The identification section draws attention to diagnostic features, differentiates clearly between similar species, and discusses subspecies of polytypic species. A range map faces each species account. Those maps, unfortunately, have been reduced in size almost beyond the point of practical value. All but three species included in text are illustrated in color. The plates are the work of 12 well-known bird illustrators and are of exceptional quality overall.
Captions facing figures summarize key features and distribution.
However, the book is relatively weak in coverage of southern forms. J. Bombay Nat. The range maps accompanying the species accounts are a welcome feature. Unfortunately, many of those maps are marred by errors. In a number of cases, maps contradict information in text or plate captions, with the text appearing more reliable than maps.