Book excerpt: The Wedge-tailed Eagle is Australia's largest true eagle and one of the country's few large predators and scavengers. A master of the sky, it is both revered and reviled. Spirit of the Wedge-tailed Eagle is the culmination of four decades of intimate study of this iconic bird by Australia's leading bird painter, Humphrey Price-Jones. It includes more than 30 magnificent full-color paintings as well as many of his working drawings that display the intricacies of his art. The detailed depictions of the beaks and feet give an incredible sense of the bird. The book also provides a fascinating insight into the passion that Humphrey Price-Jones has for the species and the process by which he approaches his work. This lavish compilation of illustrations of the Wedge-tailed Eagle from chick to adult is superbly complemented by an engaging and informative text compiled by Dr Penny Olsen, a leading raptor specialist.