The Feather Detective

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“A biography that reads like a novel … The book moves at a brisk and enjoyable clip, with smart writing and an affectionate, warts-and-all view of a gifted scientist and sometimes struggling human being–flawed, as are we all, but with her intellectual and investigative powers in perfect alignment with the work to be done.” –Wall Street Journal

“In journalist Chris Sweeney’s The Feather Detective, the genesis of forensic ornithology is recounted as part courtroom drama, part crime thriller… . Sweeney chronicles the life and times of Laybourne with a deft pen, his narrative gifts on full display in a biographical stunner of a literary paean to this eccentric, iconoclastic woman, born in 1910 in rural North Carolina, who changed world history.” –Birding magazine

“An international ambassador for science and birds, Laybourne inspired women to follow in her footsteps–if they could keep up with her relentless work ethic and weren’t afraid to ride in her sports car… . Sweeney brings this feisty pioneer to life, steering through her lively career with gusto to deliver an unforgettable portrait of a true game changer. After reading The Feather Detective, readers will feel privileged to know Roxie Laybourne through this vividly told biography.” –BookPage (starred review)

“Birds have much to teach us, and the education of one of their most attentive students–the singular, brilliant Roxie Laybourne–is beautifully told in Chris Sweeney’s The Feather Detective. Laybourne’s insights into everything from feathers to bones to migration patterns made a lasting contribution to ornithology, and her remarkable curiosity serves as an inspiration for us all.” –Kenn Kaufman, author of The Birds That Audubon Missed

“The Feather Detective is an absolutely riveting account of the tenacity and brilliance of a woman you’ve never heard of. It’s also a genuine page-turner, thanks to Chris Sweeney’s delightful prose. Roxie Laybourne single-handedly pioneered the science of feather identification, and her work transformed aviation safety, forensics investigations, and ornithology. Sweeney’s account of her extraordinary life, and his insider-ish view of her unusual career at the Smithsonian, is the most engaging work of science writing–and the most entertaining biography–that I’ve read in ages.” –Amy Stewart, author of The Tree Collectors and The Drunken Botanist

“The Feather Detective will fascinate you … The New York Times once referred to Laybourne as ‘the Miss Marple of eiderdown.’ Sweeney’s simple, elegant writing makes the technicalities of Laybourne’s work easy to understand and the sexism she dealt with infuriating… . The Smithsonian Institution’s bird division has a hall of fame, with portraits of 34 significant staff members in its history. Guess how many women there are. Yup. Just Roxie Laybourne.” –The Minnesota Star Tribune“Engrossing … The riveting accounts of Laybourne’s biggest cases read like an avian riff on CSI, and Sweeney’s finely observed portrait of Laybourne presents her as a no-nonsense ornithologist who navigated the politics of the lab and the courtroom with equal aplomb. This entrances.” –Publishers Weekly“True crime meets birding in this biography… . A captivating tribute to Roxie’s remarkable life.” –Audubon magazine

“Sweeney’s biography must be read to be believed.” –The Millions

“The once-unassuming Roxie Laybourne became the world’s first forensic ornithologist in 1960… . In her way, Laybourne was a badass.” –Los Angeles Times, “10 books to read in August”“A lot can be learned from even the smallest fragments of feathers–and we have Roxie Laybourne to thank for that… . As the world’s first forensic ornithologist, she would go on to conduct instrumental work that would advance aircraft safety and help catch murderers, poachers, and even white supremacists, who tarred and feathered a Civil Rights activist. In The Feather Detective, award-winning journalist Chris Sweeney tells Laybourne’s story in-depth, and in so doing, gives this tough, pioneering woman the credit and spotlight she deserves.” –Elle, “The Best Books of Summer 2025”“A timely story about the benefits of government-funded science, the invisibility of public safety’s most important workers, and a fascinating–and peculiar–ecosystem: one woman, and lots and lots of birds.” –NPR“In The Feather Detective, Chris Sweeney takes readers on a remarkable journey through the marvelous world of feather forensics, told through the eyes of its originator: the singular Roxie Laybourne. Sweeney shines an incredible spotlight on a true female pioneer who rose through the ranks of the male-dominated Smithsonian to create an entirely novel field of scientific research that proved utterly consequential. From decoding airplane bird strikes to solving murders, Laybourne’s unparalleled knowledge of feathers is a dazzling story that needed to be told, and Sweeney has captured her legacy in this truly captivating narrative.” –Loren Grush, author of The Six: The Extraordinary Story of the Grit and Daring of America’s First Women Astronauts