The Hummingbird Handbook

April 1, 2021
Hummingbirds, those dainty feathered creatures, are favorites of both gardeners and birdwatchers. This overview offers hummer trivia (in Brazil, they're called flower kissers), mythology (the Aztecs had a hummingbird god of war), and new discoveries made possible only during the past two decades thanks to advances in photography (some flap their wings more than 80 times per second). Easygoing chapters describe their physical characteristics, life cycles, and migration patterns. There's lots of information on how to attract them (nectar recipes, planting and landscaping tips) and how to identify them once they show up (there are over 340 extant species, so this takes a while). Vivid, full-color photos appear on almost every page, and other visuals include maps and multi-photo comparison charts. Final chapters identify festivals and the best hummingbird-watching sites throughout North and South America, the birds' natural habitats. The book ends with a bang, with dozens of pictures of these brilliantly plumed beauties. Shewey, a birder and professional outdoor photographer, admits to being fascinated by hummingbirds. After seeing this book, readers will be, too.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.