Covers almost 260 species of gamebird from around the world. There is detailed and meticulously researched information for all of these, concentrating on identification, status and distibution, habitats, and geographical variation. The 72 colour plates (by Norman Arlott, Robin Budden, Daniel Cole, John Cox, Carl D'Silva, Kim Franklin and David Mead) depict plumages of males, females and immatures, and show the most distinct races where relevant. This is the first time all of the species have been treated in one volume, and the first time many of these birds have been illustrated at all.