Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
The 19 species of owls that are native to North America share many features in common, both biological and cultural. In this well-written guidebook, veteran wildlife student Kim Long considers the place of owls in human mythology and custom, examines the biology of various representative species, and gives a full account of each major type. Writing of the great horned owl, for instance, which lives everywhere but the highest Arctic, Long gives a species description that compares male and female; provides weight, tail length, and wingspan; notes characteristic habits; and describes the owl's call ("a series of 3-8 loud, low hoots"). Owl fanciers and birders in general will want this slender book close at hand. --Gregory McNamee
Book Description
One of the best-known birds of North America, owls are heard more often than seen. Throughout history, their eerie nighttime hoots have generated myth and superstition as well as fear. But beyond the symbology of the supernatural, owls perform a more practical role in nature. Silent stalkers of the night, owls are efficient, deadly predators, at the top of the food chain and a major balancing factor in the population cycles of many small rodents. "Owls" is a unique and practical guide to these noctural creatures, providing an illustrated presentation of their behavior, biology, and individual characteristics. A practical resource for both the backyard and the field, this combination illustrated field guide, fact book, and folklore collection presents an accurate, informative portrait of owls in their natural habitat, as well as an examination of the relationship between owls and humans, including the threat posed to owls by the destruction of habitat. Topics covered include full-color identification of all nineteen species that breed in North America, anatomy, favorite foods, reproduction, molting, feather structure, owl calls, hunting methods, preferred habitats, natural range, and owls' superior capabilities in hearing and night vision. Also included is a unique cultural history of owls, including the mythology and veneration that these winged creatures have generated throughout history.
|
