“One of the most interesting discoveries I’ve seen in animal sociobiology in years.”
—E.O. Wilson
Why do ravens, generally understood to be solitary creatures, share food between each other during winter? On the surface, there didn’t appear to be any biological or evolutionary imperative behind the raven’s willingness to share. The more Bernd Heinrich observed their habits, the more odd the bird’s behavior became. What started as mere curiosity turned into an impassioned research project, and
Ravens In Winter, the first research of its kind, explores the fascinating biological puzzle of the raven’s rather unconventional social habits.
“Bernd Heinrich is no ordinary biologist. He’s the sort who combines formidable scientific rigor with a sense of irony and an unslaked, boyish enthusiasm for his subject, and who even at his current professorial age seems to do a lot of tree climbing in the line of research.” —David Quammen,
The New York Times
“One of the most interesting discoveries I’ve seen in animal sociobiology in years.” —E.O. Wilson
Why do ravens, often considered solitary birds, share food with one another in the harsh months of winter? At first glance, the behavior seemed to defy the rules of evolutionary biology. Yet the more biologist Bernd Heinrich observed these intelligent corvids, the more fascinating the puzzle became.
In Ravens in Winter, Heinrich presents the groundbreaking ornithological research that redefined our understanding of raven social behavior. Blending meticulous science with vivid storytelling, he explores how ravens cooperate, communicate, and thrive in ways that challenge long-held assumptions about animal behavior.
“Bernd Heinrich is no ordinary biologist. He’s the sort who combines formidable scientific rigor with a sense of irony and an unslaked, boyish enthusiasm for his subject, and who even at his current professorial age seems to do a lot of tree climbing in the line of research.” —David Quammen, The New York Times
