The Enigma of the Owl: An Illustrated Natural History

Author(s): Mike Unwin and David Tipling

Sciences

A rare invitation into the mysterious lives of owls around the world, with spectacularly revealing photographs and fascinating details.


Perhaps no other creature has so compelling a gaze as the owl. Its unblinking stare mesmerizes; its nocturnal lifestyle suggests secrets and mystery. This lavishly illustrated book celebrates owls from every corner of the world and offers abundant details on fifty-three of the most striking and interesting species, from the tiny Elf Owl of southwestern American deserts to the formidable Blakiston's Fish Owl, the largest of all owls. Mike Unwin has long studied and admired these remarkable birds from cold northern forests to tropical rivers and beyond. He explains how owls evolved into the supreme feathered predators of the night, and he examines their breeding and hunting behaviors, unusual calls, and the cultural myths and superstitions that surround different species.


More than two hundred dramatic color photographs in the wild, taken or selected by David Tipling, capture the wondrous beauty of each owl and the drama of life in its own home region.


Product Information

"By grouping select owls geographically ... Unwin and Tipling enable better appreciation of their unique adaptive capacities. I found I was on a worldwide tour and savoring each species group!" --Tony Angell, from the Foreword

"Visually stunning and scientifically sound, this title will appeal to owl enthusiasts as well as the casual browser." --Booklist Booklist

Mike Unwin is an award-winning author of numerous books and articles on natural history and travel. The British Guild of Travel Writers named him UK Travel Writer of the Year in 2016. He lives in Brighton, UK.


David Tipling is a world-renowned wildlife photographer and author whose many accolades include the designation European Nature Photographer of the Year (2002). He lives in Norfolk, UK.

General Fields

  • : 9780300222739
  • : Yale University Press
  • : Yale University Press
  • : January 2017
  • : United States
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Mike Unwin and David Tipling
  • : Hardback
  • : English
  • : 598.97
  • : 288
  • : 200 color illus.