The birds found in Australia's bush, deserts and coastal regions, and even in its urban areas, provide an endless source of interest and entertainment, from noisy honeyeaters squabbling over wattle flowers to tiny pardalotes flitting high in the treetops.

This very useful book and audio CD combination will be an essential addition to the bookshelves of birdwatchers of all levels. It helps the reader to identify a wide selection of species by sight and sound, with the focus being on those which are uniquely Australian. A little knowledge of songs and calls goes a long way to identifying the large number of birds that are heard but not seen. In the book each of the 70 species covered has a photo, along with descriptions of key ID features, habitat, distribution and the songs and calls which can be heard on the corresponding CD audio track.

The CD incorporates hundreds of recordings of birds from all over the country, which have been accumulated over many decades. Birds covered come from all over Australia and include the likes of bowerbirds, butcherbirds, fairy-wrens, cuckoos, kookaburras and parrots. It is a perfect title for all birdwatchers and anyone who enjoys the natural world and listening to the songs and calls of our feathered friends.

Highly respected author Fred van Gessel has been recording the bird sounds of Australia for more than 40 years, building up a huge knowledge of the subject during that time. His previous books include Backyard Bird Sounds for Reed New Holland.