"The photos are particularly well chosen to represent different shapes, plumages, and ages. ...it is hard to find fault with Forsman; this is a major work which will provide a benchmark for many years."
—BIRDING (December 2000)
"This guide to the identification of European birds of prey has been long-awaited by raptor enthusiasts everywhere. ...The book is as authoritative as expected from Forsman's previously published work, and is difficult to fault. ... The quality of the plates is unfailingly high, and each has been carefully chosen to illustrate a particular identification feature. To date, there has not been such a collection of photographs available within a single book. ...raptor enthusiasts the world over owe Forsman a debt of gratitude for this enormous labor of love; it is destined to become a classic and an essential item of baggage, especially for anyone contemplating a stopover at any of the raptor migration hotspots in Europe or the Middle East."
—E.R. Meek, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, U.K., in QUARTERLY REVIEW OF BIOLOGY (March 2000)
"...it possesses all the hallmarks of a classic work. An initial perusal indicates that a well-produced gallery of photographs and quality typesetting and design have supported the detailed keynote text. I can imagine few Western Palearctic birders with a serious general interest in field identification not wanting to own this guide."
—Guy Kirwan in BIRDING WORLD (November 1999)
"an essential buy for everyone who expects to see and hopes to identify an unfamiliar bird-of-prey within the area covered. ...a magnificent achievement."
—J.T.R. Sharrock in BRITISH BIRDS (October 1999)
"The principal illustrations are photographs - a wonderful collection of invaluable references. An essential book that prepares you for encounters with the birds and puts order into your field notes in a very helpful and reassuring way."
—BIRDSWATCHER'S YEARBOOK 2000 (October 1999)
"Fourth Place finish for Best Bird Book of the Year by
British Birds and the
British Trust for Ornithology"
—BTO NEWS (September/October 1999)
"If you are a dedicated raptorphil, or have a special interest in European hawks, this is a book you will want to own. It is a detailed guide to the field identification of hawks, well-written and organized. The photographs are clear and sharp details show well; the high quality paper and printing helps to bring this feat off. There is a fine section in the introduction on how to identify hawks in the field."
—BIRD WATCHER'S DIDGEST (July/August 1999)
"...an excellent book, recommended to 'birders' traveling to the areas covered as well as libraries, both university and public, where there is ornithological interest."
—K.L. Williams in CHOICE (July 1999)
"Dick Forsman has drawn on his own and other raptor enthusiasts great experience to produce another very good Poyser."
—Alan Heavisides in SCOTTISH BIRD NEWS (June 1999)
"If you take your hawk-watching seriously then this book will add to your enjoyment of a fascinating group of birds."
—Charles E. Keller in INDIANA AUDUBON QUARTERLY (May 1999)
"Apart from the excellent text, this new guide stands out by its 737 color photographs. This is certainly the best ever photographic raptor guide currently available of (one of) the foremost raptologists, which it will probably remain for many years to come."
—Oscar van Rootselaar in ALULA (March 1999)
"...the most comprehensive raptor guide yet to be published. 'This book sets the standard for raptor watching' is a bold claim by the publisher, but it is a statement with which I must agree. This book is set to become the raptor-watchers' bible for a long time to come. I find it difficult to avoid using superlatives."
—Steve Madge in BIRDWATCH (February 1999)
"Named as one of the three
Outstanding Bird Books of 1998 by
Birdwatch!"
"Dick Forsman's
The Raptors of Europe and the Middle East, single-handedly set a new benchmark for bird of prey identification, comprehensively bringing together text and photographs from an acknowledged expert with a lifelong passion for his subject. A wholly authoritative volume which draws on some of Dick Forsman's earlier published work on raptors, we acknowledge its important and original contribution with the sought-after
Commended Rating."
—BIRDWATCH'S BIRD BOOK OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCEMENT (1999)
"One cannot fail to be impressed by the depth of knowledge contained in this book. The exceptionally high standard of photography and the comprehensiveness of the collection make the approach used in this book a serious rival to that of traditional handbooks which employ the work of artists."
—Richard Porter in BRITISH BIRDS (1999)
"In all, this is most probably the ultimate guide on raptor identification in the WP for many years to come, written by what is without doubt on of the most expert authors, if not
the most expert, in this field at the moment."
—Jelle Scharringa in DUTCH BIRDING (1999)
"The book should provide the impulse for a new generation of raptor biologists and sophisticated birdwatchers to go into the field and restart in-depth identification studies."
—Eugene Potapov in IBIS (1999)
"...A magnificent identification guide from one of Europe's leading experts.... a joy from cover to cover and deserves an immediate place on your shelves. Raptor lovers will want this book. It's the first comprehensive collection of photographs of European raptors showing all plumages of all species in the field. It sets a new standard in raptor watching and identification."
—BIRD WATCHING
"The wait has been well worthwhile. The depth of his research is self evident. This is the book to have, and not to lend to even your closest friend, as it would never be returned to you. Any who might grumble, that it is a rather hefty volume to handle, would do well to remember that only a donkey would complain that his sack of gold weighed too heavy."
—THE FALCONER
"For the birdwatcher this superb new book is not only an invaluable tool in the understanding of the many pitfalls in raptor identification but it also provides a thoroughly captivating portfolio of some of the most stunning birds in the world."
—LANCASTER GUARDIAN
"...this book has to be on the bookshelf of every serious birdwatcher."
—ESSEX BIRDING
"This guide is
highly recommended for those interested in raptor field identification and those working on raptors in Europe and the Middle East. The book has a wonderful and almost complete collection of raptor photographs from Europe and the Middle East and is worth buying just for them alone."
—William S. Clark in RAPTOR RESEARCH
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.
