This is a bird-identification guide with a difference. Instead of using colour plates of paintings to identify the species, it features photographs, covering all 840 bird species that live or visit the Australian continent. Following a brief introduction about bird biology, habitats and bird families, the main part of the book comprises species entries. Each species is depicted in a photograph, or two where male and female vary or breeding plumage is different. A map shows each species' distribution in and around Australia, and the text gives details of size, colour, shape, behaviour, calls and habitat. The at-a-glance symbols at the end of each entry indicate major habitat types.