This is a guide to every species of bird that has been sighted in Ireland in the 20th century. The main part of the book is devoted to a detailed listing of the 315 most common species which are to be found on a regular basis. There is a supplementary section dealing with the 90 or so less common species - occasional visitors, Atlantic stragglers and other such examples. The book also contains a general introduction to Irish ornithology, offering an overview of the subject which is accessible to the non-specialist