Raptors of the World

James Ferguson-Lees & David A Christie

To birdwatchers, raptors remain among the most challenging and exciting groups. Their distribution is truly global; some of the most widespread species live in northern temperate regions; three-quarters are confined to the tropics of South America, Africa and the Indomalayan region through to Melanesia. Raptors, part of an award-winning series, covers all 313 of the world's species.

Each species is illustrated by adult, juvenile and selected immature plumages, as well as main geographical races and colour morphs; in all, over 2,000 perched and flying birds, some with typical prey are shown on 112 colour plates. Facing texts highlight the plumages and summarise length, wingspan, male-to-female proportion, shape, and flight; also habitat, which in turn relates to the colour distribution maps. Plates 1-3 illustrate representatives, in flight, of all 78 genera, grouped by size and zoogeographical regions. The individual accounts which follow the plates section detail distribution and movements; habitat; characters (perched and in flight, and including confusions); voice; food; sociosexual; breeding; population; variation; measurements; references. The text is enhanced with numerous line drawings further illustrating specific points about identification and behaviour. 992 pages.

Hardback £60.00 £53.50