THIS is definitely not your common- or-garden birdbook, or a handy field book you can fit in you top pocket.

It is a solid tome, which would comfortably adorn a coffee table.

But that is not a criticism of what must be the bird lover's ultimate guide.

This lavish book is something to come home to after a day ticking off your latest sightings in a handy pocket version.

It has about everything you wanted to know about 320 species found in the "western Palearctic" (for those with a geographic bent) and with a page dedicated to each bird, the information covers their evolution, anatomy and behaviour - down to illustrations of individual flight patterns. There are photographs of the birds in their environment, to place them in their context, fine illustrations showing their most viewed plumage and images of similar species. An accompanying CD has recordings of their calls.

In addition to the main species, more than 200 less common and peripheral birds are also illustrated and described, while a further 276 very rare and introduced species are concisely profiled.

This book belongs in every bird lover's home.