A Field Guide to Mesozoic Birds and Other Winged Dinosaurs

Mesozoic birds are a good example of prehistoric creatures that often get overlooked. It is good then to see a field guide that tries to show as many Mesozoic birds as it can. Not all known Mesozoic birds are included. One of the appendixes of the book lists various species not included due to their remains being too fragmentary or their classification too unclear. Also, there have been some new Mesozoic bird species discovered after the publication of this book (e.g. Aurornis).Interestingly, the author of the book uses the term "bird" in a wider sense than it is generally used, including all avialans, deinonychosaurs and oviraptorosaurs (or caenagnathiformes, as they are referred to as in the book) as birds. This makes sense, as the line between which dinosaurs are birds and which are not is far more blurred than many would think.Some of the classification terms the author uses are a bit odd. He refers to tyrannosaurids as deinodontids, therizinosaurs as segnosaurs, oviraptorosaurs as caenagnathiformes, and dromaeosaurids as ornithodesmids. There does seem to be a justification to all this though, as the appendixes on clade names and definitions shows when the names were coined and shows that the unusual sounding names the author uses are actually older than the more familiar names and thus take precedence according to the rules of nomenclature.The book explains the basics of bird evolution and physical features (including an interesting discussion on figuring out what feather colours would and would not have been plausible in prehistoric birds and other dinosaurs) and goes on provide an illustrated guide to numerous different Mesozoic birds, in a similar style to many field guides one could find on present day animals. The information presented on each species is brief but still informative, and the illustrations are well done and show convincing images of what the various birds may have looked like in life.I was not aware of just how diverse Mesozoic birds were before reading this book. It was quite an interesting thing to learn.There are a few disagreements I have with the book. I, for example, do not really agree with the classification of scansoriopterygids as basal avialans, but agree more with other classifications that place them as a far more primitive group of maniraptoran. Also, in the book it is claimed that the only birds that the only birds that definitely flew were ornithothoracans, but I have seen a number of sources of up to date info giving persuasive arguments for flight in basal avialans, among deinonychosaurs, and possibly even in the ancestors of oviraptorosaurs and in a few other feathery dinosaurs.These disagreements aside, the book was nevertheless quite interesting and informative. I am glad to have purchased it and would recommend it to anyone interested in birds or in dinosaurs in general.

One of the few books I've seen that thoroughly covers that transition point from proto-bird dinosaurs to birds, and answers all my questions! The illustrations are great and comprehensive, and the text covers everything you were wondering about, from shortening tails to the development of feathers to the transition from teeth to beaks. It also takes scientific care to explain how each fact or supposition was discovered or derived.The text is of course technical, but is still easy for a layperson to read. It is fascinating without any of the annoying affectation and straining for effect that popular science writing sometimes has. A great read for anyone interested in dinosaurs, birds, or just evolutionary biology!

Mesozoic birds lived at the same time as dinosaurs and pterosaurs. When you’re competing for attention with animals as charismatic as that, you are not very likely to be noticed at all. Nevertheless, this book is important contribution to understanding the diversity of life in the Mesozoic era. It is structured very much like a field guide for living animals with short pithy descriptions and illustrations that seek to portray these birds as accurately as possible.

This book is exactly what the title indicates. As a comprehensive list of mesozoic birds and feathered dinosaurs, it is enlightening. However, because these creatures are extinct, the field guide style lends itself to a lot of speculation in appearances. Nevertheless, the illustrations are beautiful and it is a fun, interesting book to add to your shelf and activate your paleontological imagination.

Gran libro, ameno y muy honesto en cuanto al estado del arte y el conocimiento de la fauna voladora mesozoica, sin dejar de lado el rigor científico y una taxonomía actualizada. Aporta además importante data general sobre la clase Aves. Muy recomendable.

I was so excited when I received this book. Suddenly so many pieces fell together! I am an amateur paleo painter who has been confused about feathered dinosaurs and been hesitant to try painting them. Now I feel more confident about the truly bird-like appearance of these critters. I received the book the day after I spent time studying a wild turkey specimen in a museum display and the similarities between this writer/artist's illustrations and that bird brought the eons of dinosaur-bird evolution together in a rush. Today I am going to give a Gastornis a try. Thank-you Matthew Martyniuk!

I came for the Field Guide aspect and left wanting even more of the paleontological details. Not being specifically educated in this particular field I found the language approachable and fascinating. I'd also be highly interested in a series of guides in this format. Think about it and I'll pre order every one for realsies. GOOD BOOK.

Reconstructions based on skeletal remains are self evident, but colors and textures of feathers, skin and scales are not. There are adequate justifications given for most such appearances presented in this book.A nice review of long extinct unfamiliar forms.

I'm enjoying reading this book. Lots of information. Been a fan of birds/dinos for decades.

This is supposed to be a illustration book. Actually it is a collection of poor quality photostatic copies glued to imitate a paperback. It is a print-on-demand copy The images are incredibly poor and taken directly from internet, without even an acceptable color. I cannot imagine a worst guide to Mesozoic Birds. Not recommend at all.

I love how the book is designed in a form of a field guide just as for the extant species

"'Ooouhhh Arg, you're as stupid as you always were! Haven't you LEARNED ANYTHING?! SCIENCE HAS MADE PROGRESS! One day we'll all be able to fly!"

Si les illustrations sont moyennes, le texte est intéressant : considérer tous les dinosaures à plumes suffisamment avancées comme des oiseaux. On peut ne pas être d'accord...