The sparrows and buntings offer a great identification challenge. Many are long-distance migrants, while others are rare and local. Although most male buntings acquire a bright plumage, many sparrows fit the description of "little brown bird" very well. Still, a closer look reveals intricate and often quite beautiful plumage details that will enable positive identification. This book is the first comprehensive guide to all the sparrows and buntings of North America, as. Well as the buntings of Europe, Asia, and Africa, 110 species in all. The detailed, authoritative descriptions include not only the birds' identifying features but their natural history as well. The 39 color plates depict all the plumages of every species and race described. A range map is included for each species. This beautiful book will help solve the tricky identification problems posed by a delightful and diverse family of birds.