This book is an excellent guide to Brazil's birds, but it is not a field guide. Illustrated throughout with line drawings, maps and figures which show various aspects of scientific interest (behavior, nests, etc.). At the back of the book are 47 color plates which depict many but not all of the species listed and described in the text. The author, a German immigrant to Brazil who made a life long study of the country's birds, writes in a surprisingly engaging style for such a serious ornithological work. His accounts of bird families and species are peppered with delightful anecdotes and much useful information for the serious student and birder.
Since most of Brazil's birds and their family groups are widespread throughout the neo-tropics the book is useful for information on tropical American birds in general. In addition to the family and species list with their detailed comments, there are sections covering terrain types and their characteristic birds, history of ornithology in Brazil, conservation, and biogeography and speciation. The book is fully referenced throughout. Any serious student of South American birds should probably have this book, or will want to borrow a copy.