What makes owls unique among birds? The Concise Book of Owls , by award-winning writer-naturalist and historian Lochlainn Seabrook, readily answers this and many other questions concerning these enchanting beneficial raptors that make up nearly 2.5 percent of our planet's 10,000 avian species! Packed with fascinating details that are often overlooked by other natural history writers, this brief but informative ornithological 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, Col. 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 (St. Louis, Missouri), 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. Available in paperback and hardcover. Acclaimed neo-Victorian scholar and outdoorsman Lochlainn Seabrook, whose literary works range from astronomy to zoology, is one of the most prolific and popular writer-historians in the world today. A Kentucky Colonel and a recipient of the prestigious Jefferson Davis Historical Gold Medal, he is currently the author and editor of 100 educationally enlightening books for all ages. Described by his readers as "game changers" and "life-altering," his voluminous writings have introduced hundreds of thousands to vital facts that have been left out of our mainstream books. A 7th generation Kentuckian of Appalachian heritage, and a former zoo keeper, ranch hand, and hunting outfitter, Col. Seabrook is a lifelong writer with a 45-year background in science, history, and religion. He is the author of the bestseller The Concise Book of Tigers: A Guide to Nature's Most Remarkable Cats, as well as Rocky Mountain Equines: A Photographic Collection of Horses, Donkeys, and Mules of the American West ; Rocky Mountain Bison: A Photographic Collection of Bison of the American West , and the monumental reference, North America's Amazing Mammals: An Encyclopedia for the Whole Family - the world's first scientific animal guide to include an entry on Sasquatch.