If chats are among your favourite birds, you’ll love the “superchats”: a glorious set of Asian species known as the forktails. These beauties are found along rivers and combine the habits of a dipper and the looks of a shama. If you can’t picture that, Bill Naylor’s article will do the painting for you! Right alongside the forktail special is a masterclass from the great Alan Marchant on the best use of a cock budgie across multiple hens – and there’s a lot more to it than the familiar “splash the cash on a star outcross”. Also in-depth discussions on nocturnal birds, birdrooms, finches foreign and native, and parrots – plus some light-hearted contributions to jolly along the days of early winter, and a firm steer on a possible Christmas book choice.

If chats are among your favourite birds, you’ll love the “superchats”: a glorious set of Asian species known as the forktails. These beauties are found along rivers and combine the habits of a dipper and the looks of a shama. ....