The Ultimate Reference Guide for Bird Lovers, Woodcarvers, and Artists

For the first time in a single volume, renowned illustrator, sculptor, woodcarver, and wildlife enthusiast Denny Rogers presents his detailed and celebrated drawings of distinguished birds of prey: the red-tailed hawk, the American kestrel, and the peregrine falcon.

Based on the author's extensive research of live raptors, The Illustrated Birds of Prey features 200 meticulous and anatomically accurate drawings that capture each magnificent bird in multiple poses from every angle and in minute detail - while documenting their natural behavior and fierce predatory nature.

Inside The Illustrated Birds of Prey, you'll find:

- 47 drawings of the large red-tailed hawk, the most familiar hawk in North America.

- 65 drawings of the peregrine falcon, the world's fastest bird with diving speeds of up to 200 mph.

- 87 drawings of the American kestrel, considered the most colorful predator bird in the world.

- Proportion charts for adapting each drawing to various sizes.

You'll also discover comprehensive line drawings of flight and contour feathers, exclusive color charts created by award winning bird carver Lori Corbett, and a gorgeous galleryof artistic interpretations of the raptors by some of the world's finest artists.

No wildlife artist, woodcarver, or sculptor, should be without this complete, one-of-a-kind resource!

Raised in Abraham Lincoln's hometown of Springfield, Illinois, Denny Rogers holds a bachelor's degree in
visual communications (with a double major in graphic design and illustration) and a master's degree in product design/ manufacturing from Illinois State University. He has done doctoral work in bronze sculpture and foundry technology and has taught design and illustration courses at ISU.

Denny has crafted numerous limited-edition bronze sculptures of animal, religious, and presidential subjects in cooperation with The White House and Presidential archives. His life-size bronze statue of an American Bald Eagle in dramatic flight, Winged Magnificence, was chosen by President Ronald Reagan for his second inaugural and by Vice President Bush's committee for the Texas Sesquicentennial.

Additionally, Denny has done graphic design/illustration work for officeholders, businesses, national figures, and entertainers, including singer/songwriter Willie Nelson, and has assisted police, coroners, and prosecutors in reconstructing crime scenes and human anatomy in homicide cases. His woodcarvings have
been featured in national woodcarving and art publications, and his animal physiology illustrated reference books have been used by woodcarvers around the world to secure contracts, win blue ribbons, best of show, state, national, and world championships, and earn induction into the White House permanent
collection and other prestigious world collections.

He has worked as a museum exhibits artist and has used his design, sculpture, and construction skills as a special effects artist in the movie industry.

A lifelong outdoorsman and wilderness enthusiast, Denny lives with his wife, Carol, in rural Bloomington, Illinois. They have two adult sons, Darren and Scott. Denny is currently working on a book for artists titled An Eagle, an Artist…and Other Critters: The Life, Times, and Misadventures of Denny Rogers.

I encourage any serious bird student, artist, or photographer to acquire at least one of these spectacular titles. There probably isn't a better reference available for anyone interested in portraying these amazing creatures.

"Clear, informative reference is the fuel that fires the creative process in wildlife art. When striving to render an accurate likeness of a subject, feathered, finned or furred, you are only as good as your accumulated knowledge allows. There is no substitute to getting out in the field and seeing first hand the real thing. Unfortunately, for many, this is not always possible as some of the rarer and more elusive raptors can be difficult to approach. Perhaps that's one of the things that make them so intriguing. Denny Rogers' superb drawings and vital information will certainly provide a welcome and much needed addition to any wildfowl reference library. The information provided in this book will be a big help to anyone interested in improving their understanding of birds of prey and the subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, physical traits that make them unique."

Well-executed reference drawings are invaluable aids to any artist and carver wanting to achieve realism in their work. Multiple drawings of the same bird in different positions are tremendously useful. The detailed feather studies showcase many areas that don't appear in reference photographs. Lori Corbett's accompanying color studies are a detailed and highly useful companion to Rogers' drawings.

"Any birdwatcher who has marveled at the beauty of a kestrel, Red-tail, or Peregrine will be delighted by the detail and usefulness of Denny Rogers' drawings. Not only do they make plain how wings fold, tails spread, and feather groups work one with the other, but they reveal bars, streaks, stripes, speckles, and other field marks so important to birdwatchers. I've often wished I could study the falcons and hawks that flash past in the field for as long as I wanted. With this book, I can."

Chuck Hagner is the editor of Birder's World magazine and the author of the books Wings of Spring and Field Guide to Ducks and Geese.