It is hard to imagine a more beautiful book that this. Leila Jeffreys is known for her portraits of birds. This volume contains a glorious cast of Australian natives. ‘Portrait’ is truly the operative word here. The birds poised, engaging, and extraordinary in their variety. And just when you wonder if they aren’t, in fact, the products of an expert taxidermist, the very warm and equally engaging text, provided by the French ornithologist Guilhem Lesaffre, reassures the reader of their authenticity, which only makes you marvel more at the wonder of Leila Jeffreys photography.