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The Glitter in the Green

In Search of Hummingbirds

Jon Dunn
Struck by the brilliant colours of the stuffed hummingbirds he had seen in London’s Natural History Museum as a child, Jon Dunn determined to encounter them in the wild. His journey took him the length of the Americas, from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, glimpsing elusive species flashing through the rainforest, and learning about the myths and legends they have inspired.
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Product information:
  • Publisher: Bloomsbury
  • Year: 2022
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 336pp
  • Illustrated: Yes
  • Dimensions: 197x128mm
  • ISBN: 9781526613103
  • Condition: New
  • Weight: 0.3kg
Product code:
538915
Product information
Full publisher description
'[A] delightful hymn of praise to the most extraordinary of all the world's bird families - hummingbirds' STEPHEN MOSS
'A brilliant read' MARK AVERY
'Ever thoughtful and engaging, Jon Dunn pursues these dazzling creatures through dust and jungle' BENEDICT ALLEN
'A warm-hearted and enthusiastic triumph of nature writing' TIM DEE
_____________________

For centuries hummingbirds have captured our imaginations: revered by Native Americans, coveted by European collectors and admired worldwide for their jewel-like plumage, acrobatic flight and immense character.

Though their renown extends throughout the world, hummingbirds are found exclusively in the Americas. Small in stature yet fiercely tenacious, they have conquered every habitat imaginable: from boreal woodlands to deserts, mangrove swamps to volcanic slopes, and on islands both tropical and sub-polar. The Glitter in the Green takes us on an unforgettable journey in search of the most remarkable examples of this wildly variable family. There's the Bee Hummingbird in Cuba, the smallest species of bird to have ever lived; the diminutive Rufous Hummingbird, whose annual migration exceeds 3,000 miles; and the critically endangered Juan Fernandez Firecrown, marooned on the remote Pacific island that inspired Robinson Crusoe.

Jon Dunn brings us closer than ever before to these magnificent creatures, exploring a heady mix of rare birds, a history redolent with mythology, and the colourful stories of the people obsessed with hummingbirds through the ages. With great passion for his subject and a taste for adventure, Dunn transports us to wondrous landscapes from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, and invites us into the kaleidoscopic world of the hummingbird - the bird that has won the hearts and minds of mankind for millennia.
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