Bloomsbury The Great Auk: Its Extraordinary Life, Hideous Death and Mysterious Afterli by Tim Birkhead (Paperback)

Explore the tragic and compelling story of the Great Auk, one of the most iconic species lost to extinction. Written by Tim Birkhead, this book delves into the bird's remarkable adaptation to sea life, the devastating human impact on its existence, and its surprising legacy long after its final demise.

• Details the life of the flightless, goose-sized bird superbly adapted for life at sea.
• Examines the mass slaughter at breeding colonies like Funk Island, where millions were killed by sailors.
• Chronicles the scramble by private collectors for the final specimens after the Funk Island population vanished around 1800.
• Reveals the bird's remarkable afterlife, focusing on the pathological craving and unscrupulous dealings surrounding its skins, eggs, and skeletons up to the present day.
• Presents Tim Birkhead's insights into the bird's life before humanity, its death on the North Atlantic shores, and the quest for its remains.
• Positions the Great Auk as a lasting symbol of human folly and the critical necessity of conservation efforts.

This paperback edition is written in English and features 288 pages of detailed content.

• Author: Tim Birkhead
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Print Length: 288 pages
• ISBN-10: 1399415751
• ISBN-13: 978-1399415750
• Dimensions: 13.4 x 2.6 x 21.4 cm
• Weight: 300 g
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Sigma
• Release Date: June 18, 2026

Discover the full narrative of the Great Auk—from its thriving existence to its final extinction and enduring cultural impact—in this insightful volume from Bloomsbury Sigma.