The Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Corrie Herring Hooks Series) (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

There is no mistaking a hummingbird. Even people who hardly know a robin from a sparrow recognize that flash of iridescent feathers and the distinctive hovering flight. So popular have "hummers" become that even casual birdwatchers now travel great distances to hummingbird hot spots to see masses of birds in their annual migrations. In this invitingly written book, June Osborne paints a fully detailed portrait of perhaps the best-known hummingbird in the United States, the ruby-throat. Drawing from her own birdwatching experiences, she offers an "up close and personal" look at a female ruby-throat building her nest and rearing young, as well as an account of a day in the life of a male ruby-throat and stories of the hummers' migrations between their summer breeding grounds in the United States and Canada and their winter homes in Mexico and Central America. In addition to this life history, Osborne recounts early hummingbird sightings and tells how the bird received its common and scientific names. After an overview of hummingbirds' distinctive ways of feeding, flying, and conserving energy, she offers a detailed description of the ruby-throat that will help you tell females from males, immature birds from adults, and ruby-throats from similar species. Osborne also takes you on a visit to the "Hummer/Bird Celebration!" at Rockport, reviews hummingbird banding programs, and explains how to attract hummingbirds to your yard or apartment balcony.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: University of Texas Press; 1st University of Texas Press Ed edition (1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0292760477
• ISBN-13: 978-0292760479
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #656,606 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and entertaining read, August 1, 2005

By	W. Oliver (Alabama) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This little book is wonderfully written and covers all aspects of the ruby throated hummingbird. The distinct characteristics of the hummingbird - their size, description (differences between the male and female), courtship, flight, sounds are covered in detail. Most interesting are chapters that cover an average day in the life of the male hummingbird and the nesting habits of the female (the author describes her own month long observation of one in a park near her home). Other chapters cover the fascinating migration, banding projects and how to attract hummingbirds to your garden.