[.ca] Raptors of Western North America: The Wheeler Guides (ISBN 0691134774)

Raptors of Western North America:
Excelent could be the single word to describe this book. Brian K. Wheeler has put together the ultimate guide to raptors. The scores of color photographs are clear and precise, giving the reader great detail in showing the many variations of raptor plumage. The text that accompanies the photos is easy to read and follow, with details that give the reader confidence in improving their identification skills. Anyone that watches birds, and is especially interested in raptors, should put this book on the 'must have' list. This is a top quality guide at a great price.

Great book, but what's with PUP?:
Brian Wheeler has created what are likely to be THE standard guides to these taxa for the foreseeable future. Excellent photos, tremendous detail--a heroic effort with incredibly helpful results. But what is wrong at Princeton UP? First they mess up Olsen's _Gulls_ to the point that the entire edition is pulped; and now Wheeler's text in both books is marred by what you would think would be embarrassing editorial errors. Wheeler's prose, for the most part serviceable, was obviously never read by an editor, and there are entire passages that make no sense (fortunately, they only rarely include identification matters). The very first page of the author's introduction has a shameful printing error, an entire half-line left blank. This is a great book, I own it, I use it, I recommend it every chance I get; but the editorial and production slips make me wonder if Princeton has given up on its birding program--or whether it maybe ought to.

Fantastic Book!!!:
Wheeler has outdone himself with this book. Raptors are difficult to identify on the wing and this bbok gives one the tools with which to do so. As a novice birder interested in raptors, I find this book is a great resource and invaluable!