Maria Mudd-Ruth

Maria Mudd Ruth is the author The Bird with Flaming Red Feet (April 2026), A Sideways Look at Clouds (2017), and Rare Bird: Pursuing the Mystery of the Marbled Murrelet (2005/reissue 2013). Maria writes deeply researched non-fiction about the natural world for curiosity-fueled general readers. Her goal is to "delight and instruct" and create unique pathways for her readers to engage with the world around them.

Maria was born in Washington, D.C. and worked for National Geographic TRAVELER magazine for several years before becoming a full-time freelance writer in 1990. She has published more than a dozen books on natural history topics.

Maria lives in Olympia, Washington, under mostly cloudy skies and near the shores of Puget Sound.