British Birds of Prey (Collins New Naturalist Library, Book 60)

HarperCollins Distribution Services, 1976. - 416 p. ISBN-13: 978-0002194051. Leslie Brown's account of our 15 resident, 7 vagrant and 2 migrant species of eagles, falcons, hawks and vultures in Britain presents a great mass of scientific information about our birds of prey in a manner as attractive to the general reader as to the dedicated ornithologist. This edition is exclusive to newnaturalists.com The diurnal raptors are among the most arresting and dramatic of British bird species, from the magnificent and immense golden eagle of the Highlands to the more widespread but equally spectacular peregrine falcon and the frequent and adaptable kestrel of motorways and urban ledges. Leslie Brown's account of our 15 resident, 7 vagrant and 2 migrant species of eagles, falcons, hawks and vultures in Britain presents a great mass of scientific information about these birds in a manner as attractive to the general reader as to the dedicated ornithologist. Each of the resident species is discussed in detail - its status, past and present; its feeding and hunting behaviour; its life history; its breeding behaviour; migration and the threats to its survival. Then the biology of the birds of prey, changes in their habitat and status, their food habits, breeding behaviour, their territories and populations are examined in depth in separate chapters. An acknowledged world authority on birds of prey - co-author with Dean Amadon of Eagles, Hawks and Falcons of the World, and author of many other books besides - Leslie Brown is immensely enthusiastic; and the many tables, maps, figures and bibliography are all indicative of the thoroughness of his research. Also illustrated with 40 superb black and white photographs. Editors' Preface -- Author's Preface -- Birds Of Prey And Their Way Of Life -- The British Species -- Classification And Field Identification -- The Osprey -- The Honey Buzzard -- The Red Kite -- The Sea Eagle -- The Marsh Harrier -- The Hen Harrier -- Montagu's Harrier -- The Goshawk -- The Sparrowhawk -- The Buzzard -- The Golden Eagle -- The Kestrel -- The Merlin -- The Hobby -- The Peregrine Falcon -- Boreal Migrants (rough-legged Buzzard And Gyrfalcon) -- Vagrants (black Kite, Griffon, And Egyptian Vultures, Pallid Harrier, Spotted Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Red-footed Falcon) -- Changes In Habitat And Status -- Food Habits And The Effects Of Predation On Prey -- Some Burning Issues -- Territory, Spacing And Natural Population Control -- Breeding Behaviour -- Pesticides And Birds Of Prey -- Conservation -- Appendix Table I: Food Of Selected British Raptors -- Appendix Table Ii: Summarised Breeding Data For Some British Species. Leslie Brown. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.