise- these pages are filled with facts, engaging illustrations and unique features of so many species. This is the perfect bird resource!"
kat_bookworm (Instagram), 22 August 2025

"The illustrations are sensational, as are the endpapers, and the text is informative and well broken up so as not to be daunting. There is excellent backmatter, a glossary and an index. I would highly recommend it for your avid twitchers, or even those just interested in wildlife."
Sue Warren, Just So Stories, 28 August 2025

Details

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

ePDF | August 2025
ISBN: 9781486318469
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers

ePUB | August 2025
ISBN: 9781486318476
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers

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.

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

View the full table of contents (PDF, 2.4 MB).

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.