The Crossley ID Guide: Western Birds Flexibound – January 1, 2021

Each image in the book gives a multidimensional look at a single species of bird, shown at all angles and plumages, in its typical habitat. When we stare at birds through binoculars, they tend to change shape and estimated size as they puff up and flatten their plumage, spread their wings, peck the ground, come closer or recede into the distance. Crosley has created a photomontage for each species, using multiple photos for each type of bird, in flight, perched, on the ground, among branches, and exhibiting typical behavior and surroundings. This makes for a hefty book – one would think twice before taking it on a birding walk. So, take your mobile phone bird ID ap on your walk, but have Crossley handy in the car or at home for all those birds you weren’t sure about. Also, read it before going birding. Flipping through the pages is like taking an extensive bird watching trip, to the seashore, woods, and mountains. The book would be useful for a beginning birder, to get a good feel for the huge variety of birds there are in the Western United States and will help in learning to tell the basic difference between types of birds – to tell a wren from a sparrow, a vireo from a warbler, or a gull from a tern. It is most useful for intermediate birders, however. Are you determined to tell the difference between individual species? Which sandpiper is it, what kind of sparrow, which tern, is it a Broad-Winged or a Rough-Legged Hawk, a Red-Naped or a Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker? Check out this book.

The composites present how one sees birds in the field and at different angles.

This guide teaches me how to identify birds in new ways. It shows all sorts of bird behaviors in the photos and not only the usual shot of them perched. It complements the descriptions of a certain rump color or patches , bands or any other markings that can only be seen when the bird moves .

Aside from being a physically thick book, this is a great tool to have when birding. Being able to see many examples of the same bird in different poses and different times of life is a great resource.

Beautiful as well as useful.

Easy to understand. Photos are wonderful.

Excellent birding book. Too big to carry in the field But very informative and great pictures.My son just moved out west. I gave this to him as a moving present

Richard does it again, presenting his unique take on the birds of North America. Exceptional in every way. Unlike bird guides with mostly two-dimensional, profile paintings, Crossley Guides present multiple photographs of birds, presenting views most likely to be seen. This substantially ups the game when birders seek to ID and also when preparing for a birding trip. Studying these guides can mean all the difference when one is trying to decide if they are looking at a Berwick or Pacific wren. Some suggest Sibley "reinvented" the field guide. Richard Crossley wholly re imagined it. I do not believe anyone has made such a profound contribution to birding since Peterson. All his guides are a must for any birder.