Extraordinary Pheasants [Hardcover]

Stephen Green-Armytage (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2002

The author and photographer who brought Abrams Extraordinary Chickens (now in its fourth printing) is back with another singular and charming book. With gorgeous color photographs and informative text, Stephen Green-Armytage turns his attention to the pheasant family, capturing with his camera pheasants of all sizes, shapes, and colors and illuminating gorgeous feather patterns and other decorative details worthy of French fabric designers. The varieties included range from the noble Ringneck pheasant, so popular with hunters, to the gorgeous Congo peacock. Breeders and enthusiasts will find this volume a treasure they must own; for others it will be a revelation, worth having for the sheer enjoyment of the striking photographs and the amazing birds they portray.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Photographer/author Green-Armytage here continues the photographic exploration of birds he began in his well-received Extraordinary Chickens. The domestic chicken actually originated from the Red Jungle Fowl, one of about 50 species, along with many subspecies and varieties, that make up the diverse, exotic, and mostly beautiful group of birds known as pheasants. The text consists of approximately 200 appealing full-color photographs, supplemented by a few pages of text on pheasant history and classification and brief descriptions of the species and varieties pictured. This volume could be described as a pheasant sampler for the general reader who would like to learn a little more about this group of birds and who also appreciates quality animal photography. There is no attempt to be comprehensive, but those familiar with only a few species and varieties beyond the Ringneck Pheasant and the Indian Blue Peafowl (peacock) will be pleased to discover many new and unusual birds, including the Tragopan, Koklass, Monal, Fireback, and Great Argus. Recommended for public libraries.
William H. Wiese, Iowa State Univ. Lib., Ames
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Green-Armytage, author of Extraordinary Chickens (2000), presents another photo album of beautifully plumaged birds. While not aiming for an encyclopedic treatment of pheasants and instead looking for ways to capture their finery, the author has still assembled a wonderful overview of these gorgeous birds. Ranging from the tragopans, with their blindingly colorful facial skin, to the monals, with iridescent plumage, all the birds pictured will delight the eye. The text gives a brief history and classification of the pheasant family, with notes on the individual species or forms pictured. This beautiful book will find a readership in both bird lovers and fans of marvelous photography. Nancy Bent
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams; annotated edition edition (May 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810910071
• ISBN-13: 978-0810910072
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 9.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #465,059 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A vibrant avian celebration, June 6, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Extraordinary Pheasants (Hardcover)

Extraordinary Pheasants by professional photographer Stephen Green-Armytage is a splendid photographic study of pheasants from peacocks to game hens, as well as an incredible variety of other species. The superbly presented, closely detailed, impressive, full-color images of these majestic birds are the highlight of the book. All enhanced with an informative introduction, short, "reader friendly", descriptive comments concerning each pheasant species helping to round out this vibrant avian celebration. Extraordinary Pheasants is very highly recommended for bird fanciers and a welcome addition to personal, school, and community library "Pets & Wildlife" reference collections.

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary Pheasants, October 30, 2009

By 

Lynn B. Barlow "Spreo" (Lindon, UT USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Extraordinary Pheasants (Hardcover)

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The authors book on Pheasants along with his photos are of the same high quality and information as his book on Extrordinary Pigeons.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Just a bunch of pheasants, June 30, 2008

By 

Ashtar Command "Seeker" (Stockholm, Sweden) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Extraordinary Pheasants (Hardcover)

Stephen Green-Armytage is a professional photographer whose work has appeared in LIFE and other magazines. He has also published several artistic, colorful books on birds, and even a couple of wall calendars.

In my opinion, "Extraordinary Pheasants" is his most boring book. But perhaps I'm spoiled by "Extra Extraordinary Chickens" or "Extraordinary Pigeons". Sure thing, all the usual pheasant species are in this book, including Diamond Pheasant, Golden Pheasant and Peafowl. And yet, it feels as if something is missing. I can't put my finger on it. Perhaps the pheasants just look to normal. Many of the chickens Stephen documented in "Extra Extraordinary Chickens" had personality (no kidding), and the ornamental pigeons sure had shock value.

The pheasants are just...well, pheasants.

Sorry, Stephen my man, only THREE STARS for you this time.