In 2006, Hill co-edited a scholarly two-volume compendium titled Bird Coloration. While editing it, he “could not help but despair at the huge number of fascinating discoveries that were locked away from a broader readership.” He decided to write this book, National Geographic Bird Coloration, for birders and nature enthusiasts. And, indeed, it is a fascinating book! It includes topics such as how birds are colored (what pigments are used and where the pigments come from; also, how structural colors -- like blues and iridescent colors -- are created), how birds see colors and how birds use color in their everyday lives. It's not just about being attractive to mates or hiding from predators.

There are still a lot of questions yet to be studied about bird coloration, but this book delves into current research, presented for the general reader. ( )