Birds of Hawaii by George C. Munro

Description

Birds of Hawaii is not a drily scientific text, although it is clearly the product of scientific observation and study. It is enlivened by Mr. Munro's consuming pleasure in his subject and by his introduction of hundreds of interesting sidelights from his lifetime pursuit of knowledge concerning it.

The book is divided into three sections: “Native Birds”, “Stray Variants to the Hawaiian Islands” and “Imported Birds.” Each bird is identified by its scientific name, its common name(or names), and in the case of native birds, by its Hawaiian name. These designations are followed by a description of the bird's essential characteristics, its habitat, its distinctive song or cry, and its habits. The descriptions are enhanced by vivid details from the author's own experience in observing his subjects.

Twenty plates in full color, comprising illustrations of more than 150 different species of birds, together with a selection of black and white photographs, provide the reader with an easy means for identification of the birds described.