James Ferguson-Lees was a a giant of 20th-century ornithology in Britain. An editor of British Birds magazine, he served as President of the British Trust for Ornithology, Deputy Director of the RSPB, and Records Committee Chairman of the British Ornithologists' Union. Ferguson-Lees also helped establish both the British Birds Rarities Committee and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel. Ferguson-Lees was the author of several books, including the magnificent monograph Raptors of the World, on which this book is based.

David A. Christie is an ornithologist, editor and translator. He is co-author of a number of books, including Raptors of the World and the award-winning Woodpeckers.
James Ferguson-Lees (1929-2017) was a a giant of 20th-century ornithology in Britain. An editor of British Birds magazine, he served as President of the British Trust for Ornithology, Deputy Director of the RSPB, and Records Committee Chairman of the British Ornithologists' Union. Ferguson-Lees also helped establish both the British Birds Rarities Committee and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel. He is perhaps best remembered for his exposure (with Max Nicholson) of the long-standing fraud known as 'The Hastings Rarities Affair'. Ferguson-Lees was the author of several books, including the monumental Raptors of the World and its spin-off field guide, both published by Helm.
David A. Christie is an ornithologist, editor and translator. He is co-author of a number of books, including the award-winning Woodpeckers and Raptors of the World.