Table of Contents

Preface vii Acknowledgements ix Abbreviations and terminology xi How to use the book xvii INTRODUCTION TO THE FIELD IDENTIFICATION OF RAPTORS 1 SPECIES ACCOUNTS Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) 21 Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus) 30 Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus) 47 Red Kite (Milvus milvus) 55 Black Kite (Milvus migrans) 65 White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) 77 Bearded Vulture or Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus) 94 Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) 108 Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) 126 Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus) 138 Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus) 150 Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) 156 Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) 167 Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) 183 Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) 196 Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus) 215 Levant Sparrowhawk (Accipiter brevipes) 235 Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) 245 Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) 256 Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo buteo) 266 Steppe Buzzard (Buteo buteo vulpinus) 277 Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) 291 Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus) 303 Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina) 316 Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga) 332 Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) 348 Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) 367 Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) 374 Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) 390 Bonelli's Eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus) 404 Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) 416 Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) 429 Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) 443 Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) 456 Eleonora's Falcon (Falco eleonorae) 470 Sooty Falcon (Falco concolor) 485 Merlin (Falco columbarius) 495 Hobby (Falco subbuteo) 505 Lanner (Falco biarmicus) 515 Saker (Falco cherrug) 529 Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) 542 Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) 554 Barbary Falcon (Falco peregrinus pelegrinoides) 567 BIBLIOGRAPHY 579 SPECIES INDEX 588

Reviews

The photos are particularly well chosen to represent different shapes, plumages, and ages... It is hard to find fault with Forsman; this is a major work which will provide a benchmark for many years. Birding This guide to the identification of European birds of prey has been long-awaited by raptor enthusiasts everywhere... The book is as authoritative as expected from Forsman's previously published work, and is difficult to fault... The quality of the plates is unfailingly high, and each has been carefully chosen to illustrate a particular identification feature. To date, there has not been such a collection of photographs available within a single book... Raptor enthusiasts the world over owe Forsman a debt of gratitude for this enormous labor of love; it is destined to become a classic and an essential item of baggage, especially for anyone contemplating a stopover at any of the raptor migration hotspots in Europe or the Middle East. -- E.R. Meek Quarterly Review of Biology It possesses all the hallmarks of a classic work. An initial perusal indicates that a well-produced gallery of photographs and quality typesetting and design have supported the detailed keynote text. I can imagine few Western Palearctic birders with a serious general interest in field identification not wanting to own this guide. -- Guy Kirwan Birding World An essential buy for everyone who expects to see and hopes to identify an unfamiliar bird-of-prey within the area covered... [A] magnificent achievement. -- J.T.R. Sharrock British Birds The principal illustrations are photographs--a wonderful collection of invaluable references. An essential book that prepares you for encounters with the birds and puts order into your field notes in a very helpful and reassuring way. Birdwatcher's Yearbook 2000 If you are a dedicated raptorphile, or have a special interest in European hawks, this is a book you will want to own. It is a detailed guide to the field identification of hawks, well-written and organized. The photographs are clear and sharp details show well; the high quality paper and printing helps to bring this feat off. There is a fine section in the introduction on how to identify hawks in the field. Bird Watcher's Digest [A]n excellent book, recommended to 'birders' traveling to the areas covered as well as libraries, both university and public, where there is ornithological interest. Choice If you take your hawk-watching seriously then this book will add to your enjoyment of a fascinating group of birds. -- Charles E. Keller Indiana Audubon Quarterly Apart from the excellent text, this new guide stands out by its 737 color photographs. This is certainly the best ever photographic raptor guide currently available of (one of) the foremost raptologists, which it will probably remain for many years to come. -- Oscar van Rootselaar Alula The most comprehensive raptor guide yet to be published... This book is set to become the 'raptor-watchers' bible for a long time to come. -- Steve Madge Birdwatch One cannot fail to be impressed by the depth of knowledge contained in this book. The exceptionally high standard of photography and the comprehensiveness of the collection make the approach used in this book a serious rival to that of traditional handbooks which employ the work of artists. -- Richard Porter British Birds In all, this is most probably the ultimate guide on raptor identification in the WP for many years to come, written by what is without doubt on of the most expert authors, if not the most expert, in this field at the moment. -- Jelle Scharringa Dutch Birding The book should provide the impulse for a new generation of raptor biologists and sophisticated birdwatchers to go into the field and restart in-depth identification studies. -- Eugene Potapov Ibis A magnificent identification guide from one of Europe's leading experts... [It is] a joy from cover to cover and deserves an immediate place on your shelves. Raptor lovers will want this book. It's the first comprehensive collection of photographs of European raptors showing all plumages of all species in the field. It sets a new standard in raptor watching and identification. Bird Watching The wait has been well worthwhile. The depth of his research is self evident. This is the book to have, and not to lend to even your closest friend, as it would never be returned to you. Any who might grumble, that it is a rather hefty volume to handle, would do well to remember that only a donkey would complain that his sack of gold weighed too heavy. The Falconer For the birdwatcher this superb new book is not only an invaluable tool in the understanding of the many pitfalls in raptor identification but it also provides a thoroughly captivating portfolio of some of the most stunning birds in the world. Lancaster Guardian This book has to be on the bookshelf of every serious birdwatcher. Essex Birding This guide is highly recommended for those interested in raptor field identification and those working on raptors in Europe and the Middle East. The book has a wonderful and almost complete collection of raptor photographs from Europe and the Middle East and is worth buying just for them alone. -- William S. Clark Raptor Research