About the Author
Anthony Lujan is a hummingbird photographer and conservation advocate with a lifelong fascination for hummingbirds and a deep concern for their future. What began as admiration for their beauty and behavior evolved into a growing awareness of how vulnerable many hummingbird species have become as habitats shrink and ecosystems destabilize.
Through his photography and a long-term goal of documenting as many hummingbird species as possible, Anthony fills the pages of his books with striking images that bring these species into clear focus. His work highlights endemic and endangered hummingbirds, presenting them not as conservation statistics, but as living species closely tied to the landscapes they depend on.
Anthony serves on the Board of Directors of the International Hummingbird Society and is co-chair of its conservation committee, where he supports organizations working to protect hummingbirds through fundraising, outreach, and awareness. Writing books was never part of his original plan, but as the threats facing hummingbirds became clearer, the need to document, explain, and share their stories became impossible to ignore.
His work aims to inform, educate, and encourage a closer look at hummingbirds before more of them fade from view.
Signature Hummingbird Books
Endangered Hummingbirds:
Seeing the Crisis Through My Lens
I created this book to document the hummingbirds we are at risk of losing. Not as a field guide and not as a personal memoir, but as a visual and factual record of species whose survival has become increasingly uncertain.
Endangered Hummingbirds focuses on species living on narrow margins, restricted to small ranges, fragile habitats, or isolated ecosystems where habitat loss, climate disruption, and human pressure intersect quickly and often irreversibly. Each photograph is paired with context that explains not only what these hummingbirds are, but why they are declining and what forces are shaping their future.
From the deserts of northern Chile to the páramo of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia, this book brings attention to hummingbirds that are rarely seen, poorly understood, or already slipping from view. The goal is simple: to replace abstraction with clarity, and to make visible what is at stake while these species still exist.
This book exists because awareness matters. Silence is how species disappear.
Praise for Endangered Hummingbirds
"The stunning photographs, paired with compelling and accessible text, create a clear call to action for all of us to help ensure these magical hummingbirds survive. The book presents a sobering, realistic view of the magnitude of the challenges facing hummingbirds while simultaneously empowering readers to take action to support their conservation. This is a timely and important book that calls on us to both appreciate these remarkable species and commit to supporting their conservation."
— Peter Hodum, PhD
Professor, University of Puget Sound
Board President, Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge
"Hummingbirds are among the world's most beautiful species, yet many are also among the most endangered, restricted to small and remote ranges. As a result, most people never have the opportunity to see them. This book's brilliant photography reveals their beauty, while the text clearly explains their conservation needs and highlights the local organizations working to protect hummingbirds and the habitats they depend on."
— Daniel Lebbin, PhD
Vice President of Threatened Species
American Bird Conservancy
“This book is a must-have for anyone interested in hummingbirds. Breathtaking photographs bring to life species that few people have ever seen, including several that were only recently rediscovered. The writing clearly explains the challenges hummingbirds face today and outlines what must be done to ensure these remarkable species are not lost forever.”
— John C. Mittermeier, PhD
Director, Search for Lost Birds
American Bird Conservancy
"Through this wonderful work, Endangered Hummingbirds: Seeing the Crisis Through My Lens, Anthony Lujan, with his exceptional photographic talent, not only captures the majesty and beauty of hummingbirds, but also leads us to reflect on the grave situation many species are facing and the immediate actions we must take to prevent their extinction, something we simply cannot afford to allow. As Anthony notes, photography is also a voice for the unheard, and his book invites us to continue listening to and admiring these beautiful, threatened hummingbirds in their natural habitats."
— Dr. Roberto Carlos Almazán Núñez
Professor and Researcher, Laboratorio de Ecología y Biogeografía de la Conservación
Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero
“This new book by Anthony Lujan showcases endangered hummingbird species, marrying his desperate plea for a more dedicated effort to save hummingbirds threatened with extinction with beautiful photographs of many of the rarest and most elusive species. But this is not simply a book full of beautiful hummingbird photos. It is also a compendium of information on current threats to hummingbird diversity, including detailed accounts of specific threats to some of the most endangered species. Anthony’s dedication and passion for hummingbird conservation are evident on every page of this gorgeous book.”
— Jimmy A. McGuire, PhD
Professor, Department of Integrative Biology
Curator of Herpetology, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
University of California, Berkeley
"Just as hummingbirds scintillate, so too do the photographs and informed commentary of Anthony Lujan for those various trochilid species that are now of particular conservation concern. Relevant ecological context, behavioral diversity, and specific interactions with humans (both positive and negative) are enthusiastically covered in the text, all with a prevailing sense of optimism for the future of these magnificent gems. This is a book that will inspire enthusiasts and others to act now to learn more about these endangered species, and to facilitate their protection."
— Robert Dudley, PhD
Professor, Department of Integrative Biology
University of California, Berkeley
"This important book highlights many of the threats that hummingbirds face today. It would be a tragedy to lose even one of these gems."
— Christopher J. Clark, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Evolution, Ecology, & Organismal Biology
University of California, Riverside
“A sadly flavored cry to remove the blindfold from a crisis and a call for the conservation of hummingbirds, but also a heartbreaking, beautifully and patiently photographed journey, full of sensitivity, enlightening imagery, hours of observation, craft and harmonious lighting, and undoubtedly a love letter to these drab or iridescent plumaged gems so they do not leave our lives.”
— Juan Francisco Ornelas, PhD
Departamento de Biología Evolutiva
Instituto de Ecología, A.C.
"Anthony is a great photographer and his passion for hummingbirds is infectious. Many of the species face real dangers of extinction and this book brings the conservation efforts to life."
— Carole Turek
Hummingbird Spot
-
Nectar and Feathers
An introduction to the world of hummingbirds, exploring their behavior, movement, and daily lives. Through photography and clear storytelling, this book offers a foundation for understanding hummingbirds while encouraging closer observation and curiosity.
-
Loved Ones in Flight
A reflective work exploring grief, spiritual connection, and the signs people recognize after loss. Through personal experiences, shared stories, and cultural perspectives, this book examines how hummingbirds often appear as symbols of presence, comfort, and continued connection, with photography serving as a visual companion to the narrative.
-
Resting Beauties
A rare look at hummingbirds in stillness. Featuring sleeping and resting birds from across the Americas, this photographic collection reveals a side of hummingbirds most people never see, emphasizing vulnerability, calm, and trust.
Hummingbirds of the Americas
A Photographic Series Exploring Hummingbirds Across the Americas
A country-by-country photography project documenting hummingbirds and the landscapes that shape them, one place at a time.
-
Hummingbirds of Argentina
A photographic exploration of hummingbirds across vast landscapes shaped by elevation, exposure, and distance. From high Andean environments to open lowlands, each image reflects endurance and adaptation rather than abundance.
-
Hummingbirds of Brazil
A photographic journey through one of the most varied hummingbird landscapes in the world. From dense forest understory to open hillsides, species appear across contrasting habitats shaped by isolation and scale.
-
Hummingbirds of Chile
A photographic journey through one of the most varied hummingbird landscapes in the world. From dense forest understory to open hillsides, species appear across contrasting habitats shaped by isolation and scale.
-
Hummingbirds of Costa Rica
A photographic exploration of hummingbirds across rapidly shifting elevations and habitats. From mangroves to cloud forests, species appear and disappear with subtle changes in landscape and light.
-
Hummingbirds of Cuba
A quiet study of two hummingbird species shaped by island life and isolation. With few species to observe, attention deepens and behavior, movement, and place come into sharper focus.
-
Hummingbirds of the Dominican Republic
A photographic look at a small but deeply connected hummingbird community. Across dry forests, gardens, and mountain slopes, limited species reveal how landscape shapes presence and resilience.
-
Hummingbirds of Guatemala
A photographic exploration of hummingbirds where ecosystems converge. Elevation changes quickly, allowing species from different ecological worlds to share the same geography.
-
Hummingbirds of Trinidad and Tobago
A photographic portrait of hummingbirds woven into daily island life. Frequent encounters across forests, gardens, and open spaces reveal a balanced and expressive community shaped by rhythm and light.
-
Hummingbirds of the United States
A photographic exploration of hummingbirds shaped by movement and season. Migration connects distant landscapes, creating brief and meaningful encounters across vast terrain.