I never knew there were so many different pigeon subsets and this book delightfully told me all about them all! I work for a store that does well with birding books and I think this will fit that niche crowd well. It will pair nicely with "The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of NA" on the counter I think!

I love the author's respect for the pigeon! I'm a fan, both of the birds and of this book; so much great information!

I adored this little book! Full of all the information one needs to start to understand pigeons, which are also doves (same bird, two names). The author is extremely enthusiastic about this bird and trying to dispel many of the common misunderstandings about them.

The book is written in a light way, using puns and such that I felt happy while reading this book. It was such a joy!

We get a small amount of history, biology, info on different breeds, and much more. The book is exactly as it says, a guide to pigeon watching, and the best part -- it's full of these adorable drawings. So cute!

I wish there was a series of these type of books on various birds written in the same way. I’d want to read them all.

I never expected to read a book about the greatness of pigeons, but here we are.

Honestly, this is a fun read. Even if you don’t like pigeons, their domestication contributed to quite a lot of human history, especially in the area of long-distance communication. Plus, look at all the pretty pictures and funny comics!

The book's first thing that stands out is the humour laced into every paragraph. This begins with the introduction itself. The author enjoys the topic, or that is what shines through the entire book.
I chose to read this because of this topic. I have seen pigeons around (who hasn't?!), and if someone recommended I pigeon watch to pass the time, I would not have taken them seriously. The title of this book, therefore, was very intriguing.
Like many other non-fiction titles that I end up trying, this has a great collection of art. The pigeons are colourful and keep pace with the narrative. They are even used to help with a punchline or two. I would have liked a few actual photographs included towards the end of the kind of pigeons still in existence, but that is one thing I did not get. I did google a few just to check them out.
The author covers the history of pigeons, their uses (by humans) and the different breeds. This last part was fascinating, as was the reproduction. The author actually talks of the visible genetic markers for some broader types and how they are transmitted to future generations based on the type of the mate. The author also gives us an in-depth view of their daily lives and some typical behaviour.
There is not much I can talk of the content other than that it is provided in a friendly fashion. I would recommend this to anyone who finds it usually hard to pick up non-fiction and is curious about pigeons.
I really enjoyed the read but did not read it in one sitting. I had to space it out solely because I had to process all the information I was being given. It is the kind of book you can have at home and peruse whenever you feel like pulling up some remarkable factoids.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Sweet jiminy, I love pigeons. I'm glad someone else loves them enough to write a while dang book singing praises of their majesty.

A wonderful introduction to pigeons and birdwatching in general! I have not grown up around pigeons, but I still was able to gain a great appreciation for their unique traits and also see how some of these general pigeon/dove family traits manifest in my local family of mourning doves. They're such sweet pudgy birbs to watch that I'm sure if I ever lived in a city, I'd adore the pigeons just as much... if nothing else for their spectacular color variations! Mosco details the genetics behind these pretty colors and fancy feathers, as well as going into pigeon-keeping history, how they came to be feral birds, and provides a detailed section on how to "read" pigeon language. She also provides a brief epilogue on how to apply some basic bird watching skills towards watching other common birds, so this makes a perfect gift for the beginning city birdwatcher.

Five stars!
Interesting and entertaining guide to all things pigeons. I've always felt that pigeons got a bad rap, and now, thanks to Rosemary Mosco and her book "A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching", I feel a bit vindicated. The book is definitely aimed at the middle school aged reader, but even as an adult I learned so much about this fascinating bird. I had no idea how pervasive or varied pigeons are. There is some form of the bird on nearly every continent, and while most of us think of the common domestic pigeon (or rock dove) when we think of a pigeon, some of them are very unique and quite beautiful. The author makes what could be a dry, tedious book into a fun, engaging read, covering everything from genetics and anatomy to domestication and behaviors. Her enthusiasm is contagious -- I don't think I shall ever look at a pigeon in quite the same way again! Definitely recommended for anyone with any interest in nature, birds or birdwatching.

I am so grateful to Workman Publishing Company and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching.

I received an electronic ARC via NetGalley.

This is a charming and informative book about, well--pigeons. It covers a wealth of information, ranging from other related species, to general pigeon anatomy, to a (far from exhaustive) selection of breeds, an introduction to color genetics, and information on behavior. It is full of very cute pigeon cartoons used to illustrate its points, too.

I learned a lot about pigeons (I already found them interesting, but I think the book could win over people less well-disposed to feral birds if given a chance), and it's a surprisingly good review of basic biology--just focused on pigeons. It assumes very little prior knowledge from the reader, tends to explain concepts well, and frequently tries for humor.

I do wish there were photographs in addition to the cartoon pigeons. While the illustrations are very cute, I kept finding myself looking up some of the breeds and related species online while reading.

I enjoyed Mosco's fun approach to educating us about all things pigeon! From famous historic birds such as Cher Ami to bird anatomy, the lessons are taught with humor. I wish my kindle version had complete illustrations, and that the asides weren’t in such a light typeface, but I thoroughly appreciated the information.

A fun introductory guide to pigeon identification, behaviors, and history. The illustrations were enjoyable and lent a casual ambience to the book. Author Rosemary Mosco shares information about pigeons in a humorous and light-hearted manner, making it a fun and interesting read.

**I received an electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review of this book,

A quirky yet informative guide book on pigeons. Rosemary Mosco's "A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching" covers multiple bodies on bird's history, physiology, genetic variations, diet and their behaviors. Mosco's impeccable writing is insightful, accessible and easily understood. For someone who doesn't have much basic knowledge on birds in general, this was a great introduction to pigeons. Filled with colorful illustrations and texts, Mosco delivered it in an engaging and humorous manner. The most wondrous thing was the author's utmost enthusiasm and optimism when sharing her knowledge about pigeons. Her passion really shines through. Lighthearted yet intelligent, it truly felt like I was having a fun and enlightening conversation with her. The author's dedication, knowledge and love for birds and nature is beyond inspirational. I have always been somewhat fascinated with pigeons and Mosco's book has been resourceful. It definitely sparked my interest in pigeons and enhanced my appreciation for these beautiful and unique species. I will be looking out for more of Mosco's works and even possibly her speaking engagements.

Thank you to NetGalley and Workman Publishing Company for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Essential resource and reference material for the most avid pigeon enthusiasts to the novice. Mosco reminds readers and watchers how engaging pigeons are, as well as examples of why they will always be worth the second look

I grew up in a city and was taught pigeons were dirty and disease-carrying birds. This illustrated non-fiction book has changed my view. Pigeons are interesting birds and have a long connection with humans. I am now fascinated with pigeons and have started looking at them closer. Rosemary Mosco’s art is playful and expresses the delight she finds in the birds. Her writing style is informative and yet still easy to understand for anyone. You do not need a deep knowledge of birds or nature to enjoy this.

A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching is an interesting and accessible guide to pigeons by Rosemary Mosco. Due out 9th Nov 2021 from Workman Publishing, it's 240 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. Text search makes life somewhat easier.

Although this volume is ostensibly aimed at middle grade readers (10 year old me would've loved it), I learned quite a lot myself and I'm about 4 decades past being a middle grade reader. The language is simple enough for anyone to understand, but at the same time manages to be scientifically correct and use proper nomenclature.

The layout is logical and progresses from: why watch pigeons, pigeon evolution (dinosaurs!), interaction with and development alongside humans, anatomy, plumage (genetics!), behavior, health concerns (very low), and some tantalizing bits about general birdwatching.

The entire book is light and humorous and information dense. I grinned often whilst reading and found the style and the subject matter very engaging and fun. This would be a superlative public or classroom library acquisition, or gift to a nature/science interested youngster. It would also make a fine choice for smallholders (pigeons are easy and useful to raise), allotment/community gardens, and similar. There are no photographs, but the entire book is full of simple and well rendered line drawings (see cover).

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

An enjoyable book about pigeons. Humorous, and also informative. My main takeaway is that pigeons aren't as gross as I thought! There are also lots of cool varieties of pigeons, and everyone should look at the glory that is a Jacobin Pigeon.

Slightly interesting. I was curious about them when I saw a few in my yard. We never had pigeons there before. It is educational and you learn a lot about pigeons. For me, it was boring since I'm not obsessed over pigeons.

Over the past year I have spent time at my local botanical garden. While there, I have observed robins, bluejays, woodpeckers, red-tailed hawks and more. On my walks of city streets, I have seen many pigeons but never really thought of them as being as interesting as the botanical garden birds that I viewed When I saw this title, therefore, I was intrigued. Was there more to the homely pigeon than I knew? You can be sure that there is!

Ms. Mosco’s enthusiasm for the pigeon comes across so clearly in this entertaining look at the species. She shares history, facts about behavior, appreciation for the physical appearance and colors of the species and so much more. With lively illustrations, many boxes of extra facts and love for the subject, Ms. Mosco captivates readers. Did you know that there is a pigeons in movies data base or that Tesla was in love with the pigeon that came to his hotel window? These are just two of the anecdotes that are found in the early pages of the book.

Engaged readers, watch out! The author may just make a pigeon watcher out of you by the time that you finish the book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my ow

A charming little book - especially interesting is the chapter on pigeon genetics, which explains the different colorations of pigeons you may see and which are dominant genetically.

What a fun little book! Since pigeons live in cities, many of us pass by them on a regular basis without a second thought, or at least without a positive thought. But, as Mosco shows us in A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching, Pigeons have played important roles in human history and pigeon keeping was once the hobby of royalty and the very rich. Wherever we live, nature is just outside of our doors and Mosco shows us how to appreciate pigeons with detailed information on behavior, coloration and easy to understand genetics. There are many sidebars with all sorts of interesting tidbits. I also love Mosco's illustrations and cartoons that are sprinkled throughout the Pocket Guide.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this arc in return for an honest review.