Part of the revolutionary Crossley ID Guide series, this is the first raptor guide with lifelike scenes composed from multiple photographs–scenes that allow you to identify raptors just as the experts do. Experienced birders use the most easily observed and consistent characteristics–size, shape, behavior, probability, and general color patterns. The book’s 101 scenes–including thirty-five double-page layouts–provide a complete picture of how these features are all related. Even the effects of lighting and other real-world conditions are illustrated and explained. Detailed and succinct accounts from two of North America’s foremost raptor experts, Jerry Liguori and Brian Sullivan, stress the key identification features. This complete picture allows everyone from beginner to expert to understand and enjoy what he or she sees in the field. The mystique of bird identification is eliminated, allowing even novice birders to identify raptors quickly and simply.
Comprehensive and authoritative, the book covers all thirty-four of North America’s diurnal raptor species (all species except owls). Each species is featured in stunning color plates that show males and females, in a full spectrum of ages and color variants, depicted near and far, in flight and at rest, and from multiple angles, all caught in their typical habitats. There are also comparative, multispecies scenes and mystery photographs that allow readers to test their identification skills, along with answers and full explanations in the back of the book. In addition, the book features an introduction, and thirty-four color maps accompany the plates.
Whether you are a novice or an expert, this one-of-a-kind guide will show you an entirely new way to look at these spectacular birds.
The most complete guide to North American raptors, written by some of the foremost experts The first raptor guide using Richard Crossley’s acclaimed, innovative composite images that show birds as they actually appear in the field 101 stunning color plates–including thirty-five double-page layouts–composed from thousands of photographs Comparative, multispecies plates and photos of mystery species that allow readers to test their growing identification skills Complete with introduction, 34 color maps, and detailed species accounts
Product Features
- The Crossley ID Guide Raptors
Magnificent book on raptors “The Crossley ID Guide: Raptors” is a magnificently beautiful book. It is filled with vivid pictures, well designed images and clear descriptions of the raptors. For a beginning birder, this an excellent place to start studying the raptors. This is not the end all, ultimate raptor text for specialists, but it is outstanding for the rest of us. And as in all good nature books, actually going outside amidst the raptors is absolutely necessary.
Very nice book on raptors. The book is very interesting reading and has some great photos of the raptors superimposed on typical habitat. However, my liking would be for the book to put the photos with the detailed descriptions of each bird. Flipping back and forth is cumbersome to me. And the word spacing of the text accompanying the photos at the bottom of the page could be more distinctive which would make it easier to read. Lines of text with variable spacing between words (‘Justify Text’ in Word) is not as easy…
Like Raptors? Buy this book to learn ID tips. This is a book that keeps on giving. It is not to be rushed through, but read thoughtfully from page one. It is important to read the beginning of the book, and not simply glance at the photos. This book will show you raptors of various ages, molts, positions, and on and on. It will also let you test yourself on ID using the information you have learned in previous pages. This is a most excellent book and with attention to the details, will make it easier for birders to identify hawks…