Rick Wright is a widely published author, scholar, and field trip leader whose work unites deep academic insight with an enduring passion for birds. A native of southeast Nebraska, Rick studied French, German, philosophy, and life sciences at the University of Nebraska before briefly attending Harvard Law School. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in Germanic Languages and Literatures from Princeton University in 1990 and spent twelve years in academia, holding faculty positions at the University of Illinois, Princeton University, and Fordham University. His early research produced two acclaimed books on Latin animal literature from the later Middle Ages.

Rick’s lifelong interest in birds ultimately led him from the lecture hall to the field. He is the author of The Peterson Reference Guide to American Sparrows and the Field Guide to Birds of New Jersey and Field Guide to Birds of Arizona (second editions), as well as coauthor of Watching Birds in Montclair and Watching Birds in the New Jersey Meadowlands.

Known for his wit, erudition, and gift for making natural history accessible, Rick is a popular speaker and leader at birding events across the United States. He lives in northern New Jersey with his wife, Alison Beringer, and their dog, Quetzal.