Owls of the World

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

In depth and breadth, Duncan’s work outweighs the many popular books
available about owls. Substantial is the key adjective here: the
physiology, habits, and habitats of the world’s owls are examined in
detail.

The extensive section on the nature of owls focuses on feathers, facial
disks, eyes and vision, ears and hearing, grooming, moulting, size,
colour, feet and talons, diet, hunting behaviours, threat and courtship
displays, nesting, and much more. Classification, evolution of the
species, taxonomy, range, and hybridization are also covered. All of
this information is made more accessible through the extensive use of
carefully selected illustrative photos.

Next, an extensive review of owls in art, culture, and mythology serves
to explain much of our reaction to owls and our ongoing fascination with
these nocturnal birds of prey. With this background, the reader is well
positioned for the subsequent sections, which introduce how scientists
study owls and how environmental changes are affecting owls today and
will affect them in the future.

As massive as the work is to this point, it is only a lead-in to an
outstanding reference section in which 205 owl species are individually
presented. For each there’s a photo; a distribution map; and data on
size, colour, physical characteristics, habitat, natural history, and
“conservation status” (that is, the degree to which it is
endangered).

Owls of the World raises the bar on popular bird books. With its
hundreds of colour photos and masses of interesting facts, it is ideal
for casual browsing. At the same time, it is a solid reference work to
be treasured and consulted repeatedly by both amateur and professional
ornithologists.