At a time when bird species are disappearing rapidly, Robert Bateman's paintings are more poignant than ever. Looking back on six decades of the Canadian naturalist's images of birds—shown here in dozens of color illustrations—this compendium celebrate the breathtaking range of bird life on Earth, from the spectacular plumage of the fiery rainforest quetzel to the threatening glare of the golden eagle. And through his notes, diary entries, and detailed sketches and studies, Bateman shares a wealth of observations about the birds' behavior, while his friend Peter Matthiessen contributes an affectionate foreword.