The Secret Perfume of Birds: Uncovering the Science of Avian Scent

Whittaker’s (integrative biology, Michigan State Univ.) wide-ranging book combines memoir, intellectual history, and the results of her own scientific research on avian chemical communication, which challenges the long-held belief in ornithology that birds don’t have a sense of smell. She explains that juncos (a sparrow species) use scents to understand and interact with each other and their environment; smells—like the odor of a nearby bird—influence junco activities like fighting, selecting a mate, and deciding where to build a nest. Whittaker describes learning how to sample a junco’s preen oil and discern its chemical compounds; detecting the different microbes on birds’ feathers and in their digestive tracks; and identifying the genes and olfactory structures associated with juncos’ ability to smell. This book is more than a scientific treatise; Whittaker also discusses her unorthodox academic career and her personal life (including her roller derby alter ego “Chunk Rock Girl”), adding zest to the science.