Hummingbirds of Costa Rica (Hardcover)

by Michael Fogden (Author, Photographer), Patricia Fogden (Author, Photographer) "Hummingbirds are tiny, confiding, animated, and pugnacious..." (more)
Key Phrases: Costa Rica, Magenta-throated Woodstar, Scintillant Hummingbird (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Hundreds of detailed close-ups show the birds' unique features. (Outdoor Photographer 200705)

Educational... simple to absorb the facts while feasting your eyes on the glorious images. (Shutterbug 200611)

Product Description
Vibrant photos and fascinating text bring Costa Rica's hummingbirds to life.

Hummingbirds of Costa Rica features 44 of the 45 species of hummers that inhabit Costa Rica. (The Plain-capped starthroat, the missing species, lives only in the highest treetops. The authors have never encountered one at a height low enough to photograph.) Each bird is depicted in its natural habitat and with the flower with which it naturally associates. Hundreds of detailed close-ups show each bird's unique features and allow the reader to fully appreciate these stunning marvels of nature.

Featuring the work of internationally acclaimed nature photographers Michael and Patricia Fogden, this richly illustrated guide covers: - Biology - Predators - The relationship between hummingbirds and flowers - Feeding strategies - A year in a hummingbird's life - Hummingbird site guide.

More than 90 plant species -- belonging to 34 families and over 60 genera -- are featured along with the hummers, so Hummingbirds of Costa Rica is also a useful guide to an astonishing diversity of Costa Rican flora.

Beautifully detailed photographs bring the exquisite creatures to life, and scientifically accurate and accessible text provides a comprehensive reference to Costa Rica, its hummingbirds and their ecosystem.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 154 pages
• Publisher: Firefly Books (April 12, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1554071631
• ISBN-13: 978-1554071630
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 9.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #650,706 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One beautiful and essential book, August 4, 2008

By	J. Barnes "ruby dowitcher" (Spartanburg, SC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I purchased this book (among other Costa Rica field guides) to prepare for a birding summer trip to Costa Rica. I was thrilled to find out how helpful this book was. I realize this is not meant to be a field guide, so the size did not bother me at all. This book certainly provided very helpful and detailed photographic views of the hummingbirds we would see in CR. I found this book to be absolutely essential to recognizing each hummingbird species. Currently, this seems to be the only book with real pictures (not drawn), that allows for easy hummingbird identification. And if you just want an interesting and gorgeous coffee-table book or gift for a fellow Hummingbird lover, this would be an excellent choice.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic photos plus great information!, April 8, 2008

By	Patricia Nethercote - See all my reviews

Both authors have produced a great 'coffee table book'. Lots of facts that help people understand these tiny birds.
I agree with another reviewer that Plain Capped star throats are not only in Costa Rica, although they some of our most diligent visitors to our garden flowers in Costa Rica.

4.0 out of 5 stars A new great book on hummingbirds !, August 7, 2007

By	Johan Ingels "Johaning" (Destelbergen, Belgium) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This new book on the hummingbirds of Costa Rica deals with the 44 hummingbirds native to and breeding in this Central American country. It describes physical features of hummingbirds, flight, feeding, nesting, molting, migration and more. The superb photos illustrating this book not only show all aspects of the hummingbirds' daily life, but also more than 90 species of beautiful flowers on which they feed. The scientific information presented is correct and interesting. This book is a real must for all those ornithologists and bird watchers who love these little jewels of nature !