A Photographic Guide to North American Raptors

by Brian K. Wheeler, William S. Clark, Pete Dunne (Foreword)

Whether soaring or perched, diurnal birds of prey often present challenging identification problems for the bird enthusiast. Variable plumage, color morphs, and unique individual characteristics are just some of the factors bird watchers must consider when identifying the different species. In this authoritative reference, two of the world's top experts on raptors provide an essential guide to the variations in the species, allowing for easier recognition of key identification points. All the distinguishing marks described have been exhaustively tested in a wide range of field conditions by the authors as well as the colleagues and students who have learned from them.


Key Features?











Species
Turkey Vulture. Black Vulture. California Condor. Osprey. Hook-billed Kite. Swallow-tailed Kite. White-tailed Kite. Snail Kite. Mississippi Kite. Bald Eagle. Northern Harrier. Sharp-shinned Hawk. Cooper's Hawk. Northern Goshawk. Common Black Hawk. Harris' Hawk. Gray Hawk. Red-shouldered Hawk. Broad-winged Hawk. Short-tailed Hawk. Swainson's Hawk. White-tailed Hawk. Zone-tailed Hawk. Red-tailed Hawk. Ferruginous Hawk. Rough-legged Hawk. Golden Eagle. Crested Caracara. American Kestrel. Merlin. Aplomado Falcon. Gyrfalcon. Peregrine. Prairie Falcon. Crane Hawk. Roadside Hawk. Hawaiian Hawk. Red-backed Hawk. Steller's Sea Eagle. White-tailed Eagle. Collared Forest Falcon. Northern Hobby. Common Kestrel.

Genres: Birds, Nature, Nonfiction, Field Guides, Reference

198 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1995

About the author

Brian K. Wheeler has been studying, painting, and photographing birds of prey throughout the United States and Canada for more than fifty years. He is the illustrator of Hawks of North America (Peterson Field Guides), the coauthor and photographer of A Photographic Guide to North American Raptors (Princeton), and the author and photographer of Raptors of Eastern North America and Raptors of Western North America (Princeton). His photographs have appeared in many other books and in many bird magazines.

Reviews

[M T White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this in a used book store. I am very happy with the descriptions and full color photos. Living somewh that has almost all of these birds makes identifying them difficult, but this will help.

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A PHOTOGRAPHIC GUIDE TO NORTH AMERICAN RAPTORS is a gem. I have used this valuable to tool to identify several carnivorous birds who have graced our yard. I have learned to appreciate their helpful usefulness to the environment. I no longer take this type of beast of prey for granted.

Loaded with colorful pictures and important facts about each species, this book is a must if you want to learn more information about raptors. I recently witnessed a Cooper's Hawk guarding a dead squirrel. She was surrounded by seven crows squawking so loud that I heard them from the back of our closed-up house. Patient to a fault, the hawk held onto her treasure until I witnessed her escape. And yes, she was followed by the crows in close pursuit but she managed to make a clean getaway. Two days later, I saw what I believe was the same bird resting on top of one of our bird feeders. She stayed there for about three minutes and then soared into the sky. It was a beautiful picture.

[Andrew Volpe]

Excellent reference, don't go Hawk watching without it!
- Use in conjunction with "Hawks from Every Angle", by J. Liguori

One of my first field guides.

[Susen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential guide book! The raptor ID problems section is very helpful .. I can't say that you'll never "is that a Sharpie or a Coopers?" but you'll probably be asking that question a lot less.

[Will Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful photographic study. A super addition to any hawk watchers library.