Product Description

The most complete guide to the 49 species of bird of prey (eagles, vultures, hawks, buzzards, osprey and falcons) found in Europe Every species has a comprehensive descriptive entry, with the most up-to-date information on population, distribution, status, behaviour, habitat, voice, breeding biology, food and hunting techniques. In addition, a separate section deals with the more detailed identification of the species -- major ID characteristics, proportions, regional variations, young, juvenile and adult variation, ID of perched birds, ID of flying birds and a section on other similar species that can be easily confused. Illustrated with 55 maps, nearly 200 photographs and nearly 1,000 illustrations, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in the birds of prey of Europe.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #38267 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 416 pages

Review
'One book I have not been able to put down ! a masterwork on arguably the most charismatic of all bird groups ! Benny Gensbol is to be congratulated.' Sunday Express '! a useful identification guide as well as a good read. Admire these majestic hunters while you can. By the next edition some may be extinct!' Kentish Times

About the Author
Benny Gensbol and Walther Thiede are two of Europe's leading raptor experts.

Customer Reviews

Collins Birds of Prey
When, in 1984, Benny Génsbol first published the Collins Guide to the Birds of Prey of Britain and Europe, North Africa and the Middle East it received a warm welcome. This chunky, field-guide-sized book was reissued several times but then in 2004 it was completely revised and issued in Danish - and now we have an English version.

An introduction of 35 pages explains the characteristics of birds of prey, their breeding biology and migration, and summarises the challenges they face from habitat change and pollution. One change since 1984 is the fact that in many areas most birds of prey are currently increasing - although a few are more threatened than they were 24 years ago.

Each species is given its own account, including a decent-sized distribution map and summary population trends across its range. The maps have been updated and although the book has been revised on a regular basis it is interesting to compare the changes since 1984. Goshawk was restricted to just a few tiny areas around the Peak District and southern Scotland, and now it covers the whole of Great Britain and has a tiny population in Northern Ireland. However the maps are not perfect. Hobby has greatly increased in Great Britain in recent years but the map shows it as being absent. Montagu's Harrier and Honey Buzzard are also not shown as breeding here yet the text refers to 9-16 pairs and 70 pairs of each nesting. Similarly Egyptian Vulture and Black Vulture are incorrectly shown as breeding in Cyprus. The distribution maps include North Africa although the text ignores population data for these areas. Breeding distribution is indicated by four shades of green (a test for your eyesight!) and non-breeding winter ranges are indicated by blue. I was also a bit surprised to see Spanish Imperial Eagle included on same map as Imperial Eagle.

For me one of the book's best selling points is its up-to-date information on population trends with statistics for each species across Europe (but not North Africa). Where migration routes are known these are explained, together with recent data on counts and the best time to be in position. Another great feature is the wide range of photographs - very few of which are repeated from the original book. These, together with a 165-page section on identification, make this an excellent field guide for raptor enthusiasts. The colour drawings of raptors in flight are a vast improvement on those in the original book, and are well laid out for use in the field. The texts that accompany these are clear and concise.

A Superb Guide to Birds of Prey
As an owner of many great Collins guides, this one is know exception, some great illustrations and text describing all the Birds of prey in Europe, although like the previous review it does make you go back and forth to view each species it is however very comprehensive.
I would recommend this book to every avid bird of prey enthusiast

good but no cigar
This is a good book make no mistake about that but i think it did lack a bit of humanism in the writing and i dont like having to flick back and forth to cover a single bird spieces. Therefore i marked it down on presentation and grouping.