What is the meaning of a bird’s song, a baboon’s bark, an owl’s hoot, or a dolphin’s clicks? In The Voices of Nature, Nicolas Mathevon explores the mysteries of animal sound. Putting readers in the middle of animal soundscapes that range from the steamy heat of the Amazon jungle to the icy terrain of the Arctic, Mathevon reveals the amazing variety of animal vocalizations. He describes how animals use sound to express emotion, to choose a mate, to trick others, to mark their territory, to call for help, and much more. What may seem like random chirps, squawks, and cries are actually signals that, like our human words, allow animals to carry on conversations with others.
Mathevon explains how the science of bioacoustics works to decipher the ways animals make and hear sounds, what information is encoded in these sound signals, and what this information is used for in daily life. Drawing on these findings as well as observations in the wild, Mathevon describes, among many other things, how animals communicate with their offspring, how they exchange information despite ambient noise, how sound travels underwater, how birds and mammals learn to vocalize, and even how animals express emotion though sound. Finally, Mathevon asks if these vocalizations, complex and expressive as they are, amount to language.
For readers who have wondered about the meaning behind a robin’s song or cicadas’ relentless “tchik-tchik-tchik,” this book offers a listening guide for the endlessly varied concert of nature.
Awards and Recognition
- A Library Journal Best Science & Technology Book of the Year
- Winner of the PROSE Award in Biological Sciences, Association of American Publishers
"[A] multifaceted delight for animal-lovers and armchair adventurers."—David P. Barash, Wall Street Journal
"The breadth of research is impressive, as is the direct language used to express the complicated science
behind sound itself. . . . Sounds may not leave a fossil record, but Mathevon's research will."—Tina Panik, Library Journal, starred review
"Mathevon delivers fascinating insights into animal communication. . . . This will change how readers hear the animals around them."—Publishers Weekly
"There's no one better than Mathevon to tell us about how diverse animals talk with one another. . . . His enthusiasm is contagious!"—Marc Bekoff, Psychology Today
"The language flows easily and important scientific concepts, often complex in nature, are seamlessly woven into an entertaining story."—David Gascoigne, Travels with Birds
"A significant contribution to the art of aural animal science."—Eric Brown, News Shopper: Wild Things
"This is an excellent book full of fascinating facts, full of detail, but always very readable."—Patricia MacDuff, British Naturalists Association Bulletin
"Excellent."—Marc Weidenbaum, The Wire
"The Voices of Nature is an immersive sonic journey, led by a tour guide with extensive knowledge of the subject. Some of the behaviours and adaptations described here delighted me, serving as powerful reminders that we underestimate animals, and that evolution comes up with ingenious solutions to the challenges animals face."—Leon Vlieger, Inquisitive Biologist
"A good read . . .The book makes a very digestible introduction to the contemporary field of bioacoustics for anyone with an interest in animal behaviour, including chapters on the physics of sound, noise and communication theory, the evolution of hearing, vocal learning and social networking."—Geoff Sample, Ibis
"This wonderful book takes us on a journey of discovery in the realm of animal voices. It is written in prose suitable not only for students of animal behavior, but also for nature enthusiasts. . . . Nicolas Mathevon has left no stone unturned."—Alexander N. G. Kirschel, Quarterly Review of Biology
"Nicolas Mathevon takes us on a wild romp through the world of bioacoustics in all its fascinating variety. . . .It deserves a place in the library of anyone who is interested in the sounds that animals produce and what they mean, whether experts or neophytes."—W. Tecumseh Fitch, Current Biology
“Why do birds sing? How far do elephant rumbles travel? What does the golden rocket frog do to lure females? If you ever wanted answers to these and many other questions about animal acoustic communication, then join Nicolas Mathevon on his grand tour around the world. Sharing his encyclopedic knowledge as if you were his companion, he weaves explanations of the intricacies of sound production and perception with vivid accounts of his travels. A gem of a science book.”—Julia Fischer, University of Göttingen
“Globe-trotting field biologist Nicolas Mathevon takes us on a wonderful and educational journey around the world studying animal communication. It’s an inspiring and intimate journey from a world expert on bioacoustics.”—Daniel T. Blumstein, author of The Nature of Fear: Survival Lessons from the Wild
