Hummingbirds: A Celebration of Nature's Most Dazzling Creatures
There are more than 300 species of hummingbirds in the Western Hemisphere, 15 of which can be found in North America. These diminutive, exotic birds are shown here in 100 resplendent color photographs depicting them in their natural surroundings: feeding on nectar from flowers, feeding their young, sitting on eggs in a nest, taking a bath, preening themselves, and flying. One close-up photo shows a newly hatched chick, blind and without feathers, next to the egg of its sibling. Another shows a hummingbird's feathers magnified many times. Sonder's interesting text focuses on the bird's history (they were part of Native American culture, Mayan legend, and Aztec civilization); physical characteristics, patterns, and colors; aerial acrobatics (they can mate on the wing, hover in the air, and fly backward); and feeding habits, courtships, and breeding. Sonder offers tips on attracting these birds, choosing a feeder, and photographing them.George Cohen