A Field Guide to the Raptors of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa (Paperback)

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Review
"This is truly a book to be used in the field, in the great tradition of the Peterson Field Guide series. The descriptions of each of the 54 raptor species include comments on natural history/behavior, and fine points to look for in determining identification. Range maps are also included for most species. We especially appreciated the discussion on flight patterns, a real help in identify birds moving past the watchsite. The color drawings that comprise the plates located at the beginning of the book are good. Opposite each plate, precise descriptions of key field marks for each species are listed and described. ... [I]nformation in the text is drawn from Mr. Clark's extensive (30 years and counting) experience banding raptors throughout the world including Eilat, Israel. ... [I]f we were to take one volume into the field with us, this would be the one. Mr. Clark must be commended for his exhaustive review of raptor species throughout the area of coverage."--NYC Audubon Newsletter
"Clark and Schmitt ... make a major contribution. I find John Schmitt's art to be not only skillful and educational, but also downright delightful--full of life and color. His style has a refreshing sketchbook feel to it, and yet it also shows immaculate detail; it manages to be exceptionally true to the birds and charming at the same time. To me, these plates show the artist's boundless enthusiasm for birds and birding."--Birding
"The author is one of the foremost specialists on raptors in the field and has extensive knowledge of them form North America, the Middle East (mostly Israel) and the Indian region. Many of the plates have a considerable amount of habitat background...aestheticallypleasing...as a set of raptor paintings they are excellent. Plates often mix similar species to highlight differences side by side. The species accounts are unexpectedly full. People will want to take this book in the field." -- The Pheonix, Dec 2000
"Raptors are charismatic birds with an enthusiastic following of admirers, researchers, and conservationists.
"Raptor identification is one of the more challenging branches of filed ornithology. This nearly pocket-size field guide to the identification of European, Middle East, and North African Falconiform species contains the most up-to-date information available on the subject. . .If you are in Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa and want to identify birds of prey, you'll want to carry this helpful guide with you."--International Hawkwatcher
"This comprehensive new field identification guide uses paintings, photographs, and detailed text to present the very latest in tried and proven field marks enabling bird watchers to identify even the most difficult of the diurnal of the raptors. Clark has been working with this interesting group of birds for over thirty years, observing them, studying them, writing about them, and photographing them. Many of the field marks described in this book are the result of his extensive experience in identifying raptors, and have never previously been published. The color plates depict all the plumages of every raptor found in the Western Palearctic. . .and the color photos add to the usefulness of this volume. All in all a fine addition to the hawk watcher's library and one that will appeal to all birders."--Indiana Autobon Society


Product Description
The birds of prey must rank among the most imposing and spectacular birds to be found anywhere in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. In this comprehensive new identification guide, Bill Clark presents the latest information on tried and tested field marks for identifying the diurnal raptors, both perched and in flight. Many of these field marks are the result of his own extensive experience in identifying raptors, and have never before been published. Forty-eight stunning colour plates, especially painted for this volume by artist N. John Schmitt, depict all the plumages for every raptor found in the Western Palearctic region, both regularly occurring and vagrant. The plates are augmented by a forty-page colour photograph section. The accompanying text provides the essential clues to identification. These include detailed plumage descriptions for each age, sex, and colour morph, as well as sections describing flight, moult, behaviour, and distribution for every species. The text also contains useful sections on similar species - notoriously difficult to identify - and how to distinguish them. Each account concludes with the range of measurements for length, wing span, and weight. Bill Clark has been working on the raptors for over thiry years, observing them, studying them, writing about them, and photographing them. His passion for birds of prey has taken him around the world, and in particular to Europe and to the Middle East, making him uniquely qualified to write this book. It will be essential for any birdwatcher or ornithologist who wants to watch and identify the region's raptors in the field.

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover

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3 Reviews 5 star:  (3) 4 star:    (0) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 5.0 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   4 of 4 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent all round field guide, 15 Nov 2003 By A Customer What sets this field guide apart from previous field guides is] that it contains both excellent clear plates BUT also an excellent set of colour photographs of all the species covered with the text. The text and maps are clear and first class. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   4 of 5 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A real interesting book, 11 May 2001 By  antoniomazzone@inwind.it (Italy) - See all my reviews Bill Clark wrote this book with a great passion! I recommend this field guide to everyone interested in raptors.... Great plates by John Schmitt Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   5.0 out of 5 stars wondeful raptor book, 18 Feb 2008 By  Markus Jais "www.markusjaisphoto.com" - See all my reviews This is a great book about raptor identification in Europe. Normal field guides don't have enough information for difficult raptors like the Lesser and Greater Spotted Eagles. This book covers all raptors in much more detail than any field guide that covers all birds of Europe. The auther really knows his subject and the drawings are very good. Highly recommend for everyone seriously interested in the identification of European raptors Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 3 customer reviews...		Ad feedback   Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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