'...This is an important modern study of the geographical variation in birds in general and waders in particular. It is therefore of great interest to systematic ornithologists and to all those field ornithologists involved in the ringing and measuring of waders during migration or on the wintering grounds., especially to those workers analysisng the large data sets gathered every year. Hopefully, this book will encourage eco-ethologists to undertake comparative studies of those conspesific wader populations which the authors have distinguished taxonomically.' Ethology, 106(1):1-104 (2000) 'This is an impressive book in more ways than one. ... Should you buy this book? If you have any interest in waders then my answer would be an emphatic yes. ... It is an excellent book.' Ibis, 142 (2000)