Best new books to read: Patricia Cornwell memoir, bird intelligence and more | The Canberra Times

Louis Lefebvre, professor emeritus of biology at McGill University in Québec, Canada, has created a database cataloging the fascinating behaviors of nearly 1,700 bird species and more than 4,400 remarkable examples of innovation, intelligence and problem-solving that defy the age-old insult of “bird brain.” Blending encyclopedic knowledge of bird cognition with engaging anecdotes about their creativity, this book examines the evolutionary forces that shape the intelligence of birds, including in urban environments: from crows using cars as nutcrackers to cockatoos’ crafting tools. So when a bird species learns a new technique, how does its innovation spread?