For some time now it has become apparent that bird watching. Jan 31, 2011 birders and casual backyard birdwatchers will find a new species of bird guide in the crossley id guide. With them, hes complied composite images putting the birds against a backdrop of the species typical habitat. Alan tilmouth the crossley id guide, published by princeton university press, is an awesome, major achievement, a stunning contribution to ornithological field identification. Like other guides, the plates are the heart of crossleys book.
Jan 28, 2011 the crossley id guide is designed to get you thinking differently by helping you sort through all the clues. I was hopeful, therefore, that crossleys latest offering the crossley id guide, covering the birds of the eastern united states would live up to the expectations set by the previous title. Oct 15, 2011 the book itself is called a stunningly illustrated book thatrevolutionizes birding by providing the first reallife approach to identification. Mar 22, 2018 the internationally famous and innovative bird identification expert, photographer, and author richard crossley has introduced a very different kind of bird field guide to the world known as the crossley id guides. Sparse on text, crossley relies on the 640 plates to teach bird identification. One testament to the growing popularity of birding is. Crossley has assembled an amazing collection of photos of a very comprehensive list of species in a variety of plumages. The book is more a reference book and instructional guide. Part of the revolutionary crossley id guide series, this is. Birders and casual backyard birdwatchers will find a new species of bird guide in the crossley id guide. His love of the outdoors and his interest in teaching, design, and technology have shaped his unique vision for the future of birding and bird books. For a beginning birder, this an excellent place to start studying the raptors. Richard crossley takes his innovative approach to bird identification to the next level with the crossley id guide.
It is not exactly a pocket field guide, unless you are the jolly green giant and have pockets the size of. Waterfowl, the fourth of these userfriendly guides, is for both hunters and birders. Richard crossley is an internationally acclaimed birder and photographer and the awardwinning author of the crossley id guide series princeton crossley books, which has been recognized for its pioneering approach to bird identification. The crossley id guide by richard crossley, 9780691147789, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. I have to admit that i was initially pretty skeptical about the huge hype surrounding richard crossleys new field guide the crossley id guide. Along with the insights of coauthors and renowned raptor experts jerry liguori and brian sullivan, crossley presents the 34 diurnal raptors of north america in stunning detail, combining conversational text and rich. The other unique aspect of this book is the accompanying interactive website. The book uses composite photographs to show birds as they would actually be seen in the field. Ive got a number of bird id books including the authoritative collins bird guide and this is easily the most useful for uk birds. The crossley id guide is the perfect book for beginning birders, and even experts will marvel at its thoroughness. This stunningly illustrated book from acclaimed birder and photographer richard crossley revolutionizes birding by providing the first reallife. The crossley id guide by richard crossley home facebook. Its been described as mindblowing, revolutionary, and unconventional. Experienced birders use the most easily observed and consistent characteristics.
Britain and ireland is an impressive and significant contribution to the range of bird identification guides available for the british isles. Home bird id guide events videos books recommendations birder gift guide birding optics photography gear about contact richard crossley. Larger than the big sibley guide, it is heavier too. Linda scarth, booklist the many images provide a rich resource for even the most seasoned birders. Eastern birds by richard crossley is a great way to begin learning the visual cues that are important in identifying birds. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the crossley id guide. The eastern guide contains 640 scenes created from more than 10,000 of the authors own photographs showing birds in a wide range of views. Crossleys approach is maximalist, overthetop, selfpromoting, and not without humor. Instead of reading the useful preface and introduction, i immediately jumped to the id quiz plates of raptors in flight, and found that although i did well, i had something to learn. Experienced birders use the most easily observed and consistent characteristicssize, shape, behavior, probability, and general color patterns. A revolutionary, comprehensive, and authoritative photographic guide to north americas raptors. Apr 05, 20 a couple of years back, the the crossley id guide for eastern birds came out and it caused a huge splash in the birdwatching world.
This stunningly illustrated book from acclaimed birder and photographer richard crossley revolutionizes field guide design by providing the first reallife. The innovative design shows a more lifelike and complete picture, challenging the traditional oldschool book layouts. You can use the app for a quick check while out and about, then look the bird up in your field guide to. The eastern guide contains 640 scenes created from more than 10,000 of the authors own photographs showing birds in a. Eastern birds by richard crossley is a great way to begin learning the visual cues that are. The great innovation of the new crossley guide is the use of multiple photos for each species, showing the bird from the variety of angles that one might encounter in the field. I, for one, cant wait for the other bird id books that are in the pipeline. An interview with richard crossley, author of the crossley id. Field guide author richard crossley at penn state, april 7. This stunningly illustrated book from acclaimed birder and photographer richard crossley revolutionizes field guide design by providing the first reallife approach to identification.
It also contains a unique feature that may not be accepted by some birders. He does this by providing 10,000 of his own bird photos in this book. Part of the revolutionary crossley id guide series, this is the first raptor guide with lifelike scenes composed from multiple photographsscenes that allow you to identify raptors just as the experts do. Jan 01, 2011 the crossley id guide is a revolutionary concept in bird identification guides. My one gripe with the volume is the decision to define the boundaries of the guide taxonomically, thus leaving out some birds that occupy the same environments as waterfowl. Richard crossley explains his id guide to eastern birds youtube.
As a general rule, ive never been a fan of photographic guides. The scope of the crossley id guide is almost unimaginable. To reliably identify a bird, regardless of lighting, distance or other conditions, you have to truly know the bird. Each plate is a landscape of appropriate habitat, and the images of each bird are positioned to give a feel for what its like to see the birds in nature. Birders and casual backyard bird watchers will find a new species of bird guide in the crossley id guide. Whether you are a beginner, expert, or anywhere in between, the crossley id guide will vastly improve your ability to identify birds. Raptors is a great addition to any birders library.
On first opening the book, youre hit by a multitude of plates packed with an almost overwhelming number of photographs. You can use the app for a quick check while out and about, then look the bird up in your field guide to learn more about it once you get home. Raptors has fulfilled my hopes for the systemit may be the best and most useful guide, especially for beginners, that exists. Mar 11, 2011 the crossley id guide is a unique and special bird book.
The crossley guide series approach to bird id seems especially suitable for helping novice birders id waterfowl, and this book has indeed been very useful to this birder. Mar 07, 2011 the crossley id guide to eastern birds is now in bookstores and on my desk and i like it even more. After coauthoring the shorebird guide, richard created the crossley id guide series. Following the crossley id guides awardwinning design, this book looks at. Jan 31, 2011 this stunningly illustrated book from acclaimed birder and photographer richard crossley revolutionizes field guide design by providing the first reallife approach to identification. Part of the revolutionary crossley id guide series, this is the first raptor guide with lifelike scenes composed from multiple photographs. The crossley id guide, eastern birds the audubon shop. The crossley id guide is an interesting, multidimensional, unique take on a bird guide that delivers to a high standard for a specific target audience.
The crossley id guide from princeton university press has long been anticipated and has certainly been the subject of many discussions among birders across north america. Eastern birds has an innovative approach to bird identification that uses thousands of photos of birds in typical habitats and behaviors to immerse birders in the avian world, and even casual birders can quickly become lost in this richly visual book. Crossleys has become our top choice behind the book we do take into the field usually sibleys. The crossley id guide, eastern birds is a stunningly illustrated book from acclaimed birder and photographer richard crossley revolutionizes field guide design by providing the first reallife approach. Theres always been one exception to that rule, though, and thats the shorebird guide, coauthored by none other than richard crossley. Waterfowl, by richard crossley, paul baicich, and jessie barry is the fourth book in the crossley id guide series, and i think it is the best one yet. This allows kids and adults alike a better understanding of the looks and lives of birds.
Richard crossley is an internationally acclaimed birder and photographer and the awardwinning author of the crossley id guide series princetoncrossley books, which has been recognized for its pioneering approach to bird identification. Eastern birds richard crossley princeton university press cloth flexibound 544 pages 2011. What is most important is knowing how to look at birds in the field in between reading the crossley id guide. After reading through the book, you can view individual pages with additional informative captions on the site, look at videos with birding tips, and hear. Mar 04, 2011 the crossley id guide is a photo guide to bird identification half way between a field guide and a coffee table book.
The crossley id guide to eastern birds crossley books, princeton university press, 2011. The first book to simplify birding and help you understand how to bird like the best. An interview with richard crossley, author of the crossley. The book is eight inches by 10 inches, 530 pages, and weights 3.
Crossleys plates are very different from any others in that each plate is a composite consisting of many photographs of the subject bird. It is filled with vivid pictures, well designed images and clear descriptions of the raptors. Richard crossley is an internationally acclaimed birder and photographer who has been birding since age 7. Richard will be visiting the penn state campus on saturday, april 7, to present a free program and sign his books at a reception at the nittany lion inns alumni fireside lounge. Given the development of apps and the availability of pocket guides it is perhaps most valuable not in the field, although crossley clearly intends it for this purpose, but as a. All books by richard crossley crossley bird id guides. He is also a coauthor of the shorebird guide and the cofounder of the pledge to fledge global birding initiative, and he is working on multiple birding. Unlike other guides, which provide isolated individual photographs or paint illustrations, this book features large, lifelike scenes that are painted in pixels. Crossley id guide eastern birds the crossley id guide. It is larger, has more images, and a completely different approach than sibley or peterson or.
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