Owls: A Guide to Every Species in the World - Hardcover

Taylor, Marianne

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0062413880 ISBN 13: 9780062413888

Publisher: Harper Design Intl, 2016

Synopsis

Discover the fascinating and mysterious world of owls with this stunning full-color, encyclopedic visual guide that explores all 225 known species, packed with maps, photographs, illustrations, informative scientific details, and a bonus 351/2" x 12" accordion poster illustrated with the true-to-size wing length of the largest owl, overlayed with the wing length of the smallest owl and several owls in-between.

Humans have long been fascinated by owls. From prehistoric cave paintings to popular modern children's stories, these magnificent predators have been seen as harbingers of good fortune and impending disaster, as icons of fear and wisdom, and as the powerful sidekicks of magic-makers, including the beloved Harry Potter. Scientists have faced tremendous challenges trying to document the lives of these solitary, nocturnal, and highly elusive creatures. New species are still being discovered, as are new insights into the habits of even the most familiar varieties.

Visually spectacular and authoritative, Owls includes full descriptions and maps of key viewing locations for all 225 owl species in the world, and is illustrated with drawings and stunning full-color images from some of the leading wildlife photographers from around the world which capture these birds' breathtaking beauty and power. The book also features a special section on the art of hiding--a highly honed skill set of the owl.

Throughout, Marianne Taylor provides a wealth of detail on each type of bird's hunting and breeding behavior, habitat, and conservation. Inside, are dozens of fun facts, such as:

• Only nineteen of the 225 known species of owls are found in North America;
• Owls can be found on all continents except Antarctica;
• Owls, like humans, have binocular vision;
• Owls cannot turn their eyes, but are able to rotate their heads up to 270 degrees;
• Owls are carnivorous and are known to eat rodents, small mammals, nocturnal insects, fish, and other birds.

Lavishly illustrated and educational, this breathtaking volume is essential for readers interested in natural science, devout birders, professional ornithologists, and all owl lovers.

About this title

Review:

"Marianne Taylor presents intriguing glimpses into the lives of these birds. . . . Individual species accounts, covering all 42 types occurring in North America and northern Eurasia, make up most of the text. These accounts contain far more detailed information about each species than what is provided in a field guide and include at least one photograph of each species. The photography is absolutely stunning, and portraits or action photos adorn every page. Summing Up: Highly recommended." Choice (1 July 2013)

Marianne Taylor "presents intriguing glimpses into the lives of these birds. . . . Individual species accounts, covering all 42 types occurring in North America and northern Eurasia, make up most of the text. These accounts contain far more detailed information about each species than what is provided in a field guide and include at least one photograph of each species. The photography is absolutely stunning, and portraits or action photos adorn every page. Summing Up: Highly recommended." Choice (July 2013)"

"This informative book, covering all owl species found in the northern hemisphere, looks closely at how owls live their lives, and how best to recognize them. . . . These detailed accounts provide ample information on each species' range, evolution and relationships, geographical variation, breeding behavior, life history, movements and migration, calls, habitat, hunting/foraging behavior, diet, physical description, and conservation status. The large-format book is richly illustrated with sensational, full-color photographs of these compelling birds." Northeastern Naturalist (2012)"

This fascinating owl encyclopedia was written by Marianne Taylor . . . Apart from detailed profiles and images of each of the species, Taylor provides a lot of fascinating information about how owls see, hear, fly, hunt, mate, and more. --National Geographic"

"This fascinating owl encyclopedia was written by Marianne Taylor . . . Apart from detailed profiles and images of each of the species, Taylor provides a lot of fascinating information about how owls see, hear, fly, hunt, mate, and more."--National Geographic

"Lavishly photographed."--Washington Post

"If you're looking for a readable introduction to each of the world's owls, along with some great photos - this is the book you want."--The Birder's Library

"Taylor's comprehensive guide includes photographs and illustrations of all 225 known species and comes with a great bonus: Printed on the other side of the book jacket is a fold-out poster of a Great Gray Owl."--Miami Herald

"One super-amazing feature of this book is its paper jacket: Remove it from the book, unfold it, and the reverse side is a jaw-dropping photo of a great gray owl, shockingly tall and bulky, but life size."--Bird Watcher's Digest

"Taylor makes a gallant effort to be up-to-date on owl taxonomy and nomenclature despite their ongoing flux . . . encyclopedic, offers condensed information about a plausible version of all the world's species of owls."--The New York Review of Books

Book Description:

A glossy, design-led, photo rich book covering owls species of the northern hemisphere.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harper Design Intl
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0062413880
• ISBN 13: 9780062413888
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256