Field / Identification Guide
By: Glenn Bartley(Author), Andy Swash(Author), Rob Hume(Contributor), Christopher J Sharpe(Contributor), Robert Still(Contributor), Jeanne Melchels(Illustrator), Patricia Zurita(Foreword By)
288 pages, 540+ colour photos, colour & b/w illustrations, and colour distribution maps
A spectacular guide illustrates all the world's hummingbird species and offer up-to-date information on their biology.
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About this book
With their glorious colours, glittering iridescence, astonishing powers of flight, and many characteristics unique in the world of birds, hummingbirds are extraordinary – true jewels of nature. This beautiful book is a celebration of all aspects of hummingbirds and their world. It features hundreds of the most spectacular photographs of hummingbirds ever taken, exquisite illustrations, and a lively, readable text that presents the latest scientific information and includes up-to-date details about every species.
A familiar sight across much of the Americas, hummingbirds have long captured the imagination and played an important part in myths, legends, and other aspects of human culture. Today, hummingbirds are among the most popular of all birds, sought after by serious and casual birders alike. They inspire questions in anyone lucky enough to see them. How can they fly like that? Why are they so colourful? How many are there? Where and how do they live? How do they survive? Hummingbirds: A Celebration of Nature's Jewels answers these and many other questions, providing an enlightening and enjoyable guide to hummingbirds that can only deepen their wonder.
- A definitive yet accessible account of all aspects of hummingbird life
- More than 540 spectacular colour photographs, illustrating all 101 hummingbird genera and over two-thirds of the world's 369 species
- Specially commissioned illustrations revealing details of anatomy and behaviour
- Meticulously researched facts and figures on status, population, distribution, and conservation designations of all the world's hummingbirds
Customer Reviews (1)
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Outstanding photography
By
Keith
27 Jul 2022
Written for Hardback
Hummingbirds are an amazing group of birds in so many ways. Their ability to exist in a variety of climates and altitudes presents them with physical challenges, and their speed of operation defies belief for us mere humans. Add to that their often-outstanding iridescent plumages and you have a very special group of birds.
Depending on whose taxonomy you follow there are around 370 species of about 100 genera in the family. This book follows that supported by BirdLife International – and if you are a conservationist this makes sense as BirdLife are the organisation that assesses which species are most in need of help.
All but 90 hummingbird species are illustrated with superb photographs, and many are shown several times as there are 547 images in the book. The text explains how these birds live – how the fly, how they feed, where they nest and how they use their plumages to maximum effect. There is also plenty of information about conservation issues and how people relate to hummingbirds through different cultures.
Both Glenn Bartley and Andy Swash are world-renowned professional wildlife photographers, so it is no surprise that every image chosen for the book is stunning and although the authors have supplied most of the images themselves, they have brought in over 60 other photographers to ensure great coverage.
I really like the taxonomic section which outlines not only the basic distribution and status of each species, but also the relationship of these with some forms that are split by other authorities. If you follow a list such as IOC then you’ll occasionally be thrown by Birdlife’s choice of name (for example the bird I call Blue-headed Sapphire is Gray’s Hummingbird). But the main thing to admire is the outstanding photography which is so well matched by a very readable text. This is the best hummingbird book I have ever seen.
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Biography
Glenn Bartley is a world-renowned professional wildlife photographer who specializes in creating intimate and beautiful images of birds in their natural habitats. He leads photographic workshops throughout the Americas and beyond.
Andy Swash is an ecologist, conservationist, wildlife photographer, and accomplished author. He is the managing director of WILDGuides and his books include The World’s Rarest Birds, as well as many highly acclaimed photographic field guides.
Field / Identification Guide
By: Glenn Bartley(Author), Andy Swash(Author), Rob Hume(Contributor), Christopher J Sharpe(Contributor), Robert Still(Contributor), Jeanne Melchels(Illustrator), Patricia Zurita(Foreword By)
288 pages, 540+ colour photos, colour & b/w illustrations, and colour distribution maps
A spectacular guide illustrates all the world's hummingbird species and offer up-to-date information on their biology.
