Birds of Prey (Hardcover)

by Floyd Scholz (Author), Tad Merrick (Photographer) "THROUGHOUT RECORDED HISTORY, BIRDS OF PREY have played a major role as civilizations developed..." (more)
Key Phrases: major flight feathers, alula feathers, feather groups, North American, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Lavishly illustrated with 500 colour photographs of sharp-shinned hawks, American kestrels, merlins, peregrine falcons, ospreys, golden eagles, ferruginous hawks, bald eagles, and nine other North American raptors. Birds of Prey features shots so close the birds loom as large as life. Scholz has combined instructive line drawings and engaging and informative text with Merrick's stunning photos to create the most magnificent and comprehensive books on birds of prey. The book includes a section on techniques for the artist and carver, with a 66-photo sequence detailing the steps involved in painting an American kestrel, and photos and tips on sculpting heads and making eyes to create life-like raptor carvings.

About the Author
Floyd Scholz

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Stackpole Books; 1st edition (October 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811702421
• ISBN-13: 978-0811702423
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #436,423 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous photos, facinating ifo, October 14, 1999

By	Angel Lee "Liocorno Amethyst Moonstone" (Cleveland, OH United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This is a gorgeous book packed with large color photos of many beautiful live birds. Its intended purpose is as a sourcebook for artists, but it will universally appeal to any bird lover.

The introductory chapter illustrates common features of raptor anatomy. Detailed chapters follow on 17 major North American species with numerous color photos and line drawings with dimensions.

A practical application is included with a step-by-step section on carving and painting a finely detailed kestrel in wood. There are even instructions for making remarkable lifelike eyes from acrylic plastic.

The book concludes with a gallery of the author's own fabulous museum quality carvings. This is a great combination of nature photography and fine art.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Reference, July 16, 2001

By	M. Boutte (Houston, Tx United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This wonderfully photographed book is an excellent reference for anyone interested in carving birds of prey. An extremely thorough series of photographs is included for each bird covered in the book. Additionally, patterns and other carving consideration are included for each specimen. The book concludes with a chapter on creating acrylic eyes for carvings, a chapter on carving and painting a kestrel, and a chapter exhibiting some of the authors carvings. Incidentally, the author's carvings are great.

Scholtz's other book, Carving a Red Tailed Hawk, does not do this book justice. This book contains better photographs and better carving.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone remotely interested in carving birds of any type.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific resource!, April 19, 1999

By A Customer

Not only bird artists, but any bird lover would enjoy this book. The pictures are excellent, in focus and from all angles.

This book is often in use at my lab table.