Giselle Clarkson shows us how to find the extraordinary in the everyday, with an original wit, intelligence and a deep care for nature.
Omnibird
Have you seen a bird today? Probably, unless you’re reading this in bed. Did you notice what was really interesting about that the bird? Investigating a bird is like solving a puzzle. To gather all the pieces, you look for clues: meet the omnibird.
An omnibird shares the basics of all birdlife: it was born from an egg, has feathers, two legs, a beak and gizzard, perhaps a premium feature like spurs or a curuncle. Knowing the omnibird gives you a case file of information to investigate any bird. You’ll be expert at finding extraordinary things around you, just by looking.
Omnibird investigates 18 common birds from habitats around the world—eagles, owls and seabirds, starlings, ducks and swans. Explore the incredible internal structure of bird bones, learn what a gizzard stone is for, find the fascinating in bird calls, bird poop, feathers, and flight patterns.
Now you’re an omnibird expert, you’ll look at every bird in new ways every day.
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Book Details
Country of Origin New Zealand Reader Age 8-12 year Book Size 290 × 250 mm
(hardback)ISBN 9798765670514
(hardback)
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Reviews
Available worldwide from your local bookstore or online.
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The Guardian –
In nonfiction for 6+, the entrancing Omnibird by Giselle Clarkson (Gecko) is no straightforward ornithological guide. Looking at 18 species through an original, humorous lens, it shows their characteristics – chicken feathers “the shade of apricot jam”, penguins with “secretly a very long neck” – in ways that prompt young readers to see birds as complex, funny, everyday miracles.
EA –
Nature continues to be so important in everyday life, and schools are encouraging children to take time away from the screen and spend time with wildlife to boost wellbeing and mental health. This wonderful hardback book encourages children to find out about birds, to become investigators and to look for clues. It is full of fun facts about a range of birds from garden birds to seabirds, birds of prey to chickens! There is lots of information, including interesting facts about tongues, feathers and eggs with detailed illustrations. Did you know the lump on the tip of a Mallard is called a nail? There are top tips on fledglings and what to do if a bird flies into your classroom, which did happen to me once! Whether this book is used for classwork or individual research it is a fascinating guide to ornithology.
“Become an omnibirder- every day is full of opportunities!”
Kate Newcombe
CLPE –
A bird-spotting guide with a difference: Omnibird (Giselle Clarkson, Gecko Press) follows the brilliant The Observologist with a focus on bird life, and a pitch-perfect mix of detailed information and diagrams, practical advice, and highly amusing visuals and side-jokes.
Mini Midnight Reads –
This is THE avian investigators handbook that inspires curiosity about the natural world for children, all will a heavy dose of smart humour that I dare you not to like!
Undeniably a book with visual appeal, this packs a lot in for nature loving children. It goes far beyond naming some family favourites and depicting the bird life cycle – although it does this brilliantly. Inside you’ll find everything from a page on pellets (did you know gulls produce them too!) a dissection on the meaning of scientific names and more beaks than you could imagine!
And that bird life cycle we discussed, thats far more than you normally see, with the eggs journey starting right at the beginning with the ovary and the eggs journey to the uterus (yes birds have them too!).
All in all, this is the most comprehensive childrens book on birds I have ever read, perfectly pitched to appeal to children and adults alike. If you have a bird topic or animal topic coming up, you absolutely need to add this to your reading list.
Achuka –
This truly remarkable book is highly like to be chosen as one of ACHUKA’s Books of the Year 2025. But the year’s not done yet, so that decision has yet to be made.
Have you seen a bird today? Probably, unless you’re reading this in bed. Did you truly look at the bird? To open your ornithological eyes and ears, meet the Omnibird.
An Omnibird contains the essential birdiness of every bird.
It was born from an egg, has feathers, two legs, a beak and gizzard, perhaps some premium features like spurs or a curuncle. Once you recognize the Omnibird, you’ll see the remarkable in any bird. You’ll be expert at finding extraordinary things around you, just by looking.
The Omnibird describes 12 common birds from habitats around the world—eagles, owls and seabirds, starlings, ducks and swans. You will explore the incredible internal structure of bird bones, learn what a gizzard stone is for, meet the tiny creatures that live on birds, and find the fascinating in eggs, bird poop, feathers, and flight patterns.
Now you’re an Omnibird expert, you’ll look at every bird in new ways every day.
Youth Libraries Group –
“Giselle Clarkson shows us how to find the extraordinary in the everyday, with an original wit, intelligence and a deep care for nature.
Omnibird describes 12 common birds from habitats around the world—eagles, owls and seabirds, starlings, ducks and swans. In this book, you will explore the incredible internal structure of bird bones, learn what a gizzard stone is for, meet the tiny creatures that live on birds, and find the fascinating in eggs, bird poop, feathers and flight patterns.
Giselle Clarkson’s previous book The Observologist sold out in first weeks of release, has reprinted twice and received multiple shortlistings and awards internationally, including shortlisting for the Wainwright Prize for Science and Nature Writing.”—Youth Libraries Group
JUNO –
What’s so brilliant about this book is its humour. It’s a playful guide to birds pack with information communicated through hilarious comic-strip illustrations. It looks at what makes a bird a bird—for example beaks and bills, feel, plumology, eggs —and then investigates common species found across the globe, including penguins, parrots, owls, and pigeons. There are so many interesting things to discover: I was intrigued by the explanation of what some birds, such as chickens and ducks, are born fluffy (precocial) and able to find their own food, while others arrive bald (altricial) and need their parents to poke food into their mouths. I really enjoyed discovering things I had never considered before.
LoveReading4Kids –
The Observologist by Giselle Clarkson was one of my favourite information books last year and its unique style and charm is repeated in this lighthearted, but incredibly detailed and informative guide to birds. This really stands out from more traditional guides because it brings the art of observology to the science of ornithology, showing the many ways that these familiar creatures are remarkable if you just take the time to look.
The New Zealand based author skilfully introduces the concept of an “omnibird”—a universal bird template that helps readers identify and understand any species they encounter. All birds are born from an egg, have feathers, two legs, a beak and gizzard. Birdwatching then becomes an enjoyable exercise in puzzle solving. We are offered 18 detailed explorer’s notes from ‘investigations’ into common birds around the globe and a refreshingly practical section to build skills like the correct way to hold a chicken and how to spot fledglings.
Once again it is the illustrations that are the key to this book’s appeal, combining detailed and very clear anatomical diagrams with the trademark witty touches ranging from speech bubbles, revealing what birds might be thinking, to amusing visual comparisons. Useful, informative and very definitely a book to read with pleasure. Highly recommended.