This book is the first ever, comprehensive photographic guide to the identification of all 24 species of hummingbirds to be seen as breeders or vagrants in North America.
For all their startling colors, the speed of hummingbird flight and the often drab coloration of females and immatures make this group especially difficult to deal with in the field. The simple field marks are often poorly lit, hard to spot, or simply not shown by any particular individual under observation. But accurate identification of these popular and beautiful birds brings both real satisfaction and a welcome challenge to most birders.
Steve Howell, a well-known and respected bird tour leader and author, has made a particular study of the finer points of hummingbird recognition and has specially chosen over 200 stunning photographs to complement the information given in his text. Some species feature as many as 14 photographs each. A detailed introduction covers the basics of hummingbird anatomy and plumage variation, allowing the observer to effectively focus on points that are of value in the field. New field marks are provided and old myths dispelled in this ground breaking and essential new guide.
I absolutely love this book, reading it has brought me closer to my love of hummingbirds....the different species - their behaviors- and the beautiful colors are just amazing to see ! I have been to Arizona where I saw about 9 species that I don't see in the Northeast. I am glad to have this book to refer to often...and around this time of year - almost time for their migration to kick into full gear!
The pictures in this book are stunning. I love the in depth explanation of how to tell similar looking species apart, with illustrations, descriptions, and pictures. I am a little sad that there are no photographs of the bee hummingbird though, only illustrations.