A magnificently illustrated celebration of the birds of paradise and the myths and history surrounding them, from the beloved BBC host.The sixteenth-century Europeans gave them the name birds of paradise—birds so beautiful that they must have come from paradise. Originally, they were thought not to have legs and therefore never to touch the earth. Still very rarely encountered, even in their natural habitat of New Guinea, they elicit sheer awe in those who are lucky...

Drawn from Paradise is David Attenborough’s journey through the cultural history of the birds of paradise, one of the most exquisite and extravagant, colourful and intriguing families of birds.From the moment they were introduced to the European mind in the early sixteenth century, their unique beauty was recognised and commemorated in the first name that they were given – birds so beautiful must be birds from paradise.In this unique exploration of a truly awe-inspiring fam...