Arthur Cleveland Bent
Encyclopedia
Arthur Cleveland Bent was an American ornithologist
. He is notable for his encyclopedic 21-volume work, Life Histories of North American Birds, published 1919-1968 and completed posthumously.
Bent was brought up in Massachusetts
, where he became interested in birds as a child. He was later successful in business and traveled throughout North America, acquiring an extensive knowledge of its avifauna. From 1901 he was contributing papers to The Auk
, the journal of the American Ornithologists' Union
.
Following a request from the Smithsonian Institution
in 1910, Bent started work on the project that would dominate the rest of his life. Using his own experiences, the published literature, and contributions from hundreds of others, he put together by far the most comprehensive repository of knowledge about the biology of the birds of North America. His accounts were published progressively in the United States National Museum Bulletin (NMB).
In 1940 Bent was awarded the John Burroughs Medal
for distinguished book-length nature writing. He was awarded the Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal
from the National Academy of Sciences
in 1949 .
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
. He is notable for his encyclopedic 21-volume work, Life Histories of North American Birds, published 1919-1968 and completed posthumously.
Bent was brought up in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, where he became interested in birds as a child. He was later successful in business and traveled throughout North America, acquiring an extensive knowledge of its avifauna. From 1901 he was contributing papers to The Auk
The Auk
The Auk is a quarterly journal and the official publication of the American Ornithologists' Union, having been continuously published by that body since 1884. The journal contains articles relating scientific studies of the anatomy, behavior, and distribution of birds. The journal is named for the...
, the journal of the American Ornithologists' Union
American Ornithologists' Union
The American Ornithologists' Union is an ornithological organization in the USA. Unlike the National Audubon Society, its members are primarily professional ornithologists rather than amateur birders...
.
Following a request from the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
in 1910, Bent started work on the project that would dominate the rest of his life. Using his own experiences, the published literature, and contributions from hundreds of others, he put together by far the most comprehensive repository of knowledge about the biology of the birds of North America. His accounts were published progressively in the United States National Museum Bulletin (NMB).
In 1940 Bent was awarded the John Burroughs Medal
John Burroughs Medal
The John Burroughs Medal, named for nature writer John Burroughs , is awarded each year in April by the John Burroughs Association to the author of a book that the association has judged to be distinguished in the field of natural history....
for distinguished book-length nature writing. He was awarded the Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal
Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal
The Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal is awarded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences "for meritorious work in zoology or paleontology published in a three- to five-year period." Named after Daniel Giraud Elliot, it was first awarded in 1917....
from the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
in 1949 .
Life Histories – publication history
- 1919 - Life Histories of North American Diving Birds (NMB 107)
- 1921 - Life Histories of North American Gulls and Terns (NMB 113)
- 1922 - Life Histories of North American Petrels and Pelicans and Their Allies (NMB 121)
- 1923 - Life Histories of North American Wild Fowl (part 1) (NMB 126)
- 1925 - Life Histories of North American Wild Fowl (part 2) (NMB 130)
- 1927 - Life Histories of North American Marsh Birds (NMB 135)
- 1927 - Life Histories of North American Shore Birds (part 1) (NMB 142)
- 1929 - Life Histories of North American Shore Birds (part 2) (NMB 146)
- 1932 - Life Histories of North American Gallinaceous Birds (NMB 162)
- 1937 - Life Histories of North American Birds of Prey (part 1) (NMB 167)
- 1938 - Life Histories of North American Birds of Prey (part 2) (NMB 170)
- 1939 - Life Histories of North American Woodpeckers (NMB 174)
- 1940 - Life Histories of North American Cuckoos, Goatsuckers, Hummingbirds, and Their Allies (NMB 176)
- 1942 - Life Histories of North American Flycatchers, Larks, Swallows, and Their Allies (NMB 179)
- 1947 - Life Histories of North American Jays, Crows, and Titmice (NMB 191)
- 1948 - Life Histories of North American Nuthatches, Wrens, Thrashers, and Their Allies (NMB 195)
- 1949 - Life Histories of North American Thrushes, Kinglets, and Their Allies (NMB 196)
- 1950 - Life Histories of North American Wagtails, Shrikes, Vireos, and Their Allies (NMB 197)
- 1953 - Life Histories of North American Wood Warblers (NMB 203)
- 1958 - Life Histories of North American Blackbirds, Orioles, Tanagers, and Allies (NMB 211)
- 1968 - Life Histories of North American Cardinals, Grosbeaks, Buntings, Towhees, Finches, Sparrows, and Allies (3 parts) (Arthur Cleveland Bent and Collaborators, compiled and edited by Oliver L. Austin, Jr.) (NMB 237)