Hummingbirds - Softcover

This book is worth looking at for the photographs alone. (Laura Lavington Rainier Audubon Society 2015-04-01)

Anybody fascinated by this family is sure to find that fascination grow after exploring these pages (Nicholas Martens Hipster Birders Blog 2015-01-13)

A gorgeous volume from Ronald Orenstein, with breathtaking photos by Michael and Patricia Fogden... The text is interesting -- I learned about the evolution of hummers and about their iridescent plumage -- but it's the images that will dazzle and distract you in the best possible way. (Paul Nicholson London Free Press 2018-12-07)

[Review of previous hardcover edition:] There are many, many hummingbird books. But Hummingbirds stands out as a book that celebrates and explains, in both words and images, how wonderfully unique these birds are... this is still the most impressive collection of hummingbird photographs that I've ever seen. Whether you want to learn more about these birds, see some insanely good pictures, or both, this is your book. (Grant McCreary Birder's Library 2014-10-16)

[Review of previous hardcover edition:] This color-photo-illustrated book will appeal to birders, readers in natural history, and general readers interested in hummingbirds. The first part of the book offers seven chapters on how hummingbirds evolved, how they fly, how they eat and reproduce, why their wing colors are iridescent, and the future of hummingbirds in the face of threats to their environment. This part of book contains color photos and black and white drawings, less than full-page size. The second part of the book is a 180-page portfolio of images by hummingbird photographers Michel and Patricia Fogden, offering full-page photos of hummingbirds in action. (ProtoView 2015-03-19)

[Review of previous hardcover edition:] This perfect coffee table book captures the dazzling and fascinating world of the remarkable hovering bird unique to the Americas. Author Ronald Orenstein, a zoologist, lawyer and wild life conservationist, explains in layman's terms many characteristics of hummingbirds, from flight and feeding techniques to migrations and mating patterns. There are more than 340 species of hummingbirds divided into seven groupings with illustrative names like Mangoes, Coquettes, Brilliants, Mountain Gems, Bees, Emerald and Giant. Readers will learn about their diverse habitat, unique metabolisms, courtship prowess and near mythical attraction in pre-Columbian lore of the Americas, and may be surprised to discover that hummingbirds while resting enter a state of hibernation-like torpor to conserve body heat. The spectacular photography of Michael and Patricia Fogden reveals the diversity, beautiful colors and movement of these unique birds. They successfully
captured images of the speedy birds in flight, perched, nesting, feeding and, in an exceptional set of photographs, even escaping the fangs of a viper. (Publishers Weekly 2014-10-06)

[Review of previous hardcover edition:] This book is for anyone interested in a fascinating group of animals. The text is easy to understand, but detailed and rich enough for professional ornithologists. The striking images would nicely adorn either a standard bookshelf or be the centerpiece of a coffee table. Indeed it is possible to page through this volume dozens of times without tiring of these incredible creatures. (Catherine H. Graham Quarterly Review of Biology 2016-03-01)