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Overview
Praise for the first edition:
"A native of Finland, the author is the world's best-known owl expert, having visited the birds in 128 countries over the past 40 years. Here he describes all of the world's 249 species of owls in copious detail with tips on identification, habitat, calls, and status and distribution. The text is enhanced by 750 color photographs from leading wildlife photographers. A spectacular book." —Library Journal, Best Reference 2012
"Owl enthusiasts will recognize Owls of the World as an important new reference work written by a world authority. Highly recommended." —Wildlife Afield Journal, Biodiversity Centre for Wildlife Studies
"[An] important book. Recommended for most libraries — good value and quality for the price." —Booklist
Owls of the World, second edition, is the ultimate photographic resource dedicated to the identification of these charismatic birds of prey. It is packed with spectacular photography of 268 species of owls from all over the world, including extinct species. Many of the images are of highly elusive species very rarely caught on camera. The photos are accompanied by authoritative text describing:
- Identification notes
- Habitat
- Population status
- Voice
- Food
- Distribution
- Accurate range maps
- Similar species.
The photographic coverage includes plumages and subspecies which promotes differentiation between species, making this the definitive work on owl identification. Similar-looking ("confusion") species are included and owls are shown as adults from a perspective which clearly shows markings that assist in identification.
For birders, naturalists, wildlife photographers, researchers and any fan of the Order Strigiformes, Owls of the World is the definitive work on species identification as well as a comprehensive encyclopedia for reference and pleasure.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780228102366 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Firefly Books, Limited |
| Publication date: | 10/04/2019 |
| Edition description: | Second Edition |
| Pages: | 528 |
| Product dimensions: | 6.60(w) x 9.50(h) x 1.30(d) |
About the Author
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements Introduction What Makes an Owl?Vision Hearing Significance of ear-tufts Silent flight Bill and claws
The Nature of Owls
Shape and size Calls Colour variation and ageing Abnormalities in owl plumage Moult Food and hunting Habitat Behaviour Intraguild aggression Breeding strategies Longevity records Movements
Evolution of Owls Distribution and Biogeography Taxonomy and DNA-sequencing Owls and Humans Conservation Extinct Owls 'Owlaholics' Owl Associations and Global Research Organisations
Owls on the internet
Species Accounts
Photographs Distribution maps References Topography of a typical owl Abbreviations Glossary
The Species Accounts
TYTONIDAE: BARN, GRASS AND BAY OWLS
1. BARN OWL (Tyto alba) 2. AMERICAN BARN OWL (Tyto furcata) 3. CURACAO BARN OWL (Tyto bargei) 4. LESSER ANTILLES BARN OWL (Tyto insularis) 5. GALAPAGOS BARN OWL (Tyto punctatissima) 6. CAPE VERDE BARN OWL (Tyto detorta) 7. SAO TOME BARN OWL (Tyto thomensis) 8. AUSTRALIAN BARN OWL (Tyto delicatula) 9. BOANG BARN OWL (Tyto crassirostris) 10. ANDAMAN BARN OWL (Tyto deroepstorffi) 11. ASHY-FACED OWL (Tyto glaucops) 12. MADAGASCAR RED OWL (Tyto soumagnei) 13. GOLDEN MASKED OWL (Tyto aurantia) 14. TALIABU MASKED OWL (Tyto nigrobrunnea) 15. EASTERN GRASS OWL (Tyto longimembris) 16. AFRICAN GRASS OWL (Tyto capensis) 17. LESSER MASKED OWL (Tyto sororcula) 18. AUSTRALIAN MASKED OWL (Tyto novaehollandiae) 19. MANUS MASKED OWL (Tyto manusi) 20. SULAWES I MASKED OWL (Tyto rosenbergii) 21. TASMANIAN MASKED OWL (Tyto castanops) 22. SULAWESI GOLDEN OWL (Tyto inexspectata) 23. LESSER SOOTY OWL (Tyto multipunctata) 24. GREATER SOOTY OWL (Tyto tenebricosa) 25. ITOMBWE OWL (Tyto prigoginei) 26. ORIENTAL BAY OWL (Phodilus badius) 27. SRI LANKA BAY OWL (Phodilus assimilis)
STRIGIDAE: TRUE OWLS
28. COMMON SCOPS OWL (Otus scops) 29. PALLID SCOPS OWL (Otus brucei) 30. ARABIAN SCOPS OWL (Otus pamelae) 31. AFRICAN SCOPS OWL (Otus senegalensis) 32. SOCOTRA SCOPS OWL (Otus socotranus) 33. CINNAMON SCOPS OWL (Otus icterorhynchus) 34. SOKOKE SCOPS OWL (Otus ireneae) 35. PEMBA SCOPS OWL (Otus pembaensis) 36. SAO TOME SCOPS OWL (Otus hartlaubi) 37. SEYCHELLES SCOPS OWL (Otus insularis) 38. MAYOTTE SCOPS OWL (Otus mayottensis) 39. GRANDE COMORE SCOPS OWL (Otus pauliani) 40. ANJOUAN SCOPS OWL (Otus capnodes) 41. MOHELI SCOPS OWL (Otus moheliensis) 42. MADAGASCAR SCOPS OWL (Otus rutilus) 43. TOROTOROK A SCOPS OWL (Otus madagascariensis) 44. MOUNTAIN SCOPS OWL (Otus spilocephalus) 45. INDIAN SCOPS OWL (Otus bakkamoena) 46. ORIENTAL SCOPS OWL (Otus sunia) 47. COLLARED SCOPS OWL (Otus lettia) 48. JAPANESE SCOPS OWL (Otus semitorques) 49. ELEGANT SCOPS OWL (Otus elegans) 50. SUNDA SCOPS OWL (Otus lempiji) 51. NICOBAR SCOPS OWL (Otus alius) 52. SIMEULUE SCOPS OWL (Otus umbra) 53. ENGGANO SCOPS OWL (Otus enganensis) 54. MENTAWAI SCOPS OWL (Otus mentawi) 55. RAJAH SCOPS OWL (Otus brookii) 56. SINGAPORE SCOPS OWL (Otus cnephaeus) 57. LUZON LOWLAND SCOPS OWL (Otus megalotis) 58. MINDANAO LOWLAND SCOPS OWL (Otus everetti) 59. VISAYAN LOWLAND SCOPS OWL (Otus nigrorum) 60. GIANT SCOPS OWL (Otus gurneyi) 61. PALAWAN SCOPS OWL (Otus fuliginosus) 62. WHITE-FRONTED SCOPS OWL (Otus sagittatus) 63. REDDISH SCOPS OWL (Otus rufescens) 64. SERENDIB SCOPS OWL (Otus thilohoffmanni) 65. ANDAMAN SCOPS OWL (Otus balli) 66. JAVAN SCOPS OWL (Otus angelinae) 67. WALLACE'S SCOPS OWL (Otus silvicola) 68. FLORES SCOPS OWL (Otus alfredi) 69. MINDANAO SCOPS OWL (Otus mirus) 70. LUZON SCOPS OWL (Otus longicornis) 71. MINDORO SCOPS OWL (Otus mindorensis) 72. RINJANI SCOPS OWL (Otus jolandae) 73. MOLUCCAN SCOPS OWL (Otus magicus) 74. WETAR SCOPS OWL (Otus tempestatis) 75. SULA SCOPS OWL (Otus sulaensis) 76. BIAK SCOPS OWL (Otus beccarii) 77. SULAWESI SCOPS OWL (Otus manadensis) 78. KALIDUPA SCOPS OWL (Otus kalidupae) 79. BANGGAI SCOPS OWL (Otus mendeni) 80. Siau SCOPS OWL (Otus siaoensis) 81. SANGIHE SCOPS OWL (Otus collari) 82. MANTANANI SCOPS OWL (Otus mantananensis) 83. FLAMMULATED OWL (Psiloscops flammeolus) 84. WESTERN SCREECH OWL (Megascops kennicottii) 85. EASTERN SCREECH OWL (Megascops asio) 86. PACIFIC SCREECH OWL (Megascops cooperi) 87. OAXACA SCREECH OWL (Megascops lambi) 88. WHISKERED SCREECH OWL (Megascops trichopsis) 89. BEARDED SCREECH OWL (Megascops barbarus) 90. BALSAS SCREECH OWL (Megascops seductus) 91. BARE-SHANKED SCREECH OWL (Megascops clarkii) 92. TROPICAL SCREECH OWL (Megascops choliba) 93. MARIA KOEPC'S SCREECH OWL (Megascops koepckeae) 94. PERUVIAN SCREECH OWL (Megascops roboratus) 95. TUMBES SCREECH OWL (Megascops pacificus) 96. MONTANE FOREST SCREECH OWL (Megascops hoyi) 97. RUFESCENT SCREECH OWL (Megascops ingens) 98. SANTA MARTA SCREECH OWL (Megascops 'gilesi') 99. COLOMBIAN SCREECH OWL (Megascops colombianus) 100. CINNAMON SCREECH OWL (Megascops petersoni) 101. CLOUD-FOREST SCREECH OWL (Megascops marshalli) 102. NORTHERN TAWNY-BELLIED SCREECH OWL (Megascops watsonii) 103. SOUTHERN TAWNY-BELLIED SCREECH OWL (Megascops usta) 104. BLACK-CAPPED SCREECH OWL (Megascops atricapilla) 105. SANTA CATARINA SCREECH OWL (Megascops sanctaecatarinae) 106. VERMICULATED SCREECH OWL (Megascops vermiculatus) 107. CHOCI SCREECH OWL (Megascops centralis) 108. RORAIMA SCREECH OWL (Megascops roraimae) 109. GUATEMALAN SCREECH OWL (Megascops guatemalae) 110. PUERTO RICAN SCREECH OWL (Megascops nudipes) 111. RIO NAPO SCREECH OWL (Megascops napensis) 112. WHITE-THROATED SCREECH OWL (Megascops albogularis) 113. PALAU OWL (Pyrroglaux podarginus) 114. CUBAN BARE-LEGGED OWL (Gymnoglaux lawrencii) 115. NORTHERN WHITE-FACED OWL (Ptilopsis leucotis) 116. SOUTHERN WHITE-FACED OWL (Ptilopsis granti) 117. SNOWY OWL (Nyctea scandiaca) 118. GREAT HORNED OWL (Bubo virginianus) 119. MAGELLANIC HORNED OWL (Bubo magellanicus) 120. EURASIAN EAGLE OWL (Bubo bubo) 121. PHARAOH EAGLE OWL (Bubo ascalaphus) 122. ROCK EAGLE OWL (Bubo bengalensis) 123. CAPE EAGLE OWL (Bubo capensis) 124. AKUN EAGLE OWL (Bubo leucostictus) 125. SPOTTED EAGLE OWL (Bubo AFRICANus) 126. GREYISH EAGLE OWL (Bubo cinerascens) 127. FRASER'S EAGLE OWL (Bubo poensis) 128. USAMBARA EAGLE OWL (Bubo vosseleri) 129. MILKY EAGLE OWL
Preface
In late 2009, I was approached by Jim Martin from Bloomsbury Publishing with a view to writing this new book on the world's owls, then more than 25 years after the publication of my own Owls of Europe, which is still available (as an e-book) from the same publisher. Since 1983, much has been published on owls and owl biology, including an excellent survey Owls of the Northern Hemisphere by Karel Voous (1988) and Owls of the World by James Duncan (2003), as well as the second edition of a comprehensive book on the taxonomy, distribution and identification of the owls of the world (Konig, Weick and Becking 2008). For the present work, all of these books have been widely consulted and the distribution maps are largely based on those in the last-mentioned book, with the kind permission of the publisher.
The majority of the world's owls, 68 percent, live in the Southern Hemisphere, the remaining 32 percent occurring in the Northern Hemisphere. Most are forest-adapted birds, and thus feeling the pressures of worldwide deforestation trends. An estimated 75 percent of the nearly 270 surviving species of owl are associated with dense and undisturbed forests, the very habitat that is nowadays being destroyed at ever-increasing rates. Deforestation, usually in order to make way for agriculture, has been underway for decades, Brazil and Indonesia being the hotspots. It was once widely believed that the voices of owls emanating from the dark forests were an omen of impending ill fortune, if not death. Perhaps we should now realise that it is, in fact, the increasing absence of owl voices that should be taken as a sign of impending ill fortune for the human species. In logged and silent forests the future will be a stressful one for the owls, as well as for all of us human beings. Although a majority of the world's people now live in cities, we are dependent more than ever on forests, in a way that few of us understand. We should recognise the great value of trees and forests in helping us to deal with the excess carbon that we are generating. The burning of forests not only ends their ability to absorb carbon, but it also produces an immediate flow of carbon back into the atmosphere, making it one of the leading sources of greenhouse-gas emissions. Trees themselves could become victims on a massive scale if climate change eventually causes widespread forest death in such places as Amazonia. One potentially promising plan calls for wealthy countries to help those in the tropics to halt the destruction of their immense forests for agriculture and timber. It is hoped that this book will help us all to understand more about how owls relate to their environment, and how important it is for us to use that environment wisely.
In the main, internet and literature searches for this book have not extended beyond the end of November 2011. It is expected that many new discoveries about owl distribution and biology will be made in the near future. There will certainly also be a major revision of some of the ideas about owl taxonomy presented in these pages, as they do, inevitably, raise more unanswered questions than give valid answers. It would be a great pleasure to receive readers' comments and criticisms on any matters connected with the owls of the world. Any photographs of new or less well-known species or subspecies would be similarly welcomed for future editions of the book. All communications should be addressed to the author c/o Bloomsbury Publishing or e-mail Jim.Martin@bloomsbury.com.
Introduction to second edition
This revised edition pays more attention to owl voices than the first edition. It also includes nineteen new species that have been described or separated since the book was published (up to May 2013), mainly on vocal differences; note that only four of these new species have been confirmed with DNA data. The taxonomy of world owls is still in a state of flux, so I would like to caution readers to keep an open mind on the species listed. It is more than likely that new owl species will be separated out on vocal and/or molecular grounds, and similarly some species now in the book may lose their species status when more is learnt of their distribution, ecology and genetics. Some 70 distribution maps and more than 30 photos have been corrected or added into this new edition. Literature and internet search for this edition ended in May 2013.
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