Peterson Field Guide (R) to Hawks

I live in South Texas on the Mexican Border and see a great many hawks and falcons including Buteos. For whatever reason, some of these buteos are difficult for me to identify. I'm sure this is because of the plethora of morphs and juveniles but I'm also sure that my thick-headedness is also a factor. Anyway, I've been looking around for a good reference to help me out and find that, of all my birding books, this book has helped me the most. For me, at least, excellent drawings are more helpful than photographs although good photos are also helpful. Clark and Wheeler's 'Hawks of North America' has both. In addition the organization and logic of this book is quite good. I can recommend it. Ron Braithwaite, author of novels--'Skull Rack' and 'Hummingbird God'--on the Spsnish Conquest of Mexico

This is a fantastic book! I use it myself to identify the different Hawks we see. Thank You.

This book is not only informitive but the photos and diagrams are high quality like the paper it is printed on. If you love birds of prey like me , get this book.

I consider the Second Edition of the Peterson Filde Guide to the hawks of North America as a must have for any serious birder. The book is well laid out. It has a great set of new color paintings to illustrate the various plumages of the hawks and supplements these by new color photos. Excellent field marks are given for each species. Some of them are new to me. The paintings are clear and sharp and illustrate the field marks needed to identify each bird. The book illustrates how to identify the birds both flying and perched. It is well written and easy to use. I think so highly of the book that it is a required text in addition to the Sibley Guide for an advanced wildlife identification course I teach.

If you are fascianted by American birds of prey - more properly known as raptors - than this is the book for you. Excellent coverage of all the birds of prey of the United States (excluding Hawaii) and Canada; hawks, falcons, eagles, harriers, goshawks, vultures, and condors are all covered. Detailed notes and excellent illustrations on how to identify males, females, and juveniles perching and in flight, as well notes on natural history, taxonomy, ranges, and more. A must buy for the dedicate birder or natural history student, I recommend it.