Falcons Of North America

"Kate Davis opens a door into the lives of these extraordinary, enigmatic birds of prey, including results of new research never before published in one volume"--

The bestselling guide to hawks is now completely revised and in full color, with 40 color plates and 140 color photos. Up-to-date maps show ranges for each season, and the text covers all 39 diurnal raptors seen in North America.

ANIMALS

Fierce, bold, and beautiful, falcons hold a special place in the hearts of people. In Falcons of North America, renowned raptor advocate and environmental educator Kate Davis opens a door into the lives of these extra-ordinary, enigmatic birds of prey."--Back cover.

A visually stunning, comprehensive resource on North America’s birds of prey, from the award-winning birder and author of Gulls Simplified. Always a popular group of birds, raptors symbolize freedom and fierceness, and in Pete Dunne’s definitive guide, these traits are portrayed in hundreds of stunning color photographs showing raptors up close, in flight, and in action—fighting, hunting, and nesting. These gorgeous photographs enhance the comprehensive, authoritative text, which goes far beyond identification to cover raptor ecology, behavior, conservation, and much more. In returning to his forte and his first love, Pete Dunne has crafted a benchmark book on raptors: the first place to turn for any question about these highly popular birds, whether it’s what they eat, where they live, or how they behave. “Birds of Prey is exhaustively researched and complemented by a stunning collection of photos, but the real highlight is…Dunne’s writing. He weaves together personal anecdotes, historical accounts, and technical information to create something greater than the sum of all its parts: a beautiful, authoritative, and engagingly written guide to the natural history of North American hawks.”—David Sibley, author of The Sibley Guide to Birds “Books about raptors used to fall into two major categories: field guides versus nature writing. No more!...Dunne’s new book skillfully conjoins those two genres. Life a good field guide, Birds of Prey is authoritative and utilitarian, and like our finest nature writing, Dunne’s prose is lyrical, sensitive, and full of feeling.”—Ted Floyd, editor, Birding

Ann Price provides a brief description of what separates raptors from other birds, their evolution from prehistoric forebears, and distribution throughout the Noth American continent today.

Birds of prey can be particularly difficult to track for a variety of reasons: - Nocturnal behavior - Remote habitats - Migratory patterns - Swift flight speeds Hawks and Owls depicts both the subtle differences and rich diversity among these awe-inspiring birds. With crisp, clean photographs and precise identification notes, this guide makes quick and accurate classifications easier. The families of birds includes: New world vultures Osprey, kites, eagles, hawks and allies Caracara and falcons Barn and bay owls Typical owls The information on each species is concisely organized and includes the differences between male and female, seasonal and immature plumage, morphs and distinctive markings. Color pictures and range maps accompany the text. The 180 photographs from award-winning photographers show these birds in their natural environments through the seasons. Comparison pages group similar-looking birds on a single page for quick reference. Hawks and Owls is a sturdy, pocket-sized field guide that will be indispensable to naturalists, students and birders at all levels of experience, from Florida to Ontario.

From majestic Bald Eagles to tiny Elf Owls, raptors are nature’s most fascinating and powerful birds. As predators with wide ranging habitats and food sources, raptors also serve as a litmus test for the health of their ecosystems. To preserve a species such as the Everglade Kite or Spotted Owl is to ensure the survival of many other creatures. Ornithologists Noel and Helen Snyder have spent nearly fifty years studying and photographing birds of prey in their natural habitat. The result of decades of firsthand field studies combined with key biological and conservation studies by other experts, Raptors of North America presents a comprehensive and captivating account of our continent’s birds of prey. Readers will meet the nocturnal raptors, the owls, and the diurnal raptors: hawks, harriers, kites, falcons, eagles, ospreys, vultures, and condors. This book was an editor's choice of the Scientific American Book Club.