This is a new and fully updated edition of this popular title. Essentially a beginner's field guide to British and Irish Birds, this is a must-have book for any birder coming to grips with the 200 or so most common species to be found in these countries. Written in Bill's inimitable style, the book enables even the most inexperienced birdwatcher to clearly identify a wide variety of species. The new edition takes into account the most recent changes to the taxonomic order of bird species, includes the latest scientific bird names as well as the common names, contains numerous new pictures, and is fully updated with the latest data on species for which the status has changed since the book was first published, such as the Little Egret. Clear, realistic and accurate illustrations by several leading artists show the birds as they are actually seen in the field. A unique feature of the book is the 10-page section featuring 'confusion species'; these compare and contrast the birds that novice birders often find the most confusing.