Overview

'This is a gorgeous book about some of the world’s most gorgeous birds.' JARED DIAMOND Sunbirds are among the most striking of all bird groups; their dazzling iridescent plumage and long curved bills are conspicuous when the birds visit garden flowers on sunny days to feed on nectar. Some species - especially the females - are duller in appearance and harder to spot, feeding mostly on insects high up in forest canopies. Spiderhunters, as their name suggests, feed extensively on spiders, while sunbirds' other close relatives, the flowerpeckers, are especially partial to mistletoe berries. This book is the last word on sunbird identification, ecology and behaviour. Now in its second edition, it has been fully revised and updated to reflect the many developments that have occurred in sunbird taxonomy, as well as the new research that has been published on their biology. It covers all 218 currently recognised species, providing details of key identification features, voice, habitat, distribution, conservation status, movements, food and behaviour. New colour art by award-winning artist Richard Allen has been added, and hundreds of high-quality colour photographs beautifully capture every species. Maps accurately depict geographical distributions of each taxon to subspecies level. This beautiful book is the definitive reference to the sunbirds, flowerpeckers, spiderhunters and sugarbirds of the world, and is essential reading for researchers, birders and conservationists alike.

Full Product Details

9781472937438

Table of Contents

Reviews

This is a gorgeous book about some of the world’s most gorgeous birds: sunbirds and their allies. They are often compared to jewels because of their small size and bright or iridescent colors. As striking as their appearances are their behaviors – flowerpeckers skin mistletoe berries as neatly as waiters in Michelin 3-star restaurants peel fruit. Read this updated volume, enjoy its photos and maps and text, and then go see these jewels for yourself! -- Jared Diamond

Author Information

Robert Cheke is Professor of Tropical Zoology at the University of Greenwich. His work has taken him to sub-Saharan Africa, where he has followed his passion for sunbirds. The late Clive Mann carried out extensive fieldwork into bird ecology in the tropics. He wrote numerous scientific papers and books, including Cuckoos of the World. Richard Allen’s work has appeared in various books including Cuckoos of the World. He won the Birdwatch and Swarovski Optik Artist of the Year award in 2023.

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