Customer Reviews

A Photographic Guide to North American Raptors

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This masterpiece is one of the best field guides for raptors in North America. Readers are treated to several pictures of each type of bird. Raptors are shown perched and in flight, face on and in side view. Readers also see the field markings on the birds which are fully explained in a clear, direct way. A guide to helping readers identify the differences among the raptors is also provided. This is an excellent, outstanding work.

Being a naturalist from the age of seven or so, I have long been a keen observer of birds with particular attention paid to the raptors and soaring birds. All the books I had previously owned or seen about raptors stop far short of giving the info necessary for identifying the hawks and eagles of various ages and genders, as many of them will resemble another breed at various levels of maturity and in different seasons. This book almost eliminates those problems, giving excellent photos and descriptions that enable positive identification provided the observer gets a good enough look at the bird. It also provides useable field id pointers that will eliminate many questions with only a "sketchy" look at a flying or sitting raptor.
A good book that should sit on the front seat of any raptor friend's car; one that will be used time and again in the field.

I live in an important migratory bird path from South American to Canada and needed a comprehensive field guide to help me identify raptors at various ages of development, in various morphs, on the ground, and in flight. I was pleased with the 43 species covered. In addition, there is a section entitled "Raptor Identification Problems" which further clarifies identification especially involving similar species.

I found this book to be a good reference, but not as a stand-alone reference for identification of hawks. I live along a major autumn hawk migration route where more than 15,000 raptors are seen almost every year, some at a considerable distance. This book is very helpful for comparing similar looking species, but I have found that several references on hawks are sometimes needed to make a reliable identification.

Marshall Faintich, author of "A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Wintergreen."

I purchased this book specifically to improve my ability to identify different buteos and their various morphs. I live in South Texas that holds a good number of resident Harris hawks, Crested Caracaras, American Kestrils and a few others. During the migration and winter, the hawk/falcon population soars [pardon the pun], including the number of buteos. Well, despite their size and relatively sedentary natures I have problems identifying many of these hawks. Certainly a mature redtailed redtail hawk is easy to identify but I have seen very few of these classical morphs.

I hoped this book would help me but I made something of a mistake purchasing a photographic guide. For reasons beyond me, photographs are less helpful to me than accurate drawings. This may be my specific problem but I suspect their are other bird aficionados who have the same problem.

The photos in this book are excellent, showing the various species and their various morphs in different poses. The organization is good but, for whatever reason, it hasn't helped me much.

At the same time I bought this book, I bought Pertersen's excellent 'Hawks of North America'. It contains both drawings and photographs. The organization is good and it is adding to my ability to identify these birds.

Ron Braithwaite, author of novels--'Skull Rack' and 'Hummingbird God'--on the Spanish Conquest of Mexico

This is a wonderful guide for identifying raptors. Many raptors are very difficult to tell apart when they are overhead, and the light isn't "just right". This books helps with markings, silhouettes, and flight patterns. It is perfect. The pictures are clear, large, and the color is absolute. We bought this book at Hawk Mountain in PA, and it was highly recommended by the staff there. Absolutely one of the best books out there on identifying hawks, falcons, kestrels and eagles!

This is by far the very best book I have ever seen. The photos and details are just Great. I would advise anyone that watchs for these beautiful birds to have this as a guide!!

again, another book I heard about and thought it was time I get it. first several looks have been impressive and I think I will learn how to ID these birds better.

The book is excellent and just what I needed to add to my collection of resources as a Master Naturalist. It was in excellent condition and the timing was perfect.

I am reading it cover to cover. There is so much information, and the pictures are really good. They have included many different views of each bird. It is everything I had hoped for.