FLIGHT IDENTIFICATION OF EUROPEAN RAPTORS. By R.F. Porter, Ian Willis, Steen Christensen and Bent Pors Nielsen.

Porter (R.F.), Willis (Ian), Christensen (Steen) & Nielsen (Bent Pors).

ISBN 10: 0856610062 / ISBN 13: 9780856610066

Published by T. & A.D. Poyser. Berkhamsted, Hampshire. 1974, 1974

About this Item

ALL UK PARCELS SENT TRACKED! ALL OVERSEAS PARCELS SENT AIRMAIL, TRACKED! (S/hand, Hardcover, 1974). 1974 1st edition. 8vo (159 x 254mm). Pp184, pp80 b/w photographs of raptors in flight. B/w illustrations throughout by Ian Willis, red end-papers. Dark grey boards, spine titled in gilt. Title page signed by R.F. Porter. Slight dust marks to top edge, else very good in dust-wrapper. "The identification of the diurnal birds of prey is especially difficult. There is wide variation in plumage among some species, especially the eagles and buzzards, and in all species general outlines and wing positions are much affected by the prevailing conditions, by wind and light, and by the bird's behaviour at the time. Often, too, the birds are only sighted at long range, and the authors believe that when travelling extensively in Europe even the expert cannot hope to identify more than seventy percent of the raptors seen." This book arranges the 38 European raptor species into seven groups according to morphology, and describes what members of each have in common, and what they don't. .

Seller Inventory # 56474

Bibliographic Details

• Title: FLIGHT IDENTIFICATION OF EUROPEAN RAPTORS. By R.F. Porter, Ian Willis, Steen Christensen and Bent Pors Nielsen.
• Publisher: T. & A.D. Poyser. Berkhamsted, Hampshire. 1974
• Publication Date: 1974
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0856610062
• ISBN 13: 9780856610066
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)

About this title

Synopsis

pgs:184. 1974, bright clean copy, light shelfwear to unclipped dustjacket, neat name on endpaper, no other markings, Professional booksellers since 1981

From the Back Cover

For this third edition the typematter has been reset throughout to accommodate the many revisions and additions to the text. The identification drawings, too, have been reviewed and Ian Willis has amended or redrawn elements of most of the Figures and has provided several additional drawings.
There are 70 new photographs in the section of plates which has now been increased to 96 pages with a total of 248 photographs.
The identification of the diurnal birds of prey is especially difficult. There is wide variation in plumage among some species, especially the eagles and buzzards, and in all species general outlines and wing positions are much affected by the prevailing conditions, by wind and light, and by the bird's behaviour at the time. Often, too, the birds are only sighted at long range, and the authors believe that when travelling extensively in Europe even the expert cannot hope to identify more than seventy per cent of the raptors seen.
In the book, the 38 European species have been grouped into seven sections. Each section brings together those species with similar field characters between which confusion can so often, and so easily, arise. Each group has an introductory comparative text and drawings, and the species within the groups are then treated individually.
The text, succinct and detailed as it is, is greatly enhanced by Ian Willis's fine drawings, and there are 248 photographs especially chosen to illustrate aspect of identification. The book has a final section summarising the legal status of birds of prey in European countries.