The moist, sultry northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico hosts a remarkably diverse bird community of more than three hundred species. Waders and seabirds, waterfowl, hummingbirds, warblers, grosbeaks, tanagers, larks, blackbirds, sparrows, and finches all thrive in the various ecosystems of the Gulf Coast and swirl in and out with the seasons. Featuring 170 color photographs by nature photographer Brian K. Miller and essays by natural history expert William R. Fontenot, Birds of the Gulf Coast depicts the mystery and majesty of these beautiful creatures and highlights the importance of the region to the birds’ conservation.

Fontenot introduces the conditions peculiar to each season on the temperate Gulf Coast, and Miller’s images are arranged by the calendar. The waterfowl, raptors, and seabirds of winter; the songbirds and shorebirds of spring and fall; and the wading birds of summer—their numbers peak and wane on schedule, and the chapters vividly reflect the dramatic variation in the bird population throughout the year.

Miller captures sights that thrill human eyes—the stately gaze of a Bald Eagle; the splendor of an Osprey in full flight; the quiet concentration of a Sora studying his reflection in the marsh. His vibrant portraits illustrate the brilliant hues of nature: the dazzling pinks and reds of the Roseate Spoonbill, the rainbow plumage of the Painted Bunting, the bright splash of the Yellow-throated Warbler.

Together with Fontenot’s edifying essays, these captivating photographs will inspire seasoned birders and novices alike to explore the region’s woodlands, marshes, and beaches and discover for themselves the avian riches that await.