Be a Birder: The joy of birdwatching and how to get started

Longlisted for the Wainwright Nature Writing Prize 2024

Discover the wonderful world of birdwatching with wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin – winner of BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing 2022 and presenter of BBC documentary Hamza: Strictly Birds of Prey

‘Birds have been with me my entire life – from the colourful weaver birds on the banks of the Nile in Sudan to the magpies of Newcastle, from the roosting peregrine falcons near my parents’ house in Northampton to the white-tailed eagles on the west coast of Scotland. I love them. If you take the time to stop and listen, you’ll see the world through different eyes. It’s all out there, waiting for you to find it. And it might just bring you as much joy as it’s brought me.’

Journey along with Hamza in Be a Birder as he recounts stories of his birding adventures, and shares tips and tricks to help you get started in birdwatching.

In this beautifully illustrated guide featuring fifty of Hamza’s favourite birds, you will learn how to start identifying birds, understand their behaviour and movements, and find even more exciting birds, wherever you are. Starting with the goldfinch in your garden, to tawny owls in woodlands, to the elusive kingfisher near rivers and marshes, you will build your birdwatching confidence and push yourself further afield to find new feathered wonders.

Encouraging us all to stop, step outside and listen, Be a Birder is both a practical guide and a joyous celebration of these incredible creatures. Once you start looking for them, and with Hamza as your guide, your world will be forever changed.

‘Brings a little bit of joy to us all’ – Guardian