Birds have long inspired our emotional connections to physical environments, but where did it all begin? In this beautiful exploration of birds and place, Michael J. Warren journeys across England, uncovering in the origins of place-names a heritage that matters deeply now so many places and species are threatened or already gone.

Michael J. Warren is an author, medievalist, naturalist and teacher of English. He is a trustee for Curlew Action, a Guardian Country Diary columnist and a patron for John Clare Countryside. Michael also curates The Birds and Place Project, a website recording birds in English place names.

Magical … No journey in Britain will be quite the same again. – The Guardian
Fascinating and meticulously researched. – The Observer
Scholarly, fresh, exquistely crafted and breathtakingly, heart-achingly beautiful. – Amy-Jane Beer
This is a phenmenal book that brings the past to life and makes you see landscapes anew. – BBC Wildlife
Fascinating and absorbing. – TLS
Utterly beguiling, deeply poignantt and revelatory. – Nicola Chester
A poetic blend of natural history, etymology and memoir. – Geographical
One of the most unique works of nature writing in recent years, an exhilarating exploration of birds and words. – British Birds
Magical, enchanting and intriguing. – Mary Colwell