Tim Birkhead facts for kids

Timothy Robert Birkhead, born in 1950, is a famous British scientist who studies birds. He is known as an ornithologist. Since 1976, he has been a professor at the University of Sheffield. There, he teaches about how animals behave and how they change over time (evolution).

Becoming a Scientist

Birkhead earned his first degree in Biology from Newcastle University in 1972. Later, in 1976, he received his PhD from the University of Oxford. For his PhD, he studied the breeding habits and survival of a seabird called the guillemot. In 1989, he earned another special degree, a Doctor of Science, from Newcastle University.

Studying Birds and Their Lives

Professor Birkhead's research has changed how we understand bird mating. He was one of the first to show that female birds can also choose their mates in secret ways.

Guillemot Research

Since 1972, Professor Birkhead has been studying guillemots on Skomer island in Wales. This is a very long-term study that helps us understand how these bird populations change over time.

Bird Egg Shapes

Recently, his research has focused on why bird eggs have different shapes. He has especially looked at the guillemot's egg, which is shaped like a pear. People used to think this shape helped the egg spin like a top or roll in a circle. This would stop it from falling off cliff ledges.

However, Professor Birkhead and his team found a different reason. They discovered that the pear shape makes the egg much more stable. This is very helpful because guillemots often lay their eggs on sloped surfaces. The unique shape helps the egg stay put!

Books and Publications

Professor Birkhead has written many books about birds and science. Some of his well-known books include:

• Ten Thousand Birds: Ornithology since Darwin (2014) – This book won an award for being the best book in the History of Science.
• The Red Canary: The Story of the First Genetically Engineered Animal (2004) – This book explains how selective breeding helped create the red canary.
• Bird Sense: What it Is Like to Be a Bird (2012) – This book was named one of the best natural history books of the year.
• The Most Perfect Thing: The Inside (and Outside) of a Bird's Egg (2016) – This book was praised by David Attenborough. It also won an award for explaining zoology to a general audience.
• The Wonderful Mr Willughby: The First True Ornithologist (2018) – This book tells the story of an early bird scientist.
• Birds and Us: A 12,000-Year History from Cave Art to Conservation (2022) – This book explores the long history of humans and birds.

Teaching and Sharing Knowledge

Professor Birkhead loves both his research and teaching students. He has taught many subjects, including ecology, evolution, and animal behavior. His excellent teaching has earned him several awards, including a National Teaching Fellowship in 2017.

Biology of Spermatozoa Meetings

From 1992 to 2015, Professor Birkhead helped organize a special meeting called "Biology of Spermatozoa" (BoS). This meeting brought together about 60 experts from different fields. They discussed reproductive biology, shared ideas, and started new projects together.

Media and Public Outreach

Professor Birkhead has also shared his knowledge with a wider audience.

• He wrote a monthly column for Times Higher Education from 2002 to 2010.
• He has written articles for newspapers like The Guardian and The Independent.
• He has appeared on many BBC Radio 4 shows, including Start the Week and The Life Scientific.
• His book The Most Perfect Thing inspired a TV show called Attenborough’s Eggs, hosted by David Attenborough.
• He was the honorary curator of the Alfred Denny Museum at the University of Sheffield for many years.
• He has given many public talks, including a TED (conference) lecture about the history of ornithology, which has been viewed over 100,000 times.

Awards and Recognition

Professor Birkhead has received many awards and honors throughout his career for his work in science and teaching:

• McColvin Medal for best reference book (1991)
• Consul Cremer Prize for The Red Canary (2003)
• Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 2004
• Senate Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching (2007)
• Bird Book of the Year Award for The Wisdom of Birds (2009)
• Elected Honorary Member of the American Ornithologists Union (2010)
• ASAB (Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour) Medal (2012)
• Zoological Society of London, Silver Medal (2014)
• Godman-Salvin Medal from the British Ornithologists' Union (2016)
• Winner of the Zoological Society of London’s Award for Communicating Zoology (2017)
• Stephen Jay Gould Prize for increasing public understanding of evolutionary biology (2017)
• Awarded a National Teaching Fellowship by the Higher Education Academy (HEA) in 2017