The Glitter in the Green: In Search of Hummingbirds

Love Letter To Hummingbirds. This is a travel/ bird spotting book following the author's adventures as he seeks to see as many hummingbirds as possible in their natural (ish) settings, from pole to pole. The narrative structure follows the author as he starts in Alaska chasing down a particular bird that was reportedly seen there - that had been originally tagged in Tallahassee, Florida. A bird that weighs just a few ounces, making a flight that many of its far larger brethren would never imagine. We continue to follow the hummingbirds into the US, spending a fair amount of time in Arizona and Mexico, and we continue all the way down to Tiego Del Fuego - the bottom of the world (as far as hummingbirds go, where here they share their habitat with penguins!). Part ornithological expedition, part history, part current events commentary, this is a solidly written - if a bit esoteric - book perfect for bird watchers and related enthusiasts. Even as a generic travel book, this still works well as Dunn so completely describes the environs he finds himself in - including an up close and personal encounter with a puma! Very well done, and very much recommended.

This book is notable for its beautiful, creative, metaphorical descriptions of hummingbirds. The genius title of the book and the gorgeous cover art are just the beginning. Jon Dunn's love for these little birds is evident on every page. Each new species he encounters is a revelation and you can't help but feel enthusiastic along with him. The photography is very good. Also enjoyable were his historical notes about each hummingbird. He often has interesting anecdotes about their “discovery,” along with local lore.