Covers the identification, biology and relationships of all true shrikes, bush-shrikes, helmet-shrikes, wood-shrikes, the closely-related shrike flycatchers, philentomas, batises and wattle-eyes. This group comprises 114 species in 21 genera within the families Laniidae and Malaconotidae. All species are portrayed in 41 colour plates, consisting of over 480 illustrations and depicting differences in sex, age, geographical variation, and flight pattern. Facing the plates are identification captions and colour distribution maps. The text comprises detailed species accounts, providing current knowledge on field identification, plumage descriptions, geographical variation, moult, distribution, movements, general and foraging behaviour, food, sounds, and breeding behaviour.