Raptors are awesome birds! From huge soaring eagles and agile hawks to the mysterious owls, birds of prey have always captivated people. Formerly misunderstood and hunted, raptors are now appreciated for their important roles as apex predators in their environment, as well as for their beauty and power. Watching and identifying raptors as a hobby is becoming more popular, and thanks to specialized field guides and bird ID apps, also easier than it has ever been. The Merlin Bird ID app in particular is very useful thanks to its photo ID features and broad database based on birders’ sightings around the world. There are also so many other great books and documentaries about birds of prey that raptor enthusiasts like myself can find here at the library to enjoy! There will also be a chance to see real raptors up close at the library as well, courtesy of the Black Hills Raptor Center (June 10, 2026). These raptor rehabilitators are bringing in several of their education birds to meet library patrons.
Raptors Of The West: Captured In Photographs by Kate Davis
Having recently taken up bird photography as a hobby, I like to look at books by professional bird photographers for inspiration; this book is one of my favorites. It is full of beautiful photographs of every raptor species found in the Western half of the United States and is organized by habitat type (boreal forest raptors, tundra raptors, etc.). Through pictures, it gives an up-close look at the daily life of eagles, hawks, falcons and owls.
Raptors Of The Rockies by Kate Davis
Written by raptor rehabilitators, this book is part raptor guide and part in-depth species profiles. It focuses on the birds of prey found in the Rocky Mountains and is illustrated with good photographs of every species. There is a wealth of useful and fascinating information on different species’ diets, habitat preferences and life cycles as well.
Owls by Marianne Taylor
There are an incredible variety of owls, from tiny screech-owls and scops-owls to massive eagle-owls and ghostly barn owls. This book has complete species profiles for every owl species in the North, including North America, Europe, and Northern Asia. An excellent book for serious bird and owl enthusiasts, it has chapters dedicated to the natural history of owls and their relationship with humans throughout time. It’s also full of wonderful photographs, including pictures of species that are rarely seen.
The Book Of Flaco: The World’s Most Famous Bird by David Gessner
This book tells the true story of Flaco, a Eurasian Eagle-Owl that escaped from his enclosure at the Central Park Zoo and lived in New York City for a year as a wild owl. Flaco’s story is full of both tragedy and triumph, capturing the attention of people everywhere.
Field Guides: Birds Of Prey by Andrea Debbink
Both easy to read and thorough, this Junior Nonfiction book is a fun guide to a broad selection of birds of prey from everywhere in the world. Great for kids that are general bird lovers, as well as kids that have a more specific interest in raptors and how to identify different species. It is organized by group (falcons, owls, etc.) and has great pictures of raptors in action.
Thunder Birds: Nature’s Flying Predators by Jim Arnosky
Also in the Junior Nonfiction section, this book is engaging and full of fascinating facts on birds of prey and some other carnivorous species. It’s an easy read that is illustrated with colorful paintings of some of the coolest kinds of raptors.
Raptors: A Fistful Of Daggers by Matt Hamilton
One of the best documentaries on raptors, this DVD features raptors from all around the world, many of which are rarely or never seen in other documentaries. It has high-quality footage of many fascinating raptor behaviors, including honey-buzzards attacking bee hives and tiny pygmy falcons hunting insects.
Jungle Eagle by Fergus Beeley
Another interesting PBS nature documentary that follows a pair of endangered Harpy Eagles as they raise their chick in the Amazon Rainforest. The story of these rarely seen raptors is chronicled by the nature photographer who got to know these amazing birds in-depth during his time filming them.
