Flight Identification of Raptors of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East By Dick Forsman

 

Helm Identification Guide Published by Bloomsbury

 

Hard Back Price £45.00 Pages 544 ISBN 978 1 4729 1361 6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a monster of a book for the bird of prey lovers with 1100 pictures of raptors in flight. 60 species are covered and with more and more records of species making it across the English Channel you never know what you are going to see next. Most of the pictures are close up in blue skies and we would love to think that was the only way to see them here in the UK! There are a full range of plumages from juvenile right through to adult as well as the many ‘forms’ which have especially in the Common Buzzard and may be the pictures of Sparrowhawk and Goshawk will finally get you to ID these birds correctly. Even some of the pictures have the word ‘probable’ which gives everyone the chance to make mistakes! Dick has again shown his great authority on this subject with the text and most of the pictures. I would have loved to see more pictures of the mixed birds often on migration which I have observed in many parts of Europe and the Middle East but with my window facing out into raptor country I am sure the book will never make it into the book case but be on the window sill ready for action!