Roger Tory Peterson (1908–96) was an American naturalist, ornithologist, artist, and conservationist who revolutionized birdwatching through his field guides, shaping the modern environmental movement and inspiring generations.
Born in Jamestown, New York, he developed an early fascination with birds and pursued art and natural history. He studied at the Art Students League and National Academy of Design, blending artistic skill with scientific observation.
His groundbreaking A Field Guide to the Birds (1934) introduced the Peterson Identification System, making bird identification accessible. It sold millions of copies, leading to later editions, including A Field Guide to Western Birds (1941) and A Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe (1954.) Other notable works include Wild America (1955,) The Peterson Field Guide to Eastern Birds (1980,) and The Art of Roger Tory Peterson (1994.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Roger Tory Peterson
Birds are indicators of the environment. If they are in trouble, we know we’ll soon be in trouble.
—Roger Tory Peterson
Topics: Birds
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