The Raptors of Europe and the Middle East: A Handbook of Field Identification (A Volume in the T & AD Poyser Series) (Birds Series) - Hardcover

Forsman, Dick

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0856610984 ISBN 13: 9780856610981

Publisher: Princeton University Press, 1998

Synopsis

This book presents the most complete and up-to-date guide for the recognition of the diurnal raptors of Europe and the Middle East. It is written by an acknowledged expert, the author of many definitive identification articles and veteran of countless tours and expeditions.
More than 700 high quality color photographs have been specifically chosen to demonstrate the plumage of each age and sex class of every species found in Europe and the Middle East. The photographs are complemented by almost 100 line drawings focusing on particular identification details, and are backed up by a detailed text enabling birdwatchers to recognize even the most difficult species.
The latest information, much of it previously unpublished, describes the plumage and soft part coloration of each category of bird, and compares and contrasts with similar plumages of species which may cause confusion. The book discusses the difficulties caused by stage of moult, variation in light conditions, and changes in silhouette arising from different flight types. Fully referenced with a list of nearly 300 key papers and articles, this book is an essential reference to the field identification of every species, age, and sex class of raptors.

Key Features
* The first comprehensive collection of photographs of European raptors showing all plumages of species in the field
* Descriptions of every age class of each sex
* More than 700 high quality color photographs and 100 line drawings
* Valuable notes comparing difficult-to-identify species

About this title

From the Back Cover:

The identification of birds of prey has always posed serious problems for beginner and expert alike, due to the variability and similarity of many species, and the difficulty of getting a good view of high or fast flying birds, often in difficult light conditions.
This book presents the most complete and up-to-date guide for the recognition of the diurnal raptors of Europe and the Middle East. It is written by an acknowledged expert, the author of many definitive identification articles and veteran of countless tours and expeditions.
Over 700 high quality colour photographs have been specifically chosen to show the plumages of each age and sex class of every species found in Europe and the Middle East, backed up by a detailed text enabling birdwatchers to get to grips with even the most difficult species.
The latest information, much of it previously unpublished, is used to describe the plumage and soft art colouration of each category of bird, and to compare this with similar plumages of species liable to cause confusion. The added difficulties caused by stage of moult, variation in light conditions and changes in silhouette arising from different flight types, are also given prominence, as are the valuable clues to identification that these factors can also provide.
The photographs are complemented by almost 100 line drawings focusing on particular identification details, and the whole is fully referenced with a list of nearly 300 key papers and articles. This book sets a new standard for raptor watching and identification in Europe and further afield.

About the Author:

Dick Forsman was born in 1953, in Helsinki, Finland. His passion for birds, and birds of prey in particular, started before his school years. In the 1970s, while reading Zoology and Genetics at the University of Helsinki, he spent the summers studying the breeding ecology of raptors such as the Common Buzzard, Goshawk, Sparrowhawk and Eagle Owl. During this time he became interested in methods of identification and started to study moult and plumage characters of raptors, developing ageing methods for ringers dealing with raptors.He is a freelance ornithologist who runs his own bird-watching tour company. His never-ending search for raptors often takes him abroad, Spain and the Middle East being his favourite destinations.Dick lives with his wife and two sons on the south coast of Finland.

About this edition

• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0856610984
• ISBN 13: 9780856610981
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 608