The Bird with Flaming Red Feet

Seasons with an Uncommonly Common Seabird

208 pages
Publisher: Skipstone
ISBN: 978-1-68051-725-5
Published: Apr 7, 2026

Description

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.

Contributors

Details

208 pages
Publisher: Skipstone
ISBN: 978-1-68051-725-5
Published: Apr 7, 2026

Reviews

I love everything about this glorious tribute to the Pigeon Guillemot. Swimming effortlessly between lyrical prose and meticulous research, The Bird with Flaming Red Feet captures the wildness, complexity, and charm of these extraordinary birds. Beyond this individual species, Ruth draws us into a wider story--connecting sea, cliffs, curiosity, care, and community--and celebrates what it means to pay attention, to watch, and to fall in love with the wild world. Readers will emerge enchanted by guillemots and the ecological connections that bind us all.
— Lyanda Lynn Haupt, author of Crow Planet
You may never have heard of a pigeon guillemot, but after reading The Bird with Flaming Red Feet, you’ll fall in love with these pudgy little seabirds. A lovely blend of natural history and memoir, this fun and enjoyable book recounts one woman’s infatuation, as well as reveals how anyone can make important contributions to conservation.
— Scott Weidensaul, author of The Return of the Oystercatcher
A wonderfully inspiring story of how a citizen science project on a little-known but charismatic seabird transforms the author into a knowledgeable auk enthusiast and seabird conservationist.
— Tim Birkhead, author of The Great Auk and Birds and Us
I very well remember discovering the funny and interesting Pigeon Guillemots soon after I first saw the Pacific Ocean on a road trip after college. I instantly fell in love, because who can resist these flitty, flirty little coastal companions--and I instantly fell in love with this beautiful, companionable book about them. I wish this book had been written much sooner, but it was well worth the wait.
— Carl Safina, author of Alfie and Me and Beyond Words
Finally, a book about Pigeon Guillemots! Engaging, informative, and imbued with deep affection for its subject, The Bird with Flaming Red Feet is a classic natural history of a classic Northwest seabird.
— Thor Hanson, author of Feathers and Close to Home
The Bird with Flaming Red Feet shines with creative wordplay and storytelling. Centered on a single species of seabird, the Pigeon Guillemot, this book is about finding joy in the natural world, and the huge rewards that come from learning to pay attention.
— Kim Heacox, author of The Only Kayak and Rhythm of the Wild