Sheri L. Williamson
Naturalist, Ornithologist, and Hummingbird Researcher
Author of A Field Guide to Hummingbirds of North America
About Sheri L. Williamson
Sheri L. Williamson is an American naturalist, ornithologist, and hummingbird researcher known for her decades of work studying hummingbirds and bird behavior. She has been observing birds since 1966 and has spent much of her life researching hummingbirds, bird ecology, and wildlife conservation.
Williamson is widely recognized for her book A Field Guide to Hummingbirds of North America, published in the Peterson Field Guide Series. The guide is considered one of the most important references for hummingbird identification and behavior in North America.
She currently lives in Bisbee, Arizona, and has worked for many years to promote hummingbird conservation, bird research, and wildlife habitat protection.
Background and Personal Life
Sheri L. Williamson was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. Her interest in wildlife started at a very young age. She has been a passionate bird watcher since 1966 and an aquarist since 1967.
Over the years, she also developed interests in botany, butterflies, and wildlife gardening. Since 1985, she has maintained wildlife-friendly gardens designed to attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Williamson has lived in Arizona since 1988 and in Bisbee since 1995. She is married to Tom Wood, who is also involved in bird conservation and nature research.
Outside of bird research, she enjoys music, science fiction, and studying pre-Columbian art and archaeology.
Hummingbird Research and Conservation
Sheri L. Williamson is one of the few licensed hummingbird banders in the United States. Since 1990, she has handled and studied more than 14,000 individual hummingbirds as part of research and conservation programs.
Her work has helped scientists better understand hummingbird migration, behavior, and habitat needs.
She is also the co-founder and director of the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory, an organization focused on bird research, conservation, and public education.
Williamson is also a representative for the Western Hummingbird Partnership, an international collaboration of researchers, conservation groups, and government agencies working to protect hummingbirds across the Americas.
Media and Appearances
Sheri L. Williamson has appeared in documentaries, television programs, and radio broadcasts about birds and wildlife.
Her work has been featured in major publications, including:
- National Geographic
- Smithsonian Magazine
- National Wildlife
- New York Times
- Living Bird Magazine from Cornell Lab of Ornithology
She has also appeared in television programs such as United States of Animals, BirdWatch on PBS, and National Geographic Today.
Williamson has also contributed as a consultant to several well known birding books and field guides.
Field Experience
Williamson has conducted bird research and field studies in many locations, including:
- Arizona
- Texas
- Belize
- Mexico
- Ecuador
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Peru
- Alaska
She has also led international birding tours and research trips focused on hummingbirds and tropical birds.
Education
Sheri L. Williamson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1986.
Her academic training, combined with decades of field research, has made her one of the most respected hummingbird researchers in North America.
Sheri L. Williamson is a naturalist and hummingbird researcher. She studies hummingbirds and works to protect them. She is also the author of A Field Guide to Hummingbirds of North America in the Peterson Field Guide Series.