Rating: 
Summary: The Best One For Such Magnificent Bird Group
Review: One of the best and authorative book ever since publish on the Raptors of the world. Covering 313 species of the raptors across the world. It has vast bibilography and information on each species like habitat, ecology, behaviour etc. The book contains a wealth of detailed information on identification and distribution, with a full description of each species, including reference to all recognized races.Habitat and range for all species, together with information on movements and breeding behavior, are also covered. The depictions differentiate adults, immatures, and most of the distinctive races.The detailed and accurate text and spectacular color illustrations will make this book indispensable to all ornithologists and birders. This will be, undoubtedly, the standard work on thrushes for many years to come.
* Comprehensive identification guide to all 313 species of raptors throughout the world
* Detailed text covering identification, description, geographical variation, voice, status and distribution, movements, habitat, behavior, and measurements
* Each of the 313 species is described thoroughly and accurately, and every plumage and variation is shown in more than two thousand color illustrations plus hundreds of black-and-white drawings. Both large-scale and small-scale range maps show in detail where each species has been found.
ONE OF THE MUST HAVE EDITION FOR SERIOUS BIRDERS ACROSS THE WORLD FOR SUCH A DIFFICULT GROUP OF BIRDS.
Rating:
Summary: The Eagle Has Landed
Review: I have about 1000 books on Birds and Natural History and recently added this gem to my collection.Trying to write a review on this volume is akin to trying to do one on the Bible.One could easily write 25 pages and the surface wouldn't even be scratched.
First of all, this is not the type of book one buys for a Field Guide.It covers all the 313 species of raptors scattered all over the world.That's why you'll see reviews from different countries because it is as useful to someone living in Australia as to someone in Iceland.Obviously ,it wouldn't be carried around in the field for the purpose of identifying a raptor soaring overhead.It is really an Encyclopedia for the world's raptors.When looked at that way, it is a superb book.In one book, you can look up any raptor and see excellent illustrations,descriptions,distribution,behaviour,etc.,plus a myriad of references if you want more information.With nearly 1000 pages,one might ask "What more is there to write?"Well,lots ,this book averages out to about 3 pages for each bird.Heck,for some of these birds it woud be easy to find a shelf full of books.
Living here in Toronto,over the past 18 years I have seen 22 of these species locally, and several of them only once or twice.Those being,Black Vulture,Swallow-tailed Kite,Mississippi Kite,Swainson's Hawk,Ferruginious Hawk and Prairie Falcon.On top of that,8 more elsewhere in North America.That leaves only Hook-billed Kite,that I have much hope for seeing in North America,and at that my hopes are very slim.Then again,who knows,maybe the Red -footed Falcon that showed up in the Eastern US might appear again.
However,all these other birds exist and even if I can't travel the world to see them ,it is still nice to have a book to read up on any one of them when one appears in a novel or other literature.
The Golden Eagle on the cover is an excellent choice for us here,as it is the favorite raptor seen regularly at our watches in southern Ontario.To top it off ,on the back cover there is an illustration showing what one can see at a Hawk Watch.It was on April 15,1994 that I saw an, extremely rare for here, Swallow-tailed Kite soar past in a kettle like this.Of course they are much more common in Florida where we were entertained by several last April.
Well,that's my review;Ilove this book and would highly recommend it for anyone who is "into" Birding.It would be an excellent special gift to buy for any friend who is a Birder for a birthday,Xmas,or any occasion,you can't go wrong.
As to the reviewer who lamented that owls were not included;the terms, Birds of Prey,Raptors,Hawks,Predators,etc., do get used loosely;particularly by non-experts.I once heard Roger Tory Peterson reply to the question,"What makes an excellent Birder?"He replied,"A good Birder is someone who likes birds.An excllent Birder is someone who likes birds a whole lot." It was he who did so much to make Birding popular and easy for so many people ,"novices" to "experts".
If you get too uptight over it all,just remember:
IF YOU WANT TO SOAR
WITH THE EAGLES
IN THE MORNING--
YOU CAN'T HOOT
WITH THE OWLS
AT NIGHT!
i
Rating: 
Summary: A great reference for the bird of prey enthusiast...
Review: A listing of all the known species of raptors in the world--from vultures to eagles to accipiters to buzzards to caracaras--with descriptions that cover their distibution, habitats, food preferences, et al, accompanied by a series of color plates that illustrate each bird. Great for the armchair bird-watcher.A point off, however, due to the fact some of the plates are too crowded, and as a result some of the illustrations are rather small. This is often due to the number of "in flight" reference illustrations of certain birds, both from above AND below. For example, on the plate shared by the golden eagle and the imperial eagle there are 12 of these. These many references may very well be valuable for field identification, but for those of us who have no intention of going out in the field (which would be a chore with a book this heavy anyway), they can seem a bit over the top. An excellent book nonetheless.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent guide to Raptors of the world
Review: Definitely the standard work about raptors. First class information -all entries are based upon the most recent serious investigations, and by that I mean published in respected journals- There are more bibliography pages than index pages (and for such a comprehensive encyclopedic work that is something). Latest figures regarding geographic distribution and very accurate population assessments. Very good illustrations (some a little small though, but well accomplished overall). Definitely a must have for birders and nature lovers.
Rating:
Summary: THE BOOK
Review: Definitely the standard work about raptors. First class information -all entries are based upon the most recent serious investigations, and by that I mean published in respected journals- There are more bibliography pages than index pages (and for such a comprehensive encyclopedic work that is something). Latest figures regarding geographic distribution and very accurate population assessments. Very good illustrations (some a little small though, but well accomplished overall). Definitely a must have for birders and nature lovers.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent guide to Raptors of the world
Review: Ferguson-Lees and Christie describe all 313 of the world's species of raptors. Each species is illustrated by adult, juvenile, and selected immature plumages. Also, geographical races and color morphs are depicted in the 112 color plates. Facing texts highlight the plumages shown and summarize length, wingspan, male-to-female proportion, shape, and flight. The individual accounts that follow the plates detail distribution and movement; habitat confusion species; voice; food; sociosexual behavior; breeding; population; geographical variations; measurements; and references. Contents and lists of species are given at the beginning of the book. Also, there is a valuable section on using the book and sections on raptor population, topography, measuring lengths and wingspans, sex and age differences, identifying raptors, migrations, molt patterns and age division, plumages and external structure, and taxonomy. This large volume offers excellent coverage of the raptors of the world with fine plates and maps. Recommended for all libraries. General readers; lower-division undergraduates through professionals.
Rating:
Summary: raptors of the world
Review: Probably this has become the standar work on world's raptor and it'll be for some time yet. But that's not because of its perfectness but on account on the impressive information given - I guess all worthwhile bibliography has been taken. Plates - arguably the most important section in a birdguide- are another issue. The style differences between the three artists are extremely sharp and work against the book itself ; Mr. Franklin is by far the best and modern-style illustrator, and the book could gained much waiting another couple of years for this guy to make all the plates. For better known raptor groups (that is, Northamerican, African, and Eurasian ones) the plates seem proficient, but for me, a Southern Southamerican birder, "Raptors..." with its preposterous Cathartidae and Caracaras, means nil improvement upon 1994's "Handbook of the Birds of the Wolrd" or even 1990's "Birds of the High Andes". The day a worldwide raptor (or whichever bird group) guide depicts less known/faraway birds as good as better known ones, we'll be able to talk about a "definitive work".
Rating: 
Summary: Raptors of the World
Review: The book is very specific abour hawks, falcons, vultures, etc and very good. However I am a owl lover. The book did NOT have
anything about owls. Are owls not raptors. Yes, they are!
the book is titled Raptors of the world but DOES NOT have anything about owls. I will keep the book for "hawk" information but I am also looking for a book about Owls of the world.
Rating:
Summary: A Docent's Dream
Review: The comprehensive authority on the world's raptors. What handlers and educators have been waiting for. This is a wonderful book. Loaded with information for every interest level. I'm so impressed, I've ordered a second one for our zoo's library.
Rating:
Summary: A Docent's Dream
Review: The comprehensive authority on the world's raptors. What handlers and educators have been waiting for. This is a wonderful book. Loaded with information for every interest level. I'm so impressed, I've ordered a second one for our zoo's library.
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