A Burgess Bird Book Companion
I’ve put together a list of resources to complement this fantastic book. This companion document is not affiliated with the Burgess Bird Book for Children, it is simply a handy reference to list related links. I’ve linked to the top bird identification sites and to free coloring pages. I couldn’t resist looking up the Audubon plush birds with sound calls, we have a few in our collection.
The Burgess Bird Book For Children by Thornton W. Burgess – This book is in the public domain and I’ve provided links to read the entire story free online, which you can print out or read on-screen, as well as links to an audio recording. If you want a physical copy of the book, the link above will take you to a newly illustrated, full-color version. There is also a Kindle version, which has B&W illustrations.
Each chapter describes a story about Peter Rabbit and the birds that live around him. The chapter covers two birds on average. Children will learn their physical appearance, characteristics, eating and nesting habits, behavior, songs, and calls.
Chapter List
- Jenny Wren Arrives
- The Old Orchard Bully
- Jenny Has a Good Word for Some Sparrows
- Chippy, Sweetvoice, and Dotty
- Peter Learns Something He Hadn’t Guessed
- An Old Friend in a New Home
- The Watchman of the Old Orchard
- Old Clothes and Old Houses
- Longbill and Teeter
- Redwing and Yellow Wing
- Drummers and Carpenters
- Some Unlike Relatives
- More of the Blackbird Family
- Bob White and Carol the Meadow Lark
- A Swallow and One Who Isn’t
- A Robber in the Old Orchard
- More Robbers
- Some Homes in the Green Forest
- A Maker of Thunder and a Friend in Black
- A Fisherman Robbed
- A Fishing Party
- Some Feathered Diggers
- Some Big Mouths
- The Warblers Arrive
- Three Cousins Quite Unlike
- Peter Gets a Lame Neck
- A New Friend and an Old One
- Peter Sees Rosebreast and Finds Redcoat
- The Constant Singers
- Jenny Wren’s Cousins
- Voices of the Dusk
- Peter Saves a Friend and Learns Something
- A Royal Dresser and a Late Nester
- Mourner the Dove and Cuckoo
- A Butcher and a Hummer
- A Stranger and a Dandy
- Farewells and Welcomes
- Honker and Dippy Arrive
- Peter Discovers Two Old Friends
- Some Merry Seed-eaters
- More Friends Come with the Snow
- Peter Learns Something About Spooky
- Queer Feet and a Queerer Bill
- More Folks in Bed
- Peter Sees Two Terrible Feathered Hunters
1. Jenny Wren Arrives
“Introducing the House Wren”
2. The Old Orchard Bully
“The English or House Sparrow”
3. Jenny Has a Good Word for Some Sparrows
“The Song, White-throated and Fox Sparrows”
4. Chippy, Sweetvoice, and Dotty
“The Chipping, Vesper, and Tree Sparrows”
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Handbook of Nature Study – Chipping Sparrow, pages 86
5. Peter Learns Something He Hadn’t Guessed
“The Bluebird and a Robin”
6. An Old Friend in a New Home
“The Phoebe and the Least Flycatcher”
7. The Watchman of the Old Orchard
“The Kingbird and the Great Crested Flycatcher”
8. Old Clothes and Old Houses
“The Wood Pewee and Some Nesting Places”
9. Longbill and Teeter
“The Woodcock and the Spotted Sandpiper”
- Handbook of Nature Study – Woodcock pg 136; Spotted Sandpiper pg 142
10. Redwing and Yellow Wing
“The Red-winged Blackbird and the Golden-winged Flicker”
11. Drummers and Carpenters
“The Downy, Hairy, and Red-Headed Woodpeckers”
12. Some Unlike Relatives
“The Cowbird and the Baltimore Oriole”
13. More of the Blackbird Family
“The Orchard Oriole and the Bobolink”
14. Bob White and Carol the Meadow Lark
“The So-called Quail and the Meadow Lark”
15. A Swallow and One Who Isn’t
“The Tree Swallow and the Chimney Swift”
16. A Robber in the Old Orchard
“The Purple Martin and the Barn Swallow”
17. More Robbers
“The Crow and the Blue Jay”
18. Some Homes in the Green Forest
“The Crow, the Oven Bird, and the Redtailed Hawk”
19. A Maker of Thunder and a Friend in Black
“The Ruffed Grouse and the Crow Blackbird”
20. A Fisherman Robbed
“The Osprey and the Bald-headed Eagle”
21. A Fishing Party
“The Great Blue Heron and the Kingfisher”
22. Some Feathered Diggers
“The Bank Swallow, the Kingfisher, and the Sparrow Hawk”
23. Some Big Mouths
“The Nighthawk, the Whip-poor-will and Chuck-will’s-widow”
24. The Warblers Arrive
“The Redstart and the Yellow Warbler”
25. Three Cousins Quite Unlike
“The Black and White Warbler, the Maryland Yellow-Throat and the Yellow-Breasted Chat”
- Story| Audio – Ch 25
- Creeper the Black-and-white Warbler, Mummer the Yellowthroat and Chut-Chut the Yellow-breasted Chat
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26. Peter Gets a Lame Neck
“The Parula, Myrtle and Magnolia Warblers”
- Story| Audio – Ch 26
- Sprite the Parula, Fidget the Myrtle Warbler and Weechi the Magnolia Warbler
- Northern Parula – Parula americana
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27. A New Friend and an Old One
“The Cardinal and the Catbird”
28. Peter Sees Rosebreast and Finds Redcoat
“The Rose-breasted Grosbeak and the Scarlet Tanager”
- Story| Audio – Ch 28
- Rosebreast the Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Redcoat the Scarlet Tanager
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29. The Constant Singers
“The Red-Eyed, Warbling, and Yellow-throated Vireos”
30. Jenny Wren’s Cousins
“The Brown Thrasher and the Mockingbird”
31. Voices of the Dusk
“The Wood, Hermit and Wilson’s Thrushes”
32. Peter Saves a Friend and Learns Something
“The Towhee and the Indigo Bunting”
33. A Royal Dresser and a Late Nester
“The Purple Linnet and the Goldfinch”
34. Mourner the Dove and Cuckoo
“The Mourning Dove and the Yellow-billed Cuckoo”
35. A Butcher and a Hummer
“The Shrike and the Ruby-throated Hummingbird”
36. A Stranger and a Dandy
“The English Starling and the Cedar Waxwing”
37. Farewells and Welcomes
“The Chickadee”
38. Honker and Dippy Arrive
“The Canada Goose and the Loon”
39. Peter Discovers Two Old Friends
“The White-breasted Nuthatch and the Brown Creeper”
40. Some Merry Seed-eaters
“The Tree Sparrow and the Junco”
41. More Friends Come with the Snow
“The Snow Bunting and the Horned Lark”
42. Peter Learns Something About Spooky
“The Screech Owl”
43. Queer Feet and a Queerer Bill
“The Ruffed Grouse and the Crossbills”"
44. More Folks in Bed
“The Pine Grosbeak and the Redpoll”
45. Peter Sees Two Terrible Feathered Hunters
“The Goshawk and the Great Horned Owl”
