The text also covers behaviour, breeding biology, population, status, longevity and any other interesting facts about the species concerned. A detailed distribution map is provided for each species. New to the third edition is a rarities section, featuring 24 additional species, and six brand new comparison artwork spreads illustrating difficult to identify species – such as ducks, waders, warblers, raptors and gulls – alongside one another.

The RSPB Handbook provides a complete, single source of basic information to our most familiar birds.