The Bird with Flaming Red Feet: Seasons with an Uncommonly Common Seabird

"This is a treat for bird lovers." -- Publishers Weekly

The Bird with Flaming Red Feet is a lively and heartfelt natural history of the Pigeon Guillemot, a charismatic seabird with a surprising story to tell. Found along the coast around the North Pacific and from Alaska to Southern California, this talkative and often-overlooked bird plays an outsized role in the health of marine ecosystem--earning its status as an "indicator species," especially for Washington's Puget Sound.

Author and longtime volunteer surveyor Maria Mudd Ruth weaves together science, field observation, and community storytelling in this engaging exploration of one bird's life. Drawing from over a decade of beachside study, she dives deep into the guillemot's behaviors, quirky traits, and ecological relationships. Along the way, readers meet the passionate citizen scientists who have built a unique community around caring for and studying this vibrant bird.

Bridging the gap between field guide and memoir, The Bird with Flaming Red Feet invites readers to slow down, look closely, and reconnect with the wild places--and creatures--just outside their door. It's a joyful call to observation, stewardship, and a deeper understanding of our coastal world.

Author: Maria Mudd Ruth
Publisher: Skipstone Press
Published: 04/07/2026
Pages: 208
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.80lbs
Size: 7.90h x 6.00w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9781680517255


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 02/02/2026
Library Journal 03/01/2026 pg. 118
Booklist 03/01/2026

About the Author
Mudd Ruth, Maria: -

MARIA MUDD RUTH has written more than a dozen books on natural history topics, including volumes on butterflies, beetles, snakes, rain forests, deserts, and oceans. Her work has appeared in publications produced by the National Geographic Society, where she worked as a researcher and editor for seven years. She grew up in the Washington, D.C., area and moved to Southern California in pursuit of the marbled murrelet. In 2006, Maria moved with her family to Olympia, Washington. Learn more at her website www.mariaruthbooks.net