Revised and updated to include the latest trends and population figures, this book details the natural history and status of the sporting birds of Britain and Ireland. The first edition won the Prix Litteraire of the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation, in 1986. The 33 detailed accounts of those species still shot cover range and distribution, history and conservation, population, habitat, identification, food and feeding habits, general behaviour (with special regard to sport), breeding, migration and movements, voice, the shooting seasons and cooking the bag. The text is complemented by 16 specially-commissioned colour plates by the sporting-bird artist, Rodger McPhail, flight silhouettes, line drawings and photographs. Distribution maps for every species are based on material supplied by the British Trust for Ornithology, and show main migration routes as well as population density. The author's other books include Tales of the Old Gamekeepers, The Glorious Grouse and Birds of Prey of the British Isles.