New Scientist Highlights Steve Brusatte’s Insights on Bird Evolution

Bird Story
By Steve Brusatte Picador (UK); Mariner Books (US)

Steve Brusatte has hit the mark with his third publication. His debut, Rise and Fall of Dinosaurs, was a bestseller, followed by the equally captivating The Rise and Reign of Mammals. Now, he presents Bird Story, a masterful blend of scientific accuracy and engaging storytelling.

Brusatte is a paleontologist from the University of Edinburgh and specializes in dinosaur, bird, and mammal fossils. He conducts excavations in Skye, Scotland, where Jurassic bones are remarkably preserved. He also excels as a science communicator, as seen in Jurassic World and his publications.

Bird Story, with the subtitle Evolutionary History of Dinosaurs Living Among Us, illuminates the journey of birds from their diverse beginnings in the age of dinosaurs to their evolution into some of the most adaptable species today.

Brusatte traces back to 1868 when Thomas Henry Huxley first posited that birds evolved from dinosaurs, contributing to the burgeoning theory of evolution by natural selection championed by Charles Darwin in On the Origin of Species. This pivotal theory demonstrated how various pressures can gradually alter populations, leading to significant diversity in life. Despite Darwin’s groundbreaking work, there were still outstanding questions regarding avian origins.

Brusatte discusses the unique characteristics of birds, from their complex feathers to their bipedal stance, which is rare among animals. Huxley’s groundbreaking association of birds with dinosaurs, based on shared skeletal structures, cemented their evolutionary link.

The astonishing fossil discovery of Archaeopteryx confirmed Huxley’s theories, showcasing that birds not only possessed feathers and wings but also teeth and claws—indisputable proof of their dinosaur lineage. Brusatte emphasizes that birds are indeed a subset of dinosaurs, having survived the catastrophic asteroid impact 66 million years ago.

From Archaeopteryx, Brusatte skillfully explores the fossil records of birds, detailing their feather evolution and adaptive strategies for flight, painting a vivid picture of avian diversity during the Mesozoic era.

He also addresses the aftermath of the asteroid collision that led to the extinction of many bird species, analyzing which groups survived and why others, including various enantiornithes, did not.

In the latter half of Bird Story, Brusatte brings the narrative into the modern age. Following the extinction, avian species diversified to occupy ecological niches left vacant by extinct forms. He highlights both existing bird types, like penguins and songbirds, alongside lost marvels such as the ‘terror bird.’

Having written extensively on paleontology, I thought I knew much of the content already. However, Brusatte surprised me in Chapter 7, which delves into Zealandia, the recently identified submerged eighth continent, where dinosaurs persisted far longer due to a lack of mammalian competition.

“Zealandia was a haven for dinosaurs,” Brusatte playfully notes. This unique ecosystem only shifted post-1300s with the arrival of Māori settlers.

The book concludes with Brusatte’s collaboration with neuroscientists studying modern avian brains, exploring how birds can exhibit remarkable intelligence despite their small size. Their research reveals that birds possess an extraordinary number of neurons packed into their brains, suggesting a unique approach to cognitive function.

Bird Story is a triumph from start to finish, and I eagerly anticipate Brusatte’s forthcoming work on reptilian history.

Michael Marshall is a science writer based in Devon, UK.

3 Other Great Books on the Evolution of Life

Bird IQ: Innovation, Intelligence, and Problem Solving in the Avian World
By Louis Lefebvre

Biologist Louis Lefebvre (translated by Pablo Strauss) examines evidence of innovation and culture within avian societies, presenting a book filled with captivating insights and discoveries.

How Flowers Made Our World: Stories of Nature’s Revolutionaries
By David George Haskell

This book chronicles the evolution of flowering plants (angiosperms), showcasing their intricate connections to bird evolution, making it an ideal companion to Bird Story.

Other Minds: Octopuses and the Evolution of Intelligent Life
By Peter Godfrey-Smith

In this modern classic, philosopher Peter Godfrey-Smith investigates the roots of consciousness and intelligence in a uniquely different context from human experiences.