Birds have captured people's imagination since earliest times, with their fascinating plumage, behaviour and power of flight. In this beautifully and unusually illustrated book, Celia Fisher traces the remarkable breadth of ways in which artists, writers and storytellers have depicted the enduring magic of birds. Used as symbols of freedom and captivity, ill omen and divine message, seasons and the spirit, birds have delighted and haunted people for centuries. From the myths of ancient Egypt to the medieval Islamic 'conference of the birds', and featuring exotic species from around the globe as well as humble garden birds, Fisher explores the art, legends and literature of many world traditions. She reveals how the great age of exploration brought spectacular, newly discovered birds to European attention, and showcases stunning paintings from travellers in Asia, Australia and the Américas.