The Story of Birds: An Evolutionary History of the Dinosaurs that Live Among Us

From the bestselling author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs, this is the engrossing story of the dinosaurs that live among us.

Billions of birds share the planet with us. With their flamboyant plumage and joyous dawn serenades, many of them are impossible to miss. But how did they get here, how did they break the bounds of Earth and begin to fly, and how does their legacy shape our world?

In delightfully energetic prose, expert palaeontologist Steve Brusatte takes us through their 150-million-year history, from their origins among small carnivorous dinosaurs to the 10,000-plus species that thrive today. Along the way, we meet fantastic birds from all around the world, some known only through fossils. There are elephant birds that stand as high as a basketball hoop and lay eggs as big as watermelons; demon ducks that weigh more than cows; aeroplane-sized seabirds that soar the world’s thermals; and predatory penguins the size of gorillas.

This deep-dive into the evolutionary origins of birds reveals them to be some of the best adapted and most fined-tuned animals to ever exist in our world. Lively, majestic and full of wonder, The Story of Birds will ensure you never see birds the same way again.

Praise for The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs:

‘Gripping’ – The Observer ‘Thrilling’ – The Sunday Times ‘A masterpiece’ – The Washington Post

Praise for The Rise and Reign of the Mammals:

‘Terrific’ – The Times ‘Fascinating’ – The Guardian ‘Brilliant science’ – Alice Roberts

© 2026 Picador (Audiobook): 9781035032556

Release date

Audiobook: 11 June 2026