Pepper Trail

Pepper Trail has traveled the world in the course of his studies on the ecology, behavior and conservation of birds. He is a popular Smithsonian expert on trips to the world's top natural history destinations, including Antarctica, Southern and East Africa, the Galápagos, the Amazon, and the South Pacific.  His knowledge, enthusiasm and sense of humor enrich the experience of birders and non-birders alike on every journey.

After receiving his PhD from Cornell University for his field study of one of the world’s most spectacular birds, the Guianan cock-of-the-rock, Pepper did post-doctoral research at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the California Academy of Sciences. An expert photographer and writer, his work has appeared in many publications, including Science, Conservation Biology, and National Geographic.  

For over 20 years, Pepper served as the forensic ornithologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, where his work combatting the U.S. and international wildlife trade earned him the title of "the Sherlock Holmes of bird crime." He is the creator of the leading feather identification website, The Feather Atlas of North American Birds. Recently retired; Pepper continues to work for the protection of threatened birds and habitats, both in his home state of Oregon and internationally.

Language spoken: English