A wonderful book by nonfiction writer Jennifer Ackerman, who has written four books about birds (the others are The Genius of Birds, Birds by the Shore: Observing the Natural Life of the Atlantic Coast, and The Bird Way: A New Look at How Birds Talk, Work, Play, Parent, and Think), and she is clearly passionate and informed about her subject. This book runs the gamut of information about owls - from adaptations to courting/breeding to roosting and migrating, with additional chapters about the owl and the human imagination (in literature, mythology, folklore, and art) as well as the wisdom of owls, how we can learn from ones who are in captivity, and what we need to learn to conserve their habitat and protect them from depletion or extinction. She consulted a variety of experts, not just nationally but globally, and the research provides a thorough examination of these amazing creatures. A special shout-out to all of those experts (heroes!) - the scientists, researchers, field workers, and conservationists she interviews who are doing the work to learn about, educate us about, and protect owls.

Jennifer Ackerman's "What an Owl Knows" is a well-researched look into several of the owls that we share our world with and some of those who seek to learn more about owls and how they live their lives. She visits research sites around the world and mixes those real life experiences with natural history information about those species. The science Ackerman covers life history knowledge gained as well as research steeped in folklore in ancient cultures.

This book has information that would interest anyone - birder/non-birder, scientist/non-scientist - as owls are beloved or at least well-known by most.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Highly recommended. I'll be looking for owls everywhere now, and admiring their tenacity - and wisdom.

I absolutely loved this book in audiobook format. I thought it was so fascinating and inspires me to go out and listen for owls everyday. I loved the way the author described in detail the different sounds they make because I'm sure everyone just assumes they make the standard who sound which is not the case.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. A lovely book about taking care of and owl and how that Sa-whet owl took care of them. Hard to let animals go too.

I loved this book. I'm fascinated by owls and Ackerman only reinforced that. Her writing draws the reader in, with information about the origin of owls, discoveries of new species, owl behavior (including courting, breeding and nesting), habitat, and the necessity of protecting owls in a rapidly changing world. I highly recommend it to people who are already interested in owls as well as to people who don't know anything about them.

Where I live, we are seeing more owls than ever before which surprises me as we are losing sight of so many other wild beings. This book gave me so much information and in an interesting way also, it wasn't a science textbook. Owls are such fascinating creatures. Anyone interested in birds, but not particularly owls should give this book a try. It will make you realize what you've been missing. I thank Net Galley and Penquin Books for such a great read!

Such a great and thoughtful read. I kept thinking of tidbits throughout the day, a great addition for anyone interested in owls or one with no previous knowledge.

All About Owls
Owls hold our imagination. They are mysterious. They appear wise. They appear frequently in literature and myth. They are symbols both impending victory and impending death. What are they really like, though?

“What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Birds” by Jennifer Ackerman explores the world of owls. She looks at owls from multiple perspectives: the physiology of owls, their environment and how they live in it, how they interact with humans and how humans interact with owls, and what the future holds.

The opening chapters examine those abilities. They examine owls’ remarkable vision and hearing. Their night vision is remarkable. They are one of the few birds with binocular vision and depth perception. Even more remarkable is their hearing. Ackerman reveals that owls can track prey under snow or leaves using hearing alone.

The book also shows why owls can do this. An owl’s facial feathers serve as a sound collector. They are also the key to owls’ silent flight. Bristles on feathers’ leading edge serve as sound baffles. These are only a few of the fascinating facts contained in this book.

The book then turns to how owls live: where they nest, what they hunt (measured by weight, owls are among the deadliest killing machines in nature), how they mate and bring up their young. Ackerman reveals how they defend their turf from rivals – or run if they are outmatched.

As Ackerman shows, over the last 25 years, science has learned a lot about owls. Technology, such as trail cameras and miniature electronics, allow zoologists to uncover the secret lives of owls. They can follow them into their nests, track their migrations, and examine their abilities. She spends time with researchers, amateur and professional, showing how they conduct their research.

There are also chapters showing how owls and people coexist. Owls face prejudice in some human societies, but they are also farmers’ friends, serving as rodent and bird control. There is also a chapter on owls in myth and literature. This includes the impact of the Harry Potter series on owl collecting. Another chapter covers how to observe owls and another examines owl conservation.

“What an Owl Knows” is a delightful book. It reveals unexpected aspects of owls. What we can learn about them, what we can learn from them. It explains why humans have been fascinated by owls from prehistory to the present.

“What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Birds” by Jennifer Ackerman, Penguin Press, 2023, 352 pages, $30.00 (Hardcover), $15.99 (ebook), $27.56 (Audiobook)
This review was written by Mark Lardas, who writes at Ricochet as Seawriter. Mark Lardas, an engineer, freelance writer, historian, and model-maker, lives in League City, TX. His website is marklardas.com.

Jennifer Ackerman, author of The Genius of Birds, has written an insightful book about the latest research on owls. She explores not only North American species, but those across the globe, and participates in field research with leading scientists. The chapters cover vocalizations, courting and breeding, the various kinds of migrations, learning from captive birds, and even a chapter about owls in mythology and folklore. She concludes that owls are more intelligent than we give them credit for, and the fault is ours for not recognizing their range of emotions, various facial expressions, and their ability to alter their behavior “on the fly.”
An enjoyable and insightful read.

Ask any toddler what animal noises they know, and there's a good chance that "hoo" is a top five noise. An owl is one of the world's most recognizable owl that is beloved (and in some cultures feared) by most people. Images of an owl are associated with education, the Fall and Halloween, or in trendy decorations. But although we see these images frequently, its a rarity finding owls in the wild which makes them all the more special.

Jennifer Ackerman takes a look at owls across the world and what makes them so beloved. Her accessible and informative book was at times funny, but also inspires action to consider citizen science efforts to protect these birds. One doesn't have to be a birder to enjoy this book, but Ackerman does offer helpful and safe advice for anyone looking for owls on an adventure. Birders are very protective when it comes to sharing owl locations and images, but it is still pretty magical when finding one. She examines what stresses these birds, why they're hard to find, and are they really so wise as they are depicted. The book also discusses global research and educational programs to teach people the importance of owls and their important impact on the ecosystem. Of course the main threat to owls, is people.

This book will make anyone care not only about owls, but efforts that can be made to save habitats and consider the owl as a much better pesticide than rat poison. A great book for anyone interested in birds, the environment, citizen science, or just a love of all things owls.

** I received this advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of the book."*