What makes owls unique among our planet’s 10,000 bird species? The Concise Book of Owls, by award-winning writer-naturalist and historian Lochlainn Seabrook, readily answers this and many other questions about these enchanting beneficial birds!

Packed with fascinating details that are often overlooked by other natural history writers, this brief but informative work includes 11 chapters on the ecology and life history of owls, covering such topics as the basics of owl science, (vision, hearing, plumage, etc.), owls in superstition, religion, and literature, finding and identifying owls, and owl and habitat conservation. The book also contains a detailed field guide of the 20 owl species found in the U.S. and Canada, with each entry listing the species’ common and scientific names, identifying traits, range, habitat, vocalizations, nesting habits, diet, hunting methods, predators, population, life span, and similar species.

Densely illustrated with nearly 200 color photos and black-and-white drawings, Seabrook also includes a complete list of the world’s 236 owl species, an extensive bibliography (with suggested reading material), and a comprehensive index of every owl referenced in the book. Written in the author’s usual lucid and compact yet educational style, this family-friendly Guide to Nature’s Most Mysterious Birds is a must-have for owl-lovers, birders, and birdwatchers. Endorsed by the World Bird Sanctuary, The Concise Book of Owls is a wonderfully unique addition to the nature writing genre, and makes an ideal title for gift shops at bird centers, owl sanctuaries, aviaries, zoos, and natural history museums.

A former zoo keeper, ranch hand, and hunting guide, outdoorsman Lochlainn Seabrook has written and edited (currently) 78 books ranging in scope from science and nature to history and religion. He is also the author of the bestseller, The Concise Book of Tigers: A Guide to Nature’s Most Remarkable Cats, and the monumental work, North America’s Amazing Mammals: An Encyclopedia for the Whole Family (the world’s first scientific animal guide to include an entry on Sasquatch).