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Owls are mysterious and compelling birds, but most birders only get a few rare glimpses of owls in the wild. Beautiful Owls: Portraits of Arresting Species From Around the World, however, gives readers intimate and amazing views of 36 of the world's most astonishing and attractive owls. The stunning portraits of each bird are accompanied by text that provides even more insights into each raptor, making this book a lovely addition to any birder or owl lover's library.

Pros

• Stunning studio portrait photos offer large, impressive views of each species covered, though only a single photo with each bird profile.
• Informative text gives a good overview of each bird without overwhelming readers with ornithological minutia.
• Detailed introduction provides comprehensive but easy-to-read information on all owls and is accessible to birders and owl lovers of all experience levels.

Cons

• Range maps have very little color contrast and can be difficult to interpret, especially for species with limited ranges, though the general range is described in the text.
• Wingspan measurements are missing for more than one-third of the species profiles, a curious omission for well known species when captive birds are being photographed.

Description

• Title: Beautiful Owls: Portraits of Arresting Species From Around the World
• Author: Marianne Taylor (Photographs by Andrew Perris)
• Publisher: Ivy Press
• Publication Date: August 2013
• Format: Softcover
• Page Count: 112
• ISBN: 978-1-908005-97-7

• Price: $19.95 (USD)

Review - Beautiful Owls

Owls are amazing but often elusive birds, and even birders who regularly go owling may not be rewarded with clear views of these nocturnal raptors. Beautiful Owls: Portraits of Arresting Species From Around the World offers birders and non-birders alike the opportunity to see these birds in all their glory through exquisitely detailed studio portraits. While the portraits are taken from captive birds at a number of sanctuaries, they are composed with care using natural perches and dark backgrounds to simulate the birds in their natural environment, and no jesses or other restraints are visible in any portrait.

This is more than just a photography book, however. The 12-page introduction gives readers a comprehensive overview of what makes owls unique, including information such as how owls have been connected to different societies from the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans to modern African tribes, the evolution of owls from dinosaurs, different hunting techniques and the prey owls take, how owl senses are adapted to their unique lifestyle and physiology and the differences between the two owl families, Tytonidae and Strigidae. The introduction also features multiple photos, as well as an owl anatomy diagram on page 15. The text is well written to cover the broad scope of owls, but offers plentiful examples of individual species for easier explanation.

The 36 species and subspecies profiles include not only large portraits, but also a brief text discussion of each bird. The details for each owl include:

• Common and scientific names
• Unusual trivia about the species
• Size in centimeters and inches, including wingspan
• Habitat preferences
• Key field marks that help with proper identification
• Hunting style and typical prey
• Call and song description

Range maps are included with each species as well, but the shading is very difficult to see and many of the maps are useless to try and determine the range accurately. The text does include a brief description of each bird's typical range, however.

The portrait photos are amazing, but because each bird only includes a single photo, there are no images of the birds from different angles, in different postures or at different ages. After the species accounts, an additional 12 pages of black-and-white snapshots are included, but they lack captions or species identifications. These additional photos do show more of the birds' behaviors and quirks, however, giving more insight into the lives of captive birds.

A brief glossary is included at the end of the book, along with a list of owl sanctuaries and other owl-related organizations, each with appropriate contact information. The book's index includes common bird names and other terms, but does not include the scientific names of the birds.

Owls fascinate birders of all ages, as well as many non-birders who are intrigued by these nocturnal birds of prey and their mysterious habits. With Beautiful Owls it is possible to get to know these birds with crisp, focused portraits and engaging text, learning about them in a way that is rarely possible in the field and revisiting their beauty and greatness whenever desired. Birders of all experience levels will appreciate this lovely book, and it can be equally enjoyed by photographers or anyone with an affinity for owls.



Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.