A Biography

The Owl

'BEAUTIFULLY, A BOOK ABOUT BIRDS' The Sunday Times | 'ENGAGING AND EYE-OPENING' The Countryman 
 
Uncover the life of owls through this beautiful guide to these secretive and charismatic birds from the bestselling author of The Robin, The Wren, and The Swan. 
 
Owls are among the most mysterious birds in the world. Their hauntingly beautiful calls and mostly nocturnal habits have long captured our collective imagination, inspiring more superstitions, folktales, and myths than any other group of birds. Seven species of owl - the tawny, little, barn, long-eared, short-eared, snowy and eagle owl - can be found in the British Isles (out of sixteen different kinds across Europe). They have lived alongside people for thousands of years, yet we still know so little about their day-to-day lives. 
 
Discover their fascinating lives, from the moment they first hatch, to the way they hunt their prey and how they raise the next generation. Explore the rich folklore they've inspired around the world and learn how, with a bit of luck, you can catch a glimpse of them yourself. 
 
With beautiful illustrations throughout, and expert birdwatching tips, this eye-opening biography reveals the hidden secrets of one of the world's most famous and beloved birds.

Seven species of owl make their home in the British Isles, and this stunning volume is a worthy tribute to them. It shouts quality with luscious cream-coloured paper and wonderful illustrations. That said, the main delight is in Stephen's detailed examination of these nocturnal birds. His engaging and eye-opening text covers fascinating facts, history, science myths and folklore as well as providing birdwatching tops. This book will not only be well-read but will also be kept as a useful reference.

A captivating look into the lives and legends surrounding some of Britain’s most enigmatic avians… This book offers an engaging and rewarding flight

Following his bestselling biographies of some of our favourite birds - The Robin, The Wren, The Swallow and The Swan - author and naturalist Stephen Moss now turns his attention to a group of birds we rarely see, occasionally hear, yet are always on our minds: the owls. 
 
Owls are among the most mysterious birds in the world. Their hauntingly beautiful calls at dusk and nocturnal habits have long captured our collective imaginations - inspiring more superstitions, folktales and myths around the world than any other group of bird. The 'magnificent seven' most famous species of owl - the tawny, little, barn, long-eared, short-eared, snowy and eagle owl - can all be spotted in th UK and each have vast ranges spanning multiple countries and continents where they have lived alongside people for thousands of years. 
 
With this book, Stephen Moss takes us on a journey to discover the secret lives they live between twilight and dawn, from the moment they first hatch, to their nightly hunts and how they raise the next generation, weaving together his insights as a naturalist, international folklore and history, his experiences encountering these birds in the wild and some tips for how - with a bit of luck - you can catch a glimpse of them yourself.

The Swan

From the renowned naturalist Stephen Moss comes the must-have gift for bird lovers this Christmas. 
 
 'Wherever there is a stretch of water for them to find food and make their nest, you will come across swans' 
 
 With beautiful illustrations throughout, this eye-opening biography reveals the hidden secrets of one of Britain's best-known birds. 
 
 The Mute Swan is not so much a bird, as a national treasure: the avian equivalent of Sir David Attenborough or the Queen. These huge and stately creatures are part of our urban and rural landscapes, a constant presence on lakes, rivers and ponds throughout Britain. Yet despite their familiarity, they are often misunderstood; and while many people love swans, others fear them. 
 
 Swans also feature in myths and legends, art and literature, dance and music, not just in Britain but all around the world. Stephen Moss delves into the facts and fiction about these charismatic birds, describes their seasonal life cycle and examines their central role in our history and culture. He also includes stories about 'wild swans' - Whooper and Bewicks - that visit us in winter; and the Black Swan of Australia. 
 
 'A superb naturalist and writer' Chris Packham 
 
 'Moss has carved out an enviable niche as a chronicler of the natural world' Daily Mail

This is a great read, and springs surprises about a bird you might think you know well

A Biography (Shortlisted for the Richard Jefferies Society and White Horse Bookshop Literary Award)

The Swallow

A year in the life of one of Britain's best-loved birds masterfully narrated by the bestselling author of The Robin, The Wren and The Twelve Birds of Christmas.

The Twelve Birds of Christmas

An ornithological celebration of the festive season.

Naturalist Stephen Moss digs beneath the surface of some of our most popular Christmas carols in an ornithological celebration of the Festive Season. 
 
Using the structure of the carol as a jumping off point, he explores the place of twelve fascinating British birds in our history, culture and landscape. Some of the birds are obvious, there's the swan and of course the partridge. Other chapters are loose interpretations of a verse: for drummers drumming he delves into the woodpecker's distinctive drumming tap. Woodpeckers, he explains, have special padded skulls to mitigate against using its head like hammer drills. They carefully select dead trees for the most hollow, sonorous sound. 
 
With brilliant anecdotes and insights, Stephen Moss weaves history, culture, bird behaviour and folklore into a compelling narrative for each species, tracing its fortunes over the past two centuries. 
 
'A superb naturalist and writer' Chris Packham author of Finger in the Sparkle Jar 
 
'Moss has carved out an enviable niche as a chronicler of the natural world' Daily Mail

A compelling narrative for each species, tracing its fortunes over the past two centuries

[A] delightful book… [and] a seasonal treat

Naturalist Stephen Moss digs beneath the surface of some of our most popular Christmas carols in an ornithological celebration of the Festive Season. 
 
Using the structure of the carol as a jumping off point, he explores the place of twelve fascinating British birds in our history, culture and landscape. Some of the birds are obvious, there's the swan and of course the partridge. Other chapters are loose interpretations of a verse: for drummers drumming he delves into the woodpecker's distinctive drumming tap. Woodpeckers, he explains, have special padded skulls to mitigate against using its head like hammer drills. They carefully select dead trees for the most hollow, sonorous sound. 
 
With brilliant anecdotes and insights, Stephen Moss weaves history, culture, bird behaviour and folklore into a compelling narrative for each species, tracing its fortunes over the past two centuries. 
 
'A superb naturalist and writer' Chris Packham 
 
'Moss has carved out an enviable niche as a chronicler of the natural world' Daily Mail

The Rise and Fall of Animal Families

Dynasties

A groundbreaking exploration of the rise and fall of animal families, accompanying a landmark BBC series from the producer of Planet Earth II, and narrated by David Attenborough.

Family isn't just important. It's everything. 
 
From lions hunting as a pride to penguins huddling together to keep from freezing in the bitter Antarctic winter, many animals are dependent on complex social relationships for their survival. Powerful dynasties lay claim to vast swathes of territory, fighting off rivals and securing their hunting grounds for generations to come. 
 
Dynasties offers an immersive insight into the shifting hierarchies of animal families. Each chapter follows a different dynasty, from the Marsh Lions of the Masai Mara to rival packs of painted wolves, from a tiger protecting her newborn cubs to a chimpanzee troop and the penguin colonies of the Antarctic. Alongside tender moments when bonds are strengthened through grooming and play, the book charts the rivalries that tip the balance of power, when family members turn against each other and younger animals grow strong enough to challenge for control. 
 
With over 200 stunning photographs and insights from the crew of the BBC series, Dynasties reveals in astonishing detail the intricate social lives of our planet’s most fascinating animals.

The Wren

A captivating year-in-the-life biography of Britain's most common, yet most intriguingly secretive, bird

From the bestselling author of The Robin: A Biography, Stephan Moss: 
 
The wren is a paradox of a bird. 
 
They are Britain's most common bird, with 8.5 million breeding pairs and have by far the loudest song in proportion to their size. They also thrive up and down Britain and Ireland: from the smallest city garden to remote offshore islands, blustery moors to chilly mountains. Yet many people are not sure if they have ever seen a wren. Perhaps because the wren is so tiny, weighing just as much as two A4 sheets of paper, and so busy, always on the move, more mouse than bird. 
 
However if we cast our eyes back to recent history wrens were a mainstay of literary, cultural and popular history. The wren was on postage stamps and the farthing, it featured in nursery rhymes and greetings cards, poems and rural 'wren hunts', still a recent memory in Ireland particularly. 
 
With beautiful illustrations throughout, this captivating year-in-the-life biography reveals the hidden secrets of this fascinating bird that lives right on our doorstep.

An enjoyable and constantly informative read

[A] sweetly illustrated book packed with information and insights… A little bird tells me that this is a winner

[A] wide-ranging, absorbing account… [Stephen Moss] narrows focus on one tiny bird yet still manages to offer a wealth of stories from the past, anecdotes and literary allusions

A remarkably good, beautifully written and absolutely fascinating little book. Every birder…should read it, enjoy it and learn from it

This fascinating biography . . . A perfect Christmas present for any birder

From the bestselling author of The Robin: A Biography 
 
The wren is a paradox of a bird. On the one hand wrens are ubiquitous. They are Britain's most common bird, with 8.5 million breeding pairs and have by far the loudest song in proportion to their size. They also thrive up and down Britain and Ireland: from the smallest city garden to remote offshore islands, blustery moors to chilly mountains. 
 
Yet many people, particularly a younger generation, are not sure if they have ever seen a wren. Perhaps because the wren is so tiny, weighing just as much as two A4 sheets of paper, and so busy, always on the move, more mouse than bird. 
 
However if we cast our eyes back to recent history wrens were a mainstay of literary, cultural and popular history. The wren was on postage stamps and the farthing, it featured in nursery rhymes and greetings cards, poems and rural 'wren hunts', still a recent memory in Ireland particularly. 
 
With beautiful illustrations throughout, this captivating year-in-the-life biography reveals the hidden secrets of this fascinating bird that lives right on our doorstep. 
 
PRAISE FOR STEPHEN MOSS: 
 
'A superb naturalist and writer' Chris Packham 
 
'Inspired, friendly and blessed with apparently limitless knowledge' Peter Marren 
 
'Moss has carved out an enviable niche as a chronicler of the natural world' Daily Mail

The Robin

Acclaimed naturalist and birdwatcher Stephen Moss brings us this year's perfect Christmas gift: a year in the life of Britain's favourite bird - the robin

Acclaimed naturalist and birdwatcher Stephen Moss brings us a year in the life of Britain's favourite bird - the robin. 
 
 In The Robin Moss records a year of observing the robin both close to home and in the field to shed light on the hidden life of this apparently familiar bird. We follow its life cycle from the time it enters the world as an egg, through its time as a nestling and juvenile, to the adult bird; via courtship, song, breeding, feeding, migration - and ultimately, death. At the same time, we trace the robin's relationship with us: how did this bird - one of more than 300 species in its huge and diverse family - find its way so deeply and permanently into our nation's heart and its social and cultural history? It's a story that tells us as much about ourselves as it does about the robin itself. 
 
 No other bird is quite so ever-present and familiar, so embedded in our culture, as the robin. But how much do we really know about this bird? 
 
 'There is no doubt that Moss's book, with its charming cover and quaint illustrations, will make it into many a stocking this year' The Times

Moss’s prettily illustrated book is full of such curiosities. Gratifyingly, though, it steers clear of becoming a dry deluge of facts, a pitfall of so much ornithological writing… Moss, a nature broadcaster and a lecturer in creative writing, is a good storyteller, seamlessly linking biological fact with the anecdotal… There is no doubt that Moss’s book, with its charming cover and quaint illustrations, will make it into many a stocking this year. Yet, this is far more than a book for Christmas. There is a serious message here. The more we learn about our favourite bird, the more we realise how much we don’t know. This gulf is evidence of how we have become distanced from the natural world… Moss’s charming paean to this bird that lives hard and dies young reminds us that it deserves to be more than a whimsical symbol of festive cheer

Well illustrated… The structure, examining a year in the life of the Robin in the UK, allows Moss plenty of scope to bring in a huge range of historical, literary and scientific references, and the result is a highly readable and enjoyable examination of a species that probably sparks more interest in birds in the UK than any other.

This unpretentious little book, with a nice retro feel, follows the life of the Robin… Stephen Moss writes seemingly easily (perhaps for him it is so), telling all you want to know about Robins in a straightforward, always enjoyable style… It is a stimulating and worthwhile read

No other bird is quite so ever-present and familiar, so embedded in our culture, as the robin. With more than six million breeding pairs, the robin is second only to the wren as Britain’s most common bird. It seems to live its life alongside us, in every month and season of the year. But how much do we really know about this bird? 
 
In The Robin Stephen Moss records a year of observing the robin both close to home and in the field to shed light on the hidden life of this apparently familiar bird. We follow its lifecycle from the time it enters the world as an egg, through its time as a nestling and juvenile, to the adult bird; via courtship, song, breeding, feeding, migration – and ultimately, death. At the same time we trace the robin's relationship with us: how did this particular bird – one of more than 300 species in its huge and diverse family – find its way so deeply and permanently into our nation’s heart and its social and cultural history? It’s a story that tells us as much about ourselves as it does about the robin itself.

Bringing Back Britain's Wildlife

Wild Kingdom

A delightfully inquisitive quest into the state of British wildlife today - from the author of Birds Britannia and Tweet of the Day

Rich with examples of what can be done to help Britain’s wildlife thrive.

Well-written, lively, lovingly detailed book.

A thoroughly good book and a very readable one… Well-researched and well-argued ammunition for our cause.

An absorbing quest into the state of British wildlife today.

Lyrical, powerful book… Inspiring and hopeful.

Thoroughly readable and engaging book… You’re left with a renewed energy for the fight… Moss writes with passion and feeling that his crisp prose kindles in the reader, too.

Exceptionally accessible… Wild Kingdom invokes the spirit of British wildlife past and present… His more opinionated stance give the book its power.

This is another superb book from Moss, but more importantly is it timely too… This is a book to read if you care about the very future of our countryside and more importantly this should be a book that all politicians should be made to read.

Shortlisted for THE WAINWRIGHT BOOK PRIZE 2017 
 
Can Britain make room for wildlife? Stephen Moss believes it can. 
 
The newspaper headlines tell us that Britain’s wildlife is in trouble. It’s not just rare creatures that are vanishing, hares and hedgehogs, skylarks and water voles, even the humble house sparrow, are in freefall. But there is also good news. Otters have returned to the River Tyne; there are now beavers on the River Otter; and peregrines have taken up residence in the heart of London. Stephen Moss travels the length and breadth of the UK, from the remote archipelago of St Kilda to our inner cities, to witness at first-hand how our wild creatures are faring and ask how we can bring back Britain’s wildlife.

Planet Earth II

On the 10th anniversary of the BBC's genre-defining Planet Earth, this brilliant new book is an all-new look at our astonishing Planet Earth – from a completely new perspective.

10 years on from the first, groundbreaking, Planet Earth, we use the most incredible advances in technology and scientific discovery to bring you the most exciting and immersive picture of our world's wildlife yet. 
 
With over 250 breathtaking photographs and stills from the BBC Natural History Unit's spectacular footage, this is an extraordinary new look at the complex life of some of the most amazing places on Planet Earth. 
 
Each chapter reveals an environment – some never-before-seen, some astonishingly familiar – defined by a unique set of rules required for survival. From the most desolate desert to the depths of the jungle, from blistering heat and freezing cold to perpetual darkness and deadly UV, discover how a whole host of creatures have adapted to life in the most extreme conditions. And how they compete with one another to become the largest, the fastest, the most poisonous, or most devious - all in a bid to survive. 
 
Planet Earth II includes the first in-depth look at the urban environment, and the surprising range of behaviours occurring right under our noses, as well as some previously untouched island worlds. Filmed with remarkable 5k and infra-red technology, these are the challenges, the confrontations, and the triumphs of some of the most extraordinary creatures in the natural world, told from their perspective. 
 
This is our planet, as you have never seen it before.

The Natural History of an English Village

Wild Hares and Hummingbirds

A Natural History of Selbourne for a new generation - nature-writing at its finest, expressed through the natural history of one very special place.

Delightful, soothing and informative

An enchanting book, Wild Hares and Hummingbirds is a combination of celebration for what is and regret for what is passing. It is elegiac

An enchanting month-by-month guide to "the natural history of an English village". As richly evocative of January as of June, Moss captures the flora and the fauna of his Somerset home with a grace and charm to warm the coldest winter night

[A] charmingly produced book…readers are in the hands of an expert

This engaging account…should spark interest in country-dwellers and provide a transporting read for townies. In his placid style, Moss is profoundly informative

Moss has carved out an enviable niche as a chronicler of the natural world…with a beautifully observant eye. A delightful and informative book

A landscape steeped in stories and poetry

Join celebrated naturalist Stephen Moss, host award-winning BBC series Springwatch and author of The Robin, for a year in the idyllic village of Mark on the Somerset Levels – a watery wonderland rich in nature and wildlife, from birds to butterflies to badgers 
 
As the year unfolds, Moss transports the reader to the entrancing landscape of flora and fauna that accompanies the dawn of each month. Deeply informative and profoundly inspiring, Wild Hares and Hummingbirds is a celebration of the Great British countryside, animals and the natural world. 
 
‘Moss captures the flora and the fauna of his Somerset home with a grace and charm to warm the coldest winter night’ Independent

The Bumper Book of Nature

The Bumper Book Of Nature is a treasure trove of nature activities, ideas and information, to inspire and entertain you wherever you are.

Terrific, beautifully designed, inventive, creative and various. Bravo

This book deserves to be a bestseller. A marvellous compendium of those moments that bring youngsters into direct contact with nature

Fabulous... The Bumper Book of Nature will bring out the bird nester and conker collector in every one of you. Suggested activities are arranged into seasons with beautifully illustrated indentification guides and interesting snippets of information

Your complete guide to British wildlife. This beautiful and timeless book will be treasured for years to come by children and parents alike

This book's boundless enthusiasm for the countryside is infectious. And detailed but easy to understand wildlife guides will have you reaching for the binoculars

It's time to pull on your wellies and enjoy the great outdoors! Filled with facts, stories and illustrations of British flora and fauna

A host of ways for families to enjoy nature

Go pishing for birds; become a bat detective; take a city safari; find snakes and lizards; identify spiders and their webs; look for owl pellets... Make nettle soup; or itching powder from rosehips; make a bark rubbing; an elder-stem peashooter; or elderflower fritters. Wake up in time to hear the dawn chorus; listen to the heartbeat of a tree; or just stand out in the rain for half an hour... 
 
With The Bumper Book Of Nature the whole family will want to switch off the television and computer, pull on their wellingtons and get outside to discover the endless bounty, beauty and fascination of nature right on our doorstep. 
 
Lavishly designed with over 160 full-colour illustrations of British wildlife and flora, along with gorgeous black-and-white line drawings throughout, this beautiful and timeless book will be treasured for years to come by children and adults alike.

Stephen Moss

Stephen Moss delights once more - lyrical and informative by turns, he conjures - with breathless eloquence - another feathered beauty of our skies.

Benedict Allen, author of 'Explorer' and 'Into the Abyss'

A murmuration of starlings is a wonder of the natural world, one of my highlights of the year. I love the way Stephen Moss writes about this fascinating bird in the engaging way he does in all his biographies.

An engrossing compilation of ornithological tidbits, cultural anecdotes, literary quotes and well chosen historical artwork

As I finished reading this wonderful book, I found myself more convinced than ever that the starling is a favourite bird – not least because it mirrors something of us: fallen, certainly, but capable of glimpses of a prelapsarian state

Discover the fascinating lives of some of the most brilliant musical minds and master choreographers in the avian world.Even with its beautiful iridescent plumage and magical gift to mimic both human and natural sounds, this common garden bird can often be overlooked. But as they come together in their thousands to display their unique ability to perform dazzling aerial manoeuvres known as murmurations, starlings are nothing short of breathtaking. This is the captivating story of how starlings have shaped our world, from influencing agriculture and inspiring musicians such as Mozart and writers such as Shakespeare, to their impact as an invasive species in North America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.With beautiful illustrations throughout, and an expert guide to the most magnificent murmurations in the UK, this eye-opening biography reveals the hidden secrets of one of our most talented and luminous birds.

Stephen Moss

Praise for The Starling

Stephen Moss delights once more - lyrical and informative by turns, he conjures - with breathless eloquence - another feathered beauty of our skies.

A murmuration of starlings is a wonder of the natural world, one of my highlights of the year. I love the way Stephen Moss writes about this fascinating bird in the engaging way he does in all his biographies ...

An engrossing compilation of ornithological tidbits, cultural anecdotes, literary quotes and well chosen historical artwork

Stephen Moss delights once more - lyrical and informative by turns, he conjures - with breathless eloquence - another feathered beauty of our skies.

A murmuration of starlings is a wonder of the natural world, one of my highlights of the year. I love the way Stephen Moss writes about this fascinating bird in the engaging way he does in all his biographies ...

An engrossing compilation of ornithological tidbits, cultural anecdotes, literary quotes and well chosen historical artwork

Stephen Moss delights once more - lyrical and informative by turns, he conjures - with breathless eloquence - another feathered beauty of our skies.

A murmuration of starlings is a wonder of the natural world, one of my highlights of the year. I love the way Stephen Moss writes about this fascinating bird in the engaging way he does in all his biographies ...

An engrossing compilation of ornithological tidbits, cultural anecdotes, literary quotes and well chosen historical artwork

Books by Stephen Moss

Series by Stephen Moss

The Bird Biography Series

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter