These fascinating specialized birds with their rounds heads and “dished-shaped” faces have forward-facing eyes, short hooked bills and are mainly nocturnal. Some owls, however, are active at dawn or dusk and others may be seen during the day. Many species are resident, and rear regularly each year, but others are fairly nomadic and settle eventually where food is plentiful. These species tend to rear their young on a more sporadic basis and may have some years where they produce no offspring at all. Owls are found in temperate and tropical parts of the world. This publication covers owls from their evolution to their conservation status in today’s environment.