Do hummingbirds hum? : fascinating answers to questions about hummingbirds /

So, how many feathers does a hummingbird have? If this is one of those burning questions in one's life, then this is the perfect book to answer this and other questions about these birds. West (emer., Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks), zoophysiologist and hummingbird aficionado, has teamed with Butler, coauthor of several other natural-history-oriented books in the "Animal Q & A" series (e.g., Why Do Bees Buzz?, with E. Evans, CH, Aug'09, 47-6863), to produce an interesting compendium of knowledge about these marvelous little birds. This volume contains a wealth of information concerning hummingbird biology, from seemingly trivial facts to somewhat complex considerations of anatomy and physiology, ecology, behavior, evolution, and reproduction (related questions grouped into nine chapters). Of course, the authors discuss attracting these birds to one's yard and photographic techniques. They also address identification tips (not how to identify different species, but rather the best guides to use), hummingbird conservation, and research programs. Numerous black-and-white figures and eight color plates highlight the text. This book will be of primary interest to general readers and to anyone with more than a passing interest in these jewels of the bird world. Oh, by the way, hummingbirds may have as few as 900 feathers. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Public and general libraries. P. K. Lago University of Mississippi