The charm and mystique of owls resonates through human history. From ancient myth and superstition to the most popular modern children's stories, these beautiful, deadly birds are harbingers of good and bad news, icons of fear and wisdom, and powerful sidekicks of magic-makers. Yet uncovering the reality of their lives is a tremendous challenge, as most are nocturnal and many extremely secretive. New species are still being discovered, as are new insights into the habits of even the most familiar species. Owls brings together full descriptions and distribution maps for all 225 owl species in the world, illustrated with stunning colour photographs.
Also included is a fold-out poster that features comparative life-size illustrations of die wingspans of a range of owls, from the smallest Elf Owl to the Barn Owl, the Northem Hawk Owl and the largest species, the Great Gray Owl. There is also a life-size photograph of the Great Gray Owl on the inside of the dustjacket.
Marianne Taylor (California, USA) is a freelance writer, illustrator, photographer and editor. She worked for seven years in natural history publishing, and her particular interest in owls was sparked by a period in 2005 working with bird ringers studying Ural, Tengmalm's and Eagle Owls in the forests of Sweden. She has written on a range of natural history subjects and her er previous books include the RSPB British Birds of Prey.