Product Description

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.

Key Features:

• Contains up to 14 full-color photos for each species, with detailed photo captions
• Detailed introduction covers fundamentals of hummingbird identification, including discussions of anatomy, plumage variation, and molt
• Comprehensive species accounts describe all plumages, compare similar species in depth, and discuss voice, displays, behavior, geographic range, and seasonal distribution
• Emphasizes difficult to identify plumages, such as females and immatures
• Features 200 stunning photos picked specifically to show identification criteria

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #125341 in Books
• Published on: 2003-01-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

Review
The Photographic Guide . . . unites scholarship with unity, and it is outstanding for its photo art, which is both useful and an aesthetic triumph. -- Review

Review
The Photographic Guide. . . unites scholarship with unity, and it is outstanding for its photo art, which is both useful and an aesthetic triumph.
(Birding )

The Photographic Guide . . . unites scholarship with unity, and it is outstanding for its photo art, which is both useful and an aesthetic triumph.
(Birding )

From the Back Cover
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 colours, the speed of hummingbird flight and the often drab coloration of females and immatures, make this group particularly 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 merit 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.

Customer Reviews

Steve Howell's photographic hummingbird guide
This is a very useful book for birders who want to be able to identify hummingbirds in the U.S. It includes photos and accompanying text for every hummingbird that you are likely (or lucky enough) to spot within U.S. borders. The text is particularly good, and the photos are shown large enough to be of use to the beginner/intermediate birdwatcher in addition to the experienced observer.

Terrific book in every way for identifying and learning about these wonderful birds
I love hummingbirds. I found this book most useful for helping me identify many of the different species of hummingbirds when I went down to photograph and videotape 14 different types south of Tucson. The book has valuable information, brilliant close-up photos and more valuable insights into these birds, habitats and much more. There are many on the market but if you want one for identification and more too this is in my top 3.

Hummingbirds - one of my passions.....
I'm now able to correctly identiful many species of Hummingbirds. Great source of information. Very detailed book.