Through fascinating encounters with birds, and the rich cast of characters who came up with their names, Moss takes readers on a remarkable journey through time. From when humans and birds first shared the Earth to their fraught...

Cuckoo, chiffchaff and kittiwake: just three of many names based on the bird's sound.Wheatear: nothing to do with ears of wheat, but the Anglo-Saxon for "White-arse".Hobby: whoe scientific name, Falco subbuteo, inspired the table-top...

Garden Birds von Moss, Stephen

Penguin Readers is an ELT graded reader series for learners of English as a foreign language. With carefully adapted text, new illustrations and language learning exercises, the print edition also includes instructions to access...

Chess was invented more than 1,500 years ago, and is played in every country in the world. Stephen Moss sets out to master its mysteries, and unlock the secret of its enduring appeal. What, he asks, is the essence of chess? And what will...