The Folklore of Birds: The forgotten tales behind nature’s most enigmatic creatures

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Alison Davies Sarah Wildling

The Folklore of Birds

The forgotten tales behind nature’s most enigmatic creatures

Alison Davies, Sarah Wildling

$27.99

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Quarto Books
06 May 2025

Folklore, myths & legends; Mathematics & Sciences; The natural world, country life & pets; Wildlife: birds & birdwatching

Did you know that it's considered a sin to harm a robin? Or that seagulls were once thought to be the souls of dead sailors? And do you know what happens if you listen to a blackbird's song on May Day?

With The Folklore of Birds you can discover the fascinating folklore behind nature's most intriguing animals.

At once familiar and unknowable, birds have for centuries provided a rich source of speculation and myth-making. From the Catholic belief that barnacle geese were actually fish (and could therefore be eaten on the Sabbath) to the Ancient Greek tale of Ceyx and Halcyone who were transformed into kingfishers after death as reward for their fidelity, our feathered friends have given rise to an astonishingly rich body of myth, legend and superstition.

With its interesting titbits and curious facts coupled with breathtakingly beautiful illustrations, The Folklore of Birds is charming, quirky gift for the birdwatcher in your life.

By: Alison Davies
Illustrated by: Sarah Wildling
Imprint: Quarto Books
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 129mm, Spine: 17mm
Weight: 750g
ISBN: 9780711298460
ISBN 10: 0711298467
Pages: 160
Publication Date: 06 May 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Alison Davies lives in Nottingham and runs workshops at universities throughout the UK showing academics, students and early years practitioners how stories and narratives can be used as tools for teaching, healing and learning. She has a keen interest in folklore, health and wellbeing and the esoteric and is the author of Tales Behind the Tarotand Goddess Stories (Leaping Hare Press).