With 81 colour plates, over 470 colour photographs, 672 distribution maps, over 3000 bibliographical references. Foreword on the history of bird classification by Murray Bruce. Introduction. Order PASSERIFORMES. Family EURYLAIMIDAE (Broadbills). Family PHILEPITTIDAE (Asities). Family PITTIDAE (Pittas). Family FURNARIIDAE (Ovenbirds). Family DENDROCOLAPTIDAE (Woodcreepers). Family THAMNOPHILIDAE (Typical Antbirds). Family FORMICARIIDAE (Ground-antbirds). Family CONOPOPHAGIDAE (Gnateaters). Family RHINOCRYPTIDAE (Tapaculos). REFERENCES. References of Scientific Descriptions. General List of References.