Owls of Europe Biology, Identification and Conservation

About this book

An essential compendium on the biology, identification, distribution and conservation of Europe's 13 species of owls.

Owls are fascinating birds, with remarkable adaptations for their lives as nocturnal hunters. Covering the 13 species of owls that occur across the continent, Owls of Europe features detailed drawings of typical positions, behaviours and facial expressions, alongside more than 300 photos selected to demonstrate age and subspecific variation, colour phases and the birds in flight.

This book includes up-to-date distribution maps and the latest European population estimates, along with detailed text on behaviour, voice, brood biology and juvenile development, life strategies, hunting techniques, choice of prey and habitat requirements for each species. It also explores human interactions with owls, from the threats posed to determined conservation efforts.

Owls of Europe is an essential book for birdwatchers, professional ornithologists and those who simply love owls.

Originally published in German in 2020 by Kosmos Verlag as Die Eulen Europas: Biologie, Kennzeichen, Bestande.

Contents

Features and species
- Shared characters
- Species diversity and evolution

Adaptations of owls
- Highly specialised sense organs
- Communication signals

Owl behaviour
- Rest, body maintenance, and movement
- Hunting
- Avoidance of predators and disturbance
- Intra- and inter-specific relationships
- Display and courtship
- Reproduction and brood care
- Nestling period and juvenile development

Life strategies of owls
- Activity pattern
- Choice of prey
- Mating systems and reproductive strategies

Habitat requirements
- Important habitat parameters
- Site selection
- Natural and cultivated landscapes as owl habitats
- Unnatural risk factors

Protection and conservation
- Owls – victims of superstition
- Anthropocentric owl protection
- Species protection – a global obligation
- Ensuring habitat quality

The species
- Barn Owl Tyto alba
- Eagle Owl Bubo bubo
- Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus
- Great Grey Owl Strix nebulosa
- Ural Owl Strix uralensis
- Tawny Owl Strix aluco
- Long-eared Owl Asio otus
- Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
- Scops Owl Otus scops
- Hawk Owl Surnia ulula
- Pygmy Owl Glaucidium passerinum
- Little Owl Athene noctua
- Tengmalm's Owl Aegolius funereus

Determining characteristics of European owls

Addresses
Sources of population estimates
Further reading
Index

Customer Reviews

Biography

Wolfgang Scherzinger is an Austrian ornithologist with particular expertise in owls. His research focused on the Bavarian Forest National Park where he worked as a zoologist. He has been significantly involved in the forest's protection since 1971, and was involved in the reintroduction of both Eagle Owl and Ural Owl to the forest.

The late Theodor Mebs was a German ornithologist and author, who spent his career researching the biology of birds of prey.