With a few sorry exceptions, it's heartening to think that the gardener or bird-spotter of the 1950s or 60s would immediately recognise most of the songs that sing out over English gardens today.

For the amateur ornithologist of the twenty first century, Teach Yourself Bird Watching will be as much of a delight now as it ever was - a beautifully written, precise guide to identifying, protecting and encouraging birdlife in your garden and beyond.

Since 1938, millions of people have learned to do the things they love with Teach Yourself. Welcome to the how-to guides that changed the modern world.