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Hawk Watcher's Shelf
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Here are some of the more popular books (and a video) used for
identifying hawks. The video and the first two books focus on
identifying hawks in flight while the next two cover identification of
hawks perched and in flight. The rest cover other topics.
Identifying hawks in flight is often complicated by the need to
identify birds at fairly large distances under poor lighting
conditions. In these situations the ability to
recognize shape, behavior, and field marks other than color
and basic plumage details become essential in identification.
All the books have their strengths and materials which
are not covered by the others.
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by Richard K. Walton and Greg Dodge
Brownbag Productions
1998
19 Eastern Species,
VHS Videotape, 45 Minutes
(Product Review)
An easy and effective way to learn how to identify hawks in flight or
to refresh your skills. This tape presents hawks as you are likely to see them
at a hawk watch. The tape uses narration, video clips, and stop-frames
to point out the subtle distinguishing field marks and behaviors of hawks
in flight. The video is particularly effective at demonstrating
behavioral cues and training you to look at birds in motion,
things that can't be done with a book.
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by Pete Dunne, David Sibley, and Clay Sutton
Houghton Mifflin, 1988
23 migrant species, 254 pages, 5.5 x 8.25 inches, Paperback
B&W Illustrations, B&W Photos
A follow-on to "Hawk Watch: A Guide for Beginners",
this book covers more species
and goes into more detail on identification. Written to
be read, similar birds are grouped into 7 identification
chapters. Each chapter includes species portrayals
including range and behavior, detailed descriptions of
field marks, and a section on telling similar species apart.
Black and white illustrations highlight field marks
described in text.
Includes black and white photos of different flight patterns (soar,
glide, and stoop) to demonstrate shapes and other field marks.
If you are serious about identifying hawks in flight,
this is the book to get.
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Hawk Watch: A Guide for Beginners
by
Pete Dunne, Debbie Keller, Rene Kochenberger, and David Sibley
Cape May Bird Observatory/New Jersey Audubon Society, 1984
16 Northeast species, 80 pages, 8.5 x 11 inches, Paperback
B&W Illustrations
Meant to introduce beginners to hawk watching, it also describes
identification skills for more experienced hawk watchers.
It includes sections on Diurnal Raptors, The Study of Migration,
Hawk Identification, Equipment, and How to Observe Hawks.
Identification text and accompanying illustrations focus
on identifying hawks in flight where color
and detailed field marks may or may not be visible.
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by Brian K. Wheeler and William S. Clark
Academic Press, 1995
42 species, 198 pages, 6.5 x 9.75 inches
Paperback
Color Photos
Meant as a complement to "Hawks", this guide includes
377 high quality color photographs of "every recognizably
different plumage of each species of regularly occurring
diurnal raptor". Photos show birds both perched and in flight.
Text focuses on descriptions of field marks including
contrasts with similar species.
In addition to the species accounts there is a
section on 14 raptor identification problems with
accompanying photographs.
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by William S. Clark and Brian K. Wheeler
Houghton Mifflin, 1987
39 species, 198 pages, 4.5 x 7.25 inches, Cloth
Color Illustrations, B&W photos, Range Maps
Traditional field guide covering diurnal raptors both
perched and in flight. Species account text
includes a brief description, field marks, plumages, similar species,
flight, behavior, voice, status and distribution.
Detailed color illustrations show close views
of birds both perched and in flight. Black and white
photos show the birds perched and in flight.
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by Clay & Patricia Sutton
Houghton Mifflin, 1996
32 species, 144 pages, 9.0 x 7.0 x 0.4 inches, Paperback
Color Photos, Color Range Maps
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by Noel & Helen Snyder
Voyageur Press, 1991
34 species, 224 pages, 11.0 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches, Paperback
Color Photos
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Hawk Mtn.
Hawk Watch!
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