This is a guide devoted solely to one of the most beautiful of bird families, the pittas. Besides having all the normal sections for a monograph, it also includes 3 studies: a little known feature, called dusky stripes, quite unique to this family, and never before described in detail, a unique molting pattern where immature birds are often found with bald heads and necks and a study of the behaviour of the Fairy Pitta. Besides this the book includes a list of synonyms, more than 1300 references, a list of all little studied islands where pittas have been found with status, and the museum holdings of all pitta skins, skeletons, eggs and fluid specimens. The exquisite watercolour illustrations are by Helga Erritzoe.