For seasoned birdwatchers and novices alike, field guides are indispensable tools. Many of us have collections filled with these resources, often worn from frequent use in the field. Traditionally, bird guides have followed a consistent formula, largely unchanged since Roger Tory Peterson’s groundbreaking A Field Guide to the Birds in the 1930s. This classic approach, predated even by Ernest Thompson Seton’s duck illustrations, relies on simplified silhouettes and comparative arrangements of birds in various plumages. While effective, and refined over the years by artists like David Sibley, this formula has remained largely static. It’s rare to find a field guide that truly breaks the mold and offers a genuinely new perspective – until now.
Enter The Crossley ID Guide: Eastern Birds, a truly innovative work by Richard Crossley. This guide isn’t just another addition to your bookshelf; it’s a bold, ambitious, and transformative approach to bird identification. Crossley, described as an internationally acclaimed birder and photographer, with a passion that led him to hitchhike over 100,000 miles across Britain and Europe in pursuit of birds by the age of twenty-one, has created what is touted as a “stunningly illustrated book [that]…revolutionizes birding by providing the first real-life approach to identification.” Does it live up to the hype? In many ways, yes.
The Crossley ID Guide: Eastern Birds Book Cover – A revolutionary bird identification guide
What Makes the Crossley Bird Guide Different?
The Crossley ID Guide is maximalist in its approach, brimming with personality and a touch of self-promotion, yet undeniably groundbreaking. Unlike traditional guides that present idealized, almost “Platonic” representations of bird species, Crossley embraces photography to capture birds as they are in real-world scenarios. He moves beyond the limitations of single-photo identification by assembling composite images. These aren’t just isolated portraits; instead, they are clusters of each species engaged in natural behaviors within their typical habitats, sometimes even incorporating human elements into the background to reflect realistic environments. For instance, his Peregrine Falcons are depicted against a New York City backdrop, and Lesser Scaups are shown on a lake near a summer house, adding a touch of whimsy and realism to his serious and detailed approach.
This photographic method directly addresses a common drawback of purely photographic guides. Traditional photographic guides often fall short by freezing a single bird in a static pose, failing to convey the range of appearances and behaviors a birder might encounter in the field. Crossley overcomes this by presenting a multitude of images for each species, showcasing variations in plumage, age, sex, and behavior within a natural context. This approach provides a far more realistic and helpful identification experience, especially for beginners.
Strengths for Beginner Birders and Beyond
The Crossley ID Guide is particularly beneficial for those new to birding. Its visual, real-life approach makes identification more intuitive and less reliant on interpreting abstract illustrations. By showing birds in context, the guide helps learners develop a sense of what to expect in the field. It’s almost like learning to identify birds as you would actually see them – not as perfectly posed specimens, but as dynamic creatures within their environments. The sheer size of the book, larger than even the original Sibley guide, might seem daunting for field use. However, its size is actually a strength for focused birding activities, such as “car birding” at wildlife refuges, where you have space to spread out and examine the detailed plates. Imagine using it at a location like Bosque del Apache, a renowned wintering ground for waterfowl – it becomes an invaluable tool for showing visitors and new birders the nuances of identification.
While the Crossley ID Guide excels in its photographic approach and contextual presentation, there are a few minor points to consider. The review mentions that the technique might be less effective for small forest birds, acknowledging the inherent difficulty in observing these species in the first place. Additionally, the inclusion of four-letter “alpha codes,” primarily used by bird banders, might seem unnecessary for the average birder. These, however, are minor quibbles within a guide that otherwise offers a significant leap forward in field guide design.
A New Era in Bird Identification
For experienced birders seeking in-depth taxonomic details or subtle textual descriptions, resources like Kenn Kaufman’s Advanced Birding might still hold appeal. However, the Crossley ID Guide carves out its unique and valuable niche. It’s a guide that would be exceptionally well-suited for teaching beginners and introducing them to the joys of bird identification. It bridges the gap between textbook learning and real-world birding, making the process more engaging and accessible.
The enthusiasm surrounding The Crossley ID Guide is well-placed. It truly is a “something new under the sun” in the world of birding field guides. With promises of more projects in the works from Crossley, the birding community has much to look forward to. This guide is not just a book; it’s an invitation to see birds in a new light and to experience the thrill of identification in a more realistic and engaging way.
