This twelve-volume set serves as a comprehensive taxonomic and descriptive survey of the avian species inhabiting the British Isles. David Armitage Bannerman, a prominent ornithologist, compiles extensive field observations and historical data to document the distribution, biology, and behavior of British birds. The work is structured as a definitive reference, integrating scientific rigor with detailed visual documentation to provide a complete record of the region's ornithological diversity.

Ornithologists and historians regard this set as a foundational reference work for the study of British bird life. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the significant value of the original illustrations in identifying species within their natural habitats.