Kingfisher

Admired for millennia for their dash and verve, kingfishers figure in creation myths, imperial regalia and cultural iconography across the globe. The temples at Angkor Wat in Cambodia owe their existence in part to the great wealth generated by the live kingfisher trade, and the exquisite feathers of some kingfishers were once valued as highly as gold. As a muse, kingfishers influenced philosophers, playwrights and artists. From Ovid to Carl Jung, Shakespeare to Darwin, Utagawa Hiroshige to Vincent van Gogh, many have contemplated, written about or depicted these remarkable birds. Now, even biomimicry engineers turn to kingfishers for inspiration. This beautifully illustrated book delves into the origins and diversity of kingfishers, defining their characteristics, their differences, their lifestyles and their cultural significance worldwide. Book jacket.