This book when published was one of the first to use the new taxanomic register for birds. Pizzey has always been the best of the field guides as it contains excellent colour plates of not only the adult birds but also of immatures, juveniles and non/breeding in some cases. Further to this it has indepth information about call/song, habitat, habit which is severely lacking in other field guides. It is by far the best field guide and I know of many amateur and professional ornithologists that consider this book as invaluable. Once purchased you will not want any other.

The artist Frank Knight, a member of the Society of Animal Art (New York), has produced 250 new colour plates especially for this book. pp. 576 illusts endpp maps #0820 ISBN 10: 020718013XISBN 13: 9780207180132