Birds of prey by Peter Steyn

Birds of prey (Standard First Edition in Illustrated Dust Jacket)

The Definitive Southern African Raptor Reference, Complete with Colour Plates, Photographs and Distribution Maps

Bibliographic Specifications

• Title: Birds of prey: of Southern Africa. Their identification & life histories
• Author: Peter Steyn
• Publisher: David Philip, Cape Town & Johannesburg
• Publication Date: 1982
• ISBN-10: 0908396643
• Edition Details: First Edition, Standard (non-leather) Edition.
• Binding: Publisher's green cloth boards in illustrated dust jacket.
• Physical Format: Large format hardcover, approximately 240 x 170 mm. Illustrated with colour plates, black-and-white photographs and distribution maps.
• Language: English

Official Condition Report

• The Book: Very Good (VG)
• Exterior / Boards: The green cloth boards are clean and sound, with a small pale mark near the upper spine on the front board and slight bumping at the lower spine corner. The spine ends are sound.
• Interior: The text block is sound and the binding appears tight. The pages are cream with light toning, and the endpapers show light toning and a few faint spots. The colour plates and photographs are clean. No inscriptions, bookplates or stamps.
• The Dust Jacket: Present. The illustrated jacket has a small chip or loss at the top corner of the back panel, light creasing and rubbing at the flap folds, and wear at the top of the spine. The spine and back panel are intact. It is protected in a durable archival-type plastic cover.

Synopsis & Historical Value

Published in Cape Town and Johannesburg by David Philip in 1982, Birds of Prey of Southern Africa: Their Identification & Life Histories is Peter Steyn's major work on the region's raptors. It remains regarded as the definitive reference on the subject.

The book covers the 80 species of raptors, vultures and owls found in southern Africa. Each species is treated under identification, habitat, status and distribution, habits and breeding. It is illustrated with 24 colour plates by Graeme Arnott, 238 black-and-white photographs and distribution maps.

A first edition of a standard work, complete with its illustrated jacket, this is a sound and attractive copy for the Africana natural history shelf and for anyone who studies or watches birds of prey.

Author Profile: Peter Steyn

Peter Steyn (1936-2024) was a South African ornithologist, author and bird photographer. He graduated from the University of Cape Town with a BA in English and History in 1959 and taught at Falcon College in Zimbabwe. He later became one of the best-known writers on southern African birds, and received the Gill Memorial Medal and the Steven Piper Lifetime Achievement Award for raptor conservation.

His other books include Eagle Days (1973), A Delight of Owls (1984) and Antarctic Impressions (2007).

Birds of Prey of Southern Africa · Peter Steyn first edition · Peter Steyn raptors · southern African raptor identification · David Philip 1982 bird book · Africana ornithology book · Graeme Arnott colour plates