The Birds That Audubon Missed

Discovery and Desire in the American Wilderness

By: Kenn Kaufman

Narrated by: Mack Sanderson

Renowned naturalist Kenn Kaufman examines the scientific discoveries of John James Audubon and his artistic and ornithologist peers in this fascinating “blend of history, science, art, biography, and memoir” (Booklist, starred review) that is “a bird lovers’ delight” (Kirkus Reviews).

Raging ambition. Towering egos. Competition under a veneer of courtesy. Heroic effort combined with plagiarism, theft, exaggeration, and fraud. This was the state of bird study in eastern North America during the early 1800s, as a handful of intrepid men raced to find the last few birds that were still unknown to science.

The most famous name in the bird world was John James Audubon, who painted spectacular portraits of birds. But although his images were beautiful, creating great art was not his main goal. Instead, he aimed to illustrate (and write about) as many different species as possible, obsessed with trying to outdo his rival, Alexander Wilson. George Ord, a fan and protégé of Wilson, held a bitter grudge against Audubon for years, claiming he had faked much of his information and his scientific claims. A few of Audubon’s birds were pure fiction, and some of his writing was invented or plagiarized. Other naturalists of the era, including Charles Bonaparte (nephew of Napoleon), John Townsend, and Thomas Nuttall, also became entangled in the scientific derby, as they stumbled toward an understanding of the natural world—an endeavor that continues to this day.

Despite this intense competition, a few species—including some surprisingly common songbirds, hawks, sandpipers, and more—managed to evade discovery for years. Here, renowned bird expert and artist Kenn Kaufman explores this period in history from a new angle, by considering the birds these people discovered and, especially, the ones they missed. Kaufman has created portraits of the birds that Audubon never saw, attempting to paint them in that artist’s own stunning style, showing how our understanding of birds continues to gain clarity, even as some mysteries persist from Audubon’s time until ours.

Critic reviews

"Narrator Mack Sanderson balances several storylines in this jaw-dropping history of the race to identify native birds in early 1800s America...Sanderson’s smooth, mellow tones glide easily over the narrative’s sprawling landscape and highlight its many insights and surprises."

New insights on the history of North American ornithology presented in an engaging and interesting way.

I’ve always been a student of history and science, two subjects that fascinate me. Thirty years ago I started birding by myself without knowing that such a thing existed. Now birding occupies most of my leisure time and when I’m not out birding I love to read history or natural science. Here Mr. Kauffman hits all my interests in this very enjoyable book. Thanks Kenn Kauffman!

Kaufman’s breadth

This was a fascinating story about the early birding history of the US, but it was perfectly blended with Kaufman’s personal experiences and how recent birding has evolved.

The narrator was great to listen to, but he consistently mispronounced about half a dozen bird names (e.g. bobolink). Actually the English language is so messed up - he pronounced phonetically. Why didn’t a birder proof the narration? Get AI in there to edit it.

History of birding in America

Audubon the painter and his work described by another bird painter. Very enjoyable. Great Narration that enhances the audiobook.

Great History Lesson

Lean concise writing. Excellent selection of topics and historical characters. Enjoyable read start to finish.

Engaging and informative

I enjoyed this book start to finish. Kenn Kaufman crafted a thoughtful, educational, and entertaining narrative about the ornithological landscape of the early United States. I definitely recommend this to anyone interested in birds and history. And I'll definitely listen to it again.