Raptor reference (1 Viewer)

DJ66

Well-known member

• Sep 11, 2007

• #1

Hi,
Can anyone recommend a good Raptor book.
I recently moved to Bulgaria and I am having a torrid time trying to identify all the different raptors. I have submitted a few pics for help already on the site and keep finding that what I thought was 1 thing is something completely different. Thanks for your help
DJ
ps I think this is a black Kite

More pics as requested, told you I struggle with Raptors!

 

Last edited: Jul 21, 2011

Capercaillie71

Well-known member

• Sep 11, 2007

• #2

DJ66 said:

Hi,
Can anyone recommend a good Raptor book.

Click to expand...

The Raptors of Europe and the Middle East
by Dick Forsman

"Forsman's definitive handbook, essential for raptor watching throughout the west Palearctic":

http://www.nhbs.com/the_raptors_of_europe_and_the_middle_east_tefno_51691.html

 

Strandman

Well-known member

• Sep 11, 2007

• #3

DJ66 said:

Hi,
ps I think this is a black Kite

Click to expand...

You could also try the Collins Guide, if you are just starting out. As for the ps- your bird here is something a bit bigger than a Black Kite- have you got any more pics of it?

 

Colin

Axeman (Retired)

• Sep 11, 2007

• #4

I would also recommend the Forsman book.

 

Steve G

RAINBIRDER

• Sep 11, 2007

• #5

Yet another vote for Forsman's book.
I don't think your bird is a Black Kite -it appears to have feathered tarsi making it an Aquila or Booted Eagle but the body proportions & very pale iris are wrong for a dark-phase Booted Eagle. Could this be an (almost) adult Lesser Spotted Eagle (there still appears to be some pale streaking on the hindneck)???

 

M

macrourus

Well-known member

• Feb 21, 2008

• #6

sure sub-adult Aquila pomarina, not sure about age at 100% since we would need to check open wing in perfect light

ciao

Andrea Corso

 

M

Markus Jais

Well-known member

• Feb 21, 2008

• #7

The Forsman book is awesome.

I also own this one:
A Field Guide to the Raptors of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (Paperback)
by William S. Clark (Author), N.John Schmitt (Illustrator)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Field-Rapto...=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203628352&sr=8-2

Forsman has pictures, Clark has drawings (and some pictures). Both are great. Clark is probably the world's leading expert on raptor identification.
I have both and love both.
The Collins Guide is also great, of course. But for difficult species, the more detailed raptors guides are better.

Markus

 

deborah4

Well-known member

• Feb 22, 2008

• #8

Given your location, DJ, I'd go for Forsman's - you probably need something a bit more detailed than Collins (Agree with Andrea - looks like a (s.a) Lesser Spot)

Have you seen this btw?

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=54872

 

M

mamo

Well-known member

• Feb 28, 2008

• #9

You could also try T & AD Poysers Flight Identification of European Raptors. Not sure if it is still in print, but it is an excellent guide.

 

M

Markus Jais

Well-known member

• Feb 29, 2008

• #10

I finally had some time to look at the pictures. I agree with the others. I looks like a Lesser Spotted Eagle to me. That's quite a rare bird!

Markus