Home › Books › The Glitter in the Green: In Search of Hummingbir…
The Glitter in the Green: In Search of Hummingbirds
by
85/99
Critics' Rating Index
54/99
Readers' Rating Index
n/a
Scholars' Citation Index
66/99
Volume of Reviews
38/99
Volume of Reader Ratings
Sign in to add to your shelf, rate, or review this book.
About This Book
Hummingbirds are a glittering, sparkling collective of over three hundred wildly variable species. For centuries, they have been revered by indigenous Americans, coveted by European collectors, and admired worldwide for their unsurpassed metallic plumage and immense character. Yet they exist on a knife-edge, fighting for survival in boreal woodlands, dripping cloud forests, and subpolar islands. They are, perhaps, the ultimate embodiment of evolution's power to carve a niche for a delicate creature in even the harshest of places.Traveling the full length of the hummingbirds' range, from the cusp of the Arctic Circle to near-Antarctic islands, acclaimed nature writer Jon Dunn encounters birders, scientists, and storytellers in his quest to find these beguiling creatures, immersing us in the world of one of Earth's most charismatic bird families.
Reviews
"Along the way, Dunn compassionately shares his extensive knowledge of the species endemic to each location, including their aesthetics, mechanics, habitats, and related regional culture and folklore, and he discusses factors contributing to the decline of hummingbirds, including pesticides, climate change, and habitat loss ..."
"[Dunn] has written an engaging history of the species while also shedding insight into why people, such as John James Audubon and Henry David Thoreau, have been astonished by them ..."
"a book that is both an ode to hummingbirds and a remarkable piece of travel literature ..."
"Full of natural history, quotes from early explorers, local history, and adventure, Dunn's chronicle of his hummingbird quests will make readers just as obsessed with these small, quick birds dipped in rainbows."
"Dunn doesn't overwhelm us with facts—there is little here about hummingbirds' evolution or gestation—but those he includes go down as easily as sugar water."
"Dunn takes readers on a wondrous globe-trotting pilgrimage to seek out hummingbirds as their populations are threatened ..."
Preview
Reader Reviews
0 reviewsSign in to write a review.
No reader reviews yet. Be the first!