Softcover

ISBN 10: 0198546610 ISBN 13: 9780198546610

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2000

Birds of prey are among the most imposing and spectacular birds to be found in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. In this thorough new identification guide, author Bill Clark presents the latest information on tried and tested field marks for the diurnal raptors, both perched and in flight. Many of these field marks are the result of his own extensive experience in classifying raptors, and most have never before been published. Clark has been observing, studying, writing about, and photographing raptors for over thirty years. And his passion for birds of prey has taken him around the world, making him uniquely qualified to write this book.
He presents a forty-page color photograph section in addition to detailed facts about each bird, providing the essential clues to identification. These include plumage descriptions for each age, sex, and color change as well as descriptions of flight, molt, behavior, and distribution for every species. With forty-eight stunning color plates especially painted for this volume, it depicts all the plumage for every raptor found in the Western Palearctic region, both regularly occurring and vagrant. Also contained in this guide are useful sections on similar species and how to distinguish them, and each account concludes with the range of measurements for length, wing span, and weight. This guide is essential for all ornithologists or any birdwatcher who wants to accurately identify the region's raptors.

About the Author:

Bill Clark is a photographer, author, and lecturer, and has amassed over 30 years of experience of working with birds of prey. He has studied, observed, and photographed raptors throughout the world, and in Europe and Israel in particular. He leads raptor tours and workshops worldwide, teaches evening and weekend courses on raptor field identification and biology, and frequently presents lectures on raptor subjects. An experienced writer, he has authored and co-authored several field guides to raptors. N. John Schmitt is a well-known US bird artist who specializes in illustrating birds of prey. He has considerable experience of illustrating for field guides.

Review:

"This is truly a book to be used in the field, in the great tradition of the Peterson Field Guide series. The descriptions of each of the 54 raptor species include comments on natural history/behavior, and fine points to look for in determining identification. Range maps are also included for most species. We especially appreciated the discussion on flight patterns, a real help in identify birds moving past the watchsite. The color drawings that comprise the plates located at the beginning of the book are good. Opposite each plate, precise descriptions of key field marks for each species are listed and described. ... [I]nformation in the text is drawn from Mr. Clark's extensive (30 years and counting) experience banding raptors throughout the world including Eilat, Israel. ... [I]f we were to take one volume into the field with us, this would be the one. Mr. Clark must be commended for his exhaustive review of raptor species throughout the area of coverage."--NYC Audubon Newsletter

"Clark and Schmitt ... make a major contribution. I find John Schmitt's art to be not only skillful and educational, but also downright delightful--full of life and color. His style has a refreshing sketchbook feel to it, and yet it also shows immaculate detail; it manages to be exceptionally true to the birds and charming at the same time. To me, these plates show the artist's boundless enthusiasm for birds and birding."--Birding

"The author is one of the foremost specialists on raptors in the field and has extensive knowledge of them form North America, the Middle East (mostly Israel) and the Indian region. Many of the plates have a considerable amount of habitat background...aesthetically pleasing...as a set of raptor paintings they are excellent. Plates often mix similar species to highlight differences side by side. The species accounts are unexpectedly full. People will want to take this book in the field." -- The Pheonix, Dec 2000

"Raptors are charismatic birds with an enthusiastic following of admirers, researchers, and conservationists.

"Raptor identification is one of the more challenging branches of filed ornithology. This nearly pocket-size field guide to the identification of European, Middle East, and North African Falconiform species contains the most up-to-date information available on the subject. . .If you are in Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa and want to identify birds of prey, you'll want to carry this helpful guide with you."--International Hawkwatcher

"This comprehensive new field identification guide uses paintings, photographs, and detailed text to present the very latest in tried and proven field marks enabling bird watchers to identify even the most difficult of the diurnal of the raptors. Clark has been working with this interesting group of birds for over thirty years, observing them, studying them, writing about them, and photographing them. Many of the field marks described in this book are the result of his extensive experience in identifying raptors, and have never previously been published. The color plates depict all the plumages of every raptor found in the Western Palearctic. . .and the color photos add to the usefulness of this volume. All in all a fine addition to the hawk watcher's library and one that will appeal to all birders."--Indiana Autobon Society