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William T. Cooper

This page lists books by, about, or that include illustrations by, William T. Cooper.

The books are ordered by publication date with the most recent at the top of the page.


Bird art

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A Natural History of Australian Parrots: A Tribute to William T. Cooper (1934–2015)

Joseph M. Forshaw

Illustrations: William T. Cooper

Nokomis Publications

2016

"Presented as a deluxe edition, this book is truly a combination of art and science presenting many previously unpublished Cooper drawings, sketches and paintings. Containing more than 300 artworks, it is fully cased in grey Ballantine cloth, with black blocking and marbled endpapers. The book is landscape format printed on fine quality satin art paper. This book adopts an entirely new approach with the integration of an updated technical text and an exciting visual record of the beauty, diversity and appeal of Australian parrots. It is a tribute to William (Bill) Cooper, and features numerous previously unpublished field sketches, preliminary drawings and spectacular paintings of parrots in their natural environment. No Australian artist has left such a wealth of scientifically accurate visual records of Australian parrots engaging in their daily activities, and now for the first time readers of this book can enjoy and appreciate this outstanding legacy."

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Pigeons and Doves in Australia

Joseph M. Forshaw

Illustrations: William T. Cooper

CSIRO

2015

"From dense rainforests of north Queensland, where brilliantly plumaged Superb Fruit-Doves Ptilinopus superbusare heard more easily than seen, to cold, windswept heathlands of Tasmania, where Brush Bronzewings Phaps elegans are locally common, most regions of Australia are frequented by one or more species. For more than a century after arrival of the First Fleet, interest in these birds focused on the eating qualities of larger species. In addition to contributing to declines of local populations in some parts of Australia, excessive hunting brought about the extinction of two species on Lord Howe Island and another species on Norfolk Island. In Pigeons and Doves of Australia, Joseph Forshaw and William Cooper have summarised our current knowledge of all species, including those occurring on Christmas, Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands, and with superb artwork have given readers a visual appreciation of the birds in their natural habitats. Historical accounts of extinct species are also included. Detailed information on management practices for all species is presented, ensuring that Pigeons and Doves in Australia will become the standard reference work on these birds for ornithologists and aviculturists."

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An Eye for Nature: The Life and Art of William T. Cooper

Penny Olsen

Foreword: David Attenborough

National Library of Australia

2014

"In the work of artist William T.Cooper, platypuses swim in green underwater worlds, waves throw up blankets of spray, embers glow in the aftermath of a bushfire, a Thylacine emerges from the shadows, sniffing the air. But it is his paintings of birds which set Cooper apart-his raucous cockatoos, colourful parrots, animated turacos and flamboyantly displaying birds of paradise. Often placed in meticulously studied landscapes, these intricate bird portraits reveal Cooper's close observation not only of his subjects' appearance, but their habits, poses and behaviour. In this biography, Penny Olsen traces the path of Cooper's life and art-from his childhood spent in the bush, to his teenage years as an apprentice taxidermist at Carey Bay Zoo and, later, to his work as a window dresser and landscape artist. She documents his fruitful partnership with wife and collaborator Wendy Cooper and his extensive travels in Australia and abroad in pursuit of his subject."

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Australian Rainforest Fruits: A Field Guide

Wendy Cooper

Illustrations: William T. Cooper

CSIRO

2013

"This beautifully illustrated field guide covers 504 of the most common fruiting plants found in Australia's eastern rainforests, as well as a few species that are rare in the wild but generally well-known. These spectacular plants can be seen from Cape York to Victoria, with some species also found in the Northern Territory, Western Australia and overseas. Each species description is accompanied by a leaf drawing, a distribution map, and diagnostic characters to help the reader distinguish similar species. Australian Rainforest Fruits includes stunning artwork by Australia’s leading natural history artist, William T Cooper. It will be sought not just by bushwalkers and natural history enthusiasts, but also by those who admire botanical art at its best."

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Flocks of Colour

Penny Olsen

Foreword: Joseph M. Forshaw

National Library of Australia

2013

"What name could be a more apt description of Australia than 'The Land of Parrots', a name inspired by late sixteenth-century maps showing a southern region labelled 'Psittacorum regio'? This beautiful book takes a close look at parrots in Australia, from the first published illustration of an Australian parrot - a Rainbow Lorikeet collected live on Cook's 1770 voyage - to William T. Cooper's twentieth-century watercolour of the elusive Night Parrot. With introductory essays by ornithologist Penny Olsen, Flocks of Colour covers two and a quarter centuries of discovery and illustration of Australia's avifauna. It features a rich portfolio of images of all the Australian parrots, by various artists including John Gould, Edward Lear, Neville W. Cayley and William T. Cooper, selected from the collections of the National Library of Australia."

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Capturing the Essence: Techniques for Bird Artists

William T. Cooper

CSIRO / Yale University Press

2011

"Capturing the Essence is a step-by-step personal guide – by one of Australia's greatest living bird artists – to observing, retaining the essential information and then painting birds from field notes and sketches, photographs and other field observations. The author takes the reader through the processes involved in oil painting, watercolour and acrylic techniques, and a piece of art is built up in stages to demonstrate the skills required in each of these media. While the book covers some of the general basics relevant to various kinds of painting of natural history subjects, the concentration is very much on birds. Painting or drawing any subject well, gives great satisfaction. In this book the author hopes to help the reader become competent at drawing and painting birds, or at least to enjoy trying!"

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Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest

Wendy Cooper

Illustrations: William T. Cooper

Nokomis Publications

2004

"This definitive work, 17 years in the making, covers the fruiting plants of Australia's tropical rainforest in Queensland extending from Rockhampton on the Tropic of Capricorn through to the Torres Strait. It identifies and describes 2,436 species of which 1,236 are illustrated in vibrant colour. Each species (except for a few which are leafless) is accompanied by a line illustration of its leaf as an aid to identification. It is a testimony to Wendy and Bill Coopers' passion for the Australian rainforest that has resulted in this fine book, bestowing the reader with art of unparalleled beauty alongside meticulous scientific research and expertise. The book has been divided into two sections, Gymnosperms (non flowering plants) and Angiosperms (flowering plants). For easy referencing, these sections have been laid out in alphabetical order of family, genera and species. This method of presentation is ideal for botanists or general readers who are interested in the fruiting plants of Australian tropical rainforests. There are keys to the families, genera and species and the meaning of every botanical name is explained."

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Turacos: A Natural History of the Musophagidae

Joseph M. Forshaw

Illustrations: William T. Cooper

Nokomis Editions

2002

"With publication by Nokomis Editions of Turacos: A Portfolio of All Species the masterful paintings by William Cooper were, for the first time, reproduced at their original size. This placed primary focus on the remarkable illustrations of all species in one of the world's most spectacular bird groups, and the accompanying text by Joseph Forshaw was written to complement the illustrations. Nokomis Editions now proudly announces publication of Turacos: A Natural History of the Musophagidae, in which emphasis is placed on the many fascinating aspects of the natural history of these spectacularly beautiful birds, with three new plates from William Cooper. Prompted by a recent upsurge of interest and research, which have produced much new information about turacos, Joseph Forshaw has prepared an entirely new text covering physical attributes, taxonomy, distribution, habitat preferences and the general ecology of all species, and he points out that, despite our improving knowledge, an element of mystery still surrounds these birds. Poor fossil records hinder our understanding of their evolutionary history and affinities with other birds. Despite several attempts to link the family with other groups, the traditional approach is to place them alone in a separate order, so emphasising their distinctiveness. The most distinctive feature is the presence in their plumage of two complex copper pigments not known to occur in any other living animal, and we are compelled to ask why are these pigments present? Also, how important are visually minor differences in facial pattern for species recognition? Are differences in bill shapes associated with foraging techniques, and what roles do subtle differences in diet play in allowing species lo coexist? What functions are served by the loud, familiar call-notes, and what courtship rituals are in place? Why should the downy chicks be equipped with wing-claws to enable them to clamber amidst branches well before they can fly? These and other queries are addressed in this scholarly work, which is the first fully illustrated monograph to be published since 1860 and the only volume covering all species."

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Australian Parrots

Joseph M. Forshaw and William T. Cooper

Gary Allen

3rd edition

2002

"A comprehensive account of Australia's parrot, lorikeet and cockatoo species in the wild and in captivity; this is regarded as the bible on Australia's parrot species."

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Cockatoos: A Portfolio of all Species

William T. Cooper and Joseph M. Forshaw

Introduction: Stephen Garnett

Nokomis Editions

2001

"Cockatoos: A Portfolio of all Species contains twenty-one plates showing Bill Cooper's exquisite water/colours in full size. His love for cockatoos is obvious and his mastery deserves this elegant presentation. One of Bill's many artistic strengths is his careful attention to habitats and bird-plant associations, which is sensitively portrayed in each painting. These wonderful birds of the forests and plains have all been painted in landscape format, allowing him to show more diverse compositions and postures. The accompanying text by Joseph M. Forshaw departs from his usual style and forms an elegant essay interspersed with the plates, along with Bill Cooper's Artists Notes. The Introduction is written by Stephen Garnett, a leading researcher on Australia's endangered cockatoos."

"The Portfolio consists of 21 colour plates and is reproduced in an edition of 460 hand-numbered sets. Each painting is reproduced to its original size, which is 750 mm x 570 mm. The Portfolio is presented in a hand-crafted folio box and is gold blocked."

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Birds of Paradise: Paradisaeidae

Clifford B. Frith and Bruce M. Beehler

Colour plates: William T. Cooper

Oxford University Press

1998

676 pages, 15 plates, numerous halftones and line figures

The first comprehensive and systematic treatment of the entire family. Introductory chapters provide an overview of the biology, ecology, and history of the group. This section also includes chapters on conservation and the role of the birds in human culture. The second part of the book consists of accounts of the 42 species of birds of paradise, describing their plumage, size, habitat, distribution, and behaviour in detail and accompanied by distribution maps and sonograms. 12 colour plates by William T. Cooper, one of the world's most acclaimed bird artists, illustrate all the species, their known hybrids, and many juveniles and sub-species. Fine line provide a record of how the birds use their famous ornaments during reproductive behaviour.

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Turacos: A Portfolio of All Species

William T. Cooper

Text: Joseph M. Forshaw

Foreword: David Attenborough

Limited edition: 290 hand numbered sets

Nokomis Editions

1997

The Portfolio consists of 23 colour plates presented in a beautifully crafted hand made Solander box. The accompanying text by Joseph M. Forshaw is enclosed in a separate cased volume within the Solander box. Each plate is reproduced to its original size, which is 750 mm x 570 mm. The plates were subsequently used in the book Turacos: A Natural History of the Musophagidae.

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Fruits of the Rainforest

Wendy Cooper

Illustrations: William T. Cooper

RD Press

1994

Guide covering 626 species of fruiting rainforest plants.

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Visions of a Rainforest : A Year in Australia's Tropical Rainforest

Stanley Breeden

Illustrations: William T. Cooper

Simon Schuster

1992

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Parrots of the World

Joseph M. Forshaw

Illustrations: William T. Cooper

Third Edition

Landowne Press

1989

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Kingfishers and Related Birds

Joseph Forshaw and William T. Cooper

Lansdowne Editions

1983 to 1994

The most complete and important monograph on this group of birds ever published, with text by Joseph Forshaw, an acknowledged authority, and colour plates by William Cooper. The edition was limited to 1,000 signed and numbered copies. The work was published in three parts. Each part comprised two volumes.

Part I: Alcedinidae
- Volume 1: Ceryle to Cittura
- Volume 2: Halcyon to Tanysiptera

Part II: Todidae to Phoeniculidae
- Volume 3: Todidae, Momotidae and Meropidae
- Volume 4: Leptosomatidae, Coraciidae, Upupidae and Phoeniculidae

Part III: Bucerotidae
- Volume 5: Bucorvus to Anthracoceros
- Volume 6: Buceros to Ceratogymna

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Australian Parrots

Joseph M. Forshaw

Illustrations: William T. Cooper

Second (Regular) Edition

Landowne Press

1981

A single volume publication of material originally published in 1980 in a limited edition two volume set.. 312 pages in total with 55 colour plates by William Cooper, plus 55 distribution maps, 55 line drawings. Includes detailed descriptions of every species and subspecies, with information on distribution, habitat, habits, movements, feeding and breeding. Also includes information on parrots in captivity

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Australian Parrots

Joseph M. Forshaw

Illustrations: William T. Cooper

Second (Limited) Edition

Landowne Press

1980

Limited edition two volume publication in a solander box. 380 pages in total with 56 colour plates by William Cooper, plus distribution maps and other illustrations.

Volume I: Loriinae and Cacatuinae (150 pages)

Volume 2: Psittacinae (228 pages)

Subsequently published in a single volume regular edition in 1981.

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Parrots of the World

Joseph M. Forshaw

Illustrations: William T. Cooper

Second Edition

Landowne Press

1978

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The Birds of Paradise and Bower Birds

William T. Cooper and Joseph M. Forshaw

Collins

1977

304 pages with 60 full page colour plates by Cooper.

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The Year of the Koala

H.D. Williamson

Illustrations: William T. Cooper

Scribner

1975

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Parrots of the World

Joseph M. Forshaw

Illustrations: William T. Cooper

Doubleday

1973

580+ page comprehensive guide to the parrots of the world. Detailed description, full page colour illustrations, maps, bibliography and more."

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A Portfolio Of Australian Birds

William T. Cooper

Text: Keith Hindwood

A.H. & A.W. Reed

1968

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Last updated January 2017