Birds Of Prey: Hawks, Eagles, Falcons, and Vultures of North America

by Pete Dunne

A visually stunning, comprehensive resource on North America’s birds of prey

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 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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Birds, Animals, Reference, Science

320 pages, Hardcover

First published April 25, 2017

Reviews

[Carrie Laben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dunne being Dunne, he is thorough in this project; the book begins with a full accounting of what he’s including under the rubric “raptor” and why, and proceeds methodically through the etymology of each species’ name, a thorough description, life history, ecology, and discussion of its conservation status, before concluding with a short section on the threats that all or most raptors face and action items on how to help protect them. It’s not a book you’re going to drag into the field with you (in fact, Dunne himself explicitly identifies its origin in the desire to craft a more comprehensive companion to his id-focused Hawks in Flight). Instead it’s one you’re likely to turn to on coming home after a long day to find out a bit more about one of the species you spotted – or to consult before a trip to learn the little quirks of a target species. (read the rest of the review at 10,000 Birds

[Hilary "Fox" · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful reference book by the redoubtable Pete Dunne. Few writers could have tackled so large a topic so well, and with such bemusement, as Dunne has managed. This book is easy to read, thorough in detail, and laced with historical information as well as quotes from the foremost ornithologists of their day. It's fascinating to read how various hawks were originally described, and the taxonomic difficulties that still plague them. In addition to the writing, the photographs are remarkably stunning, and worth perusing this book for on that alone.

Each section explains the common and scientific names of the species, sub-species that exist if any, variations in morphology and sex, migration patterns, nesting patterns, hunting technique, etc. of all the raptors within North America. The final section includes the vultures of the continent, with special care given to the reintroduction of California Condors and their current and historical distribution and hopes for the future. Of particular note is the amount of attention given to these, as well as the Rough-Legged Hawk, and the strange Caracaras. This book is a trove of information on largely forgotten species.

While I wouldn't recommend anyone read it cover to cover as I have, this is an incredibly valuable reference text and one that will leave you with a far greater appreciation of raptorial biodiversity than you had prior to reading it. Awesome book.

[Edith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Profusely and beautifully illustrated with photos of the birds of prey, this book is not a field guide, but a sort of enlargement of Mr. Dunne's field i.d. guide for raptors. Very absorbing (good anecdotes!), and very thorough. Mr. Donne does occasionally lapse into pawky humor, but I find this endearing, on the whole. Historical and present range and number, threats to their continued survival, prey, and so forth are given in addition to precise descriptions of the birds. Highly recommended for those days when you come home wondering which of the multiple forms (color morph, sexes, ages) of which raptor you might have seen out there while you were struggling to adjust your binoculars.

[Jennifer Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent encyclopedia of raptors and their behavior.

[Kylie Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very informative and well put together read. I really enjoyed the way the author organized all of the individual facts for all of the birds talked about in this book and everything is very to the point and easy to read through. I just really liked the flow of the book and its presentation. This book is just fascinating, and birds in general are so fascinating so I’m glad I randomly had the urge to learn about some haha. I was so shocked by how many types of hawks there are, the subspecies for every bird and how the birds got their name. It’s completely intriguing how climate and other environmental factors apply to the birds as well. But yeah in short, I highlighted so much and this book very much piqued my interest

[Kathy Sebesta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raptors: birds that hold their prey in their talons. Not all birds of prey are raptors, but most are: as the subtitle says, Hawks, eagles, falcons, and vultures.

Gorgeously illustrated, with readable and inclusive information about every species: where they live; what they eat; how they mate, migrate, hunt. Forewarned, not a book you read from one end to the other, rather one you refer to as your interest in a certain bird comes into your life. For me tt took about two years to get thru all the NA birds of prey. Now I just need to find them in real life.

[Ron Luty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did not read cover to cover but this is a great tool for getting to know your Birds of Prey. Great pictures and synopse of each of the birds. So that is why I skimmed to the birds that I wanted to learn about. Not exactly a field guide but great for before you go or after to confirm what you saw. Good intro and closure, especially with the Condor. Recommend for any bird enthusiast.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming book about birds. While it was more systematic than I expected, it is a wealth of information about raptors and FULL of INCREDIBLE photography.

Dunne is a true bird geek and it makes the book all the more an enjoyable read. My only gripe would be the inclusion of maps.

[Dewayne Stark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of nice photographs, good to see the Turkey Vulture included.

[Nick Jones]

Interesting all around.
Made me appreciate the vultures that live on the church property.