Raptors of the WorldThe newest addition to the highly regarded Helm Identification Series, which includes Seabirds ("unparalleled achievement," "best bird guide of any kind or of any generation," "sets the standard of excellence") and Shorebirds ("a superb guide," "a landmark volume"). One of the most eagerly awaited bird books in recent decades, Raptors is the first complete identification guide to all the birds of prey of the world. 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. Like all the other identification guides in the Helm series -- including Seabirds, Shorebirds, Warblers of the Americas, Waterfowl, Woodpeckers, and Sparrows and Buntings -- Raptors is the definitive book on its subject. The birds of prey are arguably the most fascinating group of birds for birders and nonbirders alike, and Raptors will be an essential reference for anyone with an interest in birds. |
Contents
INTRODUCTION | 17 |
USING THIS BOOK | 20 |
ORDERS OF RAPTOR POPULATION SIZES | 26 |
RAPTOR TOPOGRAPHY | 27 |
MEASURING LENGTHS AND WINGSPANS OF RAPTORS | 31 |
SEX AND AGE DIFFERENCES IN SIZES AND SHAPES OF RAPTORS | 35 |
IDENTIFYING RAPTORS | 40 |
RAPTOR MIGRATION | 44 |
RAPTOR VISION HEARING AND OLFACTION | 54 |
RAPTOR PLUMAGES AND EXTERNAL STRUCTURE | 57 |
TAXONOMY SEQUENCE AND NOMENCLATURE OF RAPTORS | 69 |
ENGLISH NAMES OF RAPTORS | 76 |
COLOUR PLATES | 80 |
SYSTEMATIC SECTION | 299 |
BIBLIOGRAPHY | 916 |
INDEX | 973 |
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Common terms and phrases
abdomen Accipiter Adult male Africa America apparently areas band barred base beats BEHAVIOUR bill birds blackish body breast breeding broad brown buff central cere chest common CONFUSION contrasting coverts cream crest crown dark dark brown darker distinct DISTRIBUTION Eagle east edges et al extending eyes feathers female Flight flight-feathers forest GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION glides Goshawk grey HABITAT Harrier Hawk head immatures islands juvenile Kite km² larger least legs length less linings longer look lower mainly marked narrow nest northern pairs pale paler pattern PERCHED perhaps plain Plate plumage pointed population prey primaries probably races range raptors rare recorded relatively rounded rufous rump secondaries Sexes shape short similar slightly smaller soars sometimes southern species streaked tail Text and map thighs thin throat tips trees usually variably Vulture whitish wing-linings wing-tips wings winter yellow
References to this book
Bibliographic information
| Title | Raptors of the World Princenton field guides |
| Authors | James Ferguson-Lees, David A. Christie |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2001 |
| ISBN | 0618127623, 9780618127627 |
| Length | 992 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |