Reprint of 1977 edition. Primarily aimed at ringers who have the opportunity to examine waders in the hand. It contains much information on identification and ageing, sexing and racial characters to aid birdwatchers in the field. The geographical area covered by the guide comprises the Palaearctic and Nearctic faunal regions. All the species of the families Rostratulidae, Haematopodidae, Ibidorhynchidae, Recurvirostridae, Dromadidae, Burhinidae, Glareolidae, Charadriidae and Scolopacidae regularly breeding within the Holarctic are described in detail.