Raptors are among the most challenging birds to identify in the field due to their bewildering variability of plumage, flight silhouettes, and behavior. Raptors of Mexico and Central America is the first illustrated guide to the region’s 69 species of raptors, including vagrants. It features 32 stunning color plates and 213 color photos, and a distribution map for each regularly occurring species. Detailed species accounts describe key identification features, age-related plumages, status and distribution, subspecies, molt, habitats, behaviors, potential confusion species, and more.
Raptors of Mexico and Central America is the essential field guide to this difficult bird group and the ideal travel companion for anyone visiting this region of the world.
- Covers all 69 species of raptors found in Mexico and Central America
- Features 32 color plates and hundreds of color photos
- Provides multiple illustrations of each species
- Depicts and describes variations in plumage by individual, morph, age, and region
- Describes behavior, food preferences, hunting strategies, vocalizations, and molt
- Covers rare and extralimital species
- Includes distribution maps and flight silhouettes
William S. Clark is a raptor photographer, tour guide, and lecturer, and one of the world's leading authorities on raptors. His books include A Photographic Guide to North American Raptors (Princeton) and A Field Guide to the Raptors of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. N. John Schmitt is an acclaimed bird artist who specializes in birds of prey. He is the illustrator of A Field Guide to the Raptors of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa and illustrated the diurnal raptors in Birds of Peru (Princeton).
"Bird identification books are utilitarian. No matter the skill with paint brush or camera or keyboard, they are utilities. Raptors of Mexico and Central America is that and more. From Princeton University Press, this book gives you all of the utility plus over 200 pages of life histories and in many cases stunning photographs."—Jim Williams, Minneapolis Star Tribune's Wingnut
"This is a work that comes as close to perfection as you can get. It combines the expertise of one of the world's leading raptor experts and an artist sans pareil. . . . This is a work you will cherish for years to come."—David Gascoigne, Travels with Birds blog
"We’re not all lucky enough to bird with world-renowned raptor expert William Clark or acclaimed bird artist John Schmitt, but we can learn a lot from them through their books. . . . An essential reference for birders visiting the region."—Bird Watching Magazine
"Some books become milestone publications responsible for igniting true revolutions in our knowledge of birds. I can envision Clark and Schmitt’s work—the very first guide specializing in diurnal raptors of Mexico and Central America—becoming an essential reference for specialists and a catalyst of a better understanding of this hard-to-identify group of birds."—Ernesto Ruelas Inzunza, Journal of Raptor Research
"I can envision Clark and Schmitt’s work—the very first guide specializing in diurnal raptors of Mexico and Central America—becoming an essential reference for specialists and a catalyst of a better understanding of this hard-to- identify group of birds."—Ernesto Ruelas Inzunza, Journal of Raptor Research
"[T]his guide is an exceptional piece of work that will be the primary reference for neotropical raptor identification for many years. The attention to detail is matched by no other guide in the region and will assist in the great challenge of identifying this exceptionally variable group of birds. It is a must-have for any raptor enthusiast, birder in the Neotropical Region, or birder traveling to the neotropics. This guide has made a paramount contribution to the plethora of bird guides and will be appreciated by anyone who opens it up."—Ryan A. Phillips, Western Birds
"Overall, the Raptors of Mexico and Central America is a superbly produced book that straddles the market for specialised field guides and sumptuous coffee table reference books. . . . The colour plates are of excellent quality, and the text accounts provide much material to be pored over when not in the field."—Joseph Taylor, Neotropical Birding
"Accurate, comprehensive, and authoritative."—Sergio Seipke, Raptours
