Does “The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of the Whole Stupid World” Have Accurate Information?

There are many books on animals and wildlife out there that provide accurate information. Unfortunately, most of them are very scientific and rather boring. It’s hard to always understand what they mean or to remember the information after you close the book.

Thankfully, authors and scientists are starting to create books about wildlife that aren’t quite so heavy with information. One such book is The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of the Whole Stupid World.

As the name suggests, the book covers a large list of some of the more common and unique birds from around the world. Unlike some other books, it’s funny and easy to remember. However, that might leave you wondering just how accurate the information actually is. To learn more about the author and the accuracy of his book, keep scrolling down.

What Is “The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of the Whole Stupid World?”

The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of the Whole Stupid World is a book written and illustrated by Matt Kracht. He’s been passionately hating birds since he was young. He had to write a research paper on a bird he was unable to find in the wild. Despite his best search, he didn’t find the bird until decades later.

The book breaks down the behaviors of certain birds. It also covers information on the zoogeographic areas of the world where birds are found. If you are new to birding, it even includes the official terms for bird anatomy.

About Matt Kracht

Matt Kracht is an author who has had a love for the written word and the illustrations that accompany it since he was a young boy. His parents never discouraged him from writing but they also encouraged him to explore the great outdoors.

Life got in the way, as it usually does. It wasn’t until around 2017 that Matt managed to break away from the monotonous office life. Then, he was free to pursue his true passion; hating birds.

Is it a Book With Accurate Information or Just for Fun?

It’s actually both! Though Matt Kracht wasn’t an ornithologist, he was a passionate bird hater.

In all reality, Kracht takes the time to make sure every bird and the information about them is as accurate as his words are colorful. He takes the information about birds, such as what they eat, and twists it. In the end, it feels as if everything a bird does is a personal attack against him, and perhaps you.

This method makes it a lot more fun to learn about birds for sure. It also makes it easier to remember the information. Are you going to remember some technical information about how the white-crested laughingthrush gets its scientific name from the Latin word “to babble”, or are you going to remember that the “white crusted loserthrush” babbles all the time like “over-caffeinated idiots”?

When he published the first book, Kracht did admit that he was worried proper ornithologists wouldn’t like his fun interpretations of bird behaviors and names. He was surprised that most of them actually loved it and thought it was hilarious while also offering a way to easily educate the public about birds. Kracht managed to do something a lot of scientists struggle with, which is providing information to the public that isn’t full of heavy scientific dialogue, and that they actually want to read.

Really, the only complaints he’s gotten on his book from the average reader and scientists both is due to the amount of swearing. Which, if you aren’t a fan of cursing, fair warning, this book is full of four-letter words your children shouldn’t be learning.

The Author’s Other Book Also Has Accurate Information

If you want something more localized, the author has a book called The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America. It has the same levels of humor. It’s actually the first book in the series and covers 50 of the most common birds throughout the US.

This book is very similar to the book above, offering basic information about the birds, including the scientific name, locations, and how to identify.

And if you’re passionate about bees, you’ll be happy to note that the author is as well. He wrote a book about the amazing world of bees, shown in a much more positive light than the birds in this book.

Which Bird Book Should You Get?

If you’re looking to identify birds near you, or you want to start birding, and you live in North America, it’s a good idea to get The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America, rather than the other. However, if you just want to learn more about birds in general, or enjoy traveling, The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of the Whole Stupid World is a better option.

Of course, if you really love birds, then there’s no harm in getting both!