Title: What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic BirdsAuthor: Jennifer Ackerman
Publication: June 13, 2023 by Penguin Press
Genre: Nonfiction, Science, Nature
Find it on: Amazon | Audible | Barnes & Noble | Blackwell’s | Waterstones
Rating: 4.5/5★
An instant New York Times bestseller!
A New York Times Notable Book of 2023
Named a Best Book of 2023 by Publishers Weekly
From the author of The Genius of Birds and The Bird Way, a brilliant scientific investigation into owls—the most elusive of birds—and why they exert such a hold on human imagination
With their forward gaze and quiet flight, owls are often a symbol of wisdom, knowledge, and foresight. But what does an owl really know? And what do we really know about owls? Some two hundred sixty species of owls exist today, and they reside on every continent except Antarctica, but they are far more difficult to find and study than other birds because they are cryptic, camouflaged, and mostly active at night. Though human fascination with owls goes back centuries, scientists have only recently begun to understand the complex nature of these extraordinary birds.
In What an Owl Knows, Jennifer Ackerman joins scientists in the field and explores how researchers are using modern technology and tools to learn how owls communicate, hunt, court, mate, raise their young, and move about from season to season. Ackerman brings this research alive with her own personal field observations; the result is an awe-inspiring exploration of owls across the globe and through human history, and a spellbinding account of the world’s most enigmatic group of birds.
“The hoot of an owl is one of the few birdcalls most people know. But a hoot is not just a hoot. There are greeting hoots and territorial hoots and emphatic hoots. And owls don’t just hoot. They shriek, yap, chitter, squeal, squawk, warble, and wail plaintively, most often in courtship songs — love songs made of odd and uncouth sounds generally unappreciated except by the ears for which they are intended.”
Humankind has been fascinated by owls for thousands of years, and I definitely am no exception. I already considered owls one of my favorite animals and this book just confirmed it — owls really are the world’s most enigmatic birds, like the title says. Jennifer Ackerman taught me so much with this book about these beautiful animals. I didn’t even realize that there are so many kinds of owls, over 200 different breeds! All distinct and unique in their own ways. I also learned that every continent (except for Antartica) has owls, which makes them even more special to me.
This was my first book by Jennifer Ackerman but it looks like she has many bird-related books so I have definitely some catching up to do. She wrote What An Owl Knows in a very compelling and accessible way. It was very easy to read (or listen to in my case). Not only goes she into the biology and behavior of owls, she also joins scientist in the fields and tells us all about what she has learned from them. From flying to hunting to their incredible senses to the many diverse noises they make and how they nest (many owls live in tree hollows but some burrow in the ground!).
The audiobook was narrated by Jennifer Ackerman herself and she did an excellent job at it. I really enjoyed listening to her voice and talent for storytelling. I also liked the way she delivered the humor as well as the more moving aspects of the life of owls.
What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Birds by Jennifer Ackerman was a well-researched, captivating and thought-provoking exploration of owls and their dynamic and often surprising way of life. I’d highly recommend this book!
About the author:
Jennifer Ackerman has been writing about science, nature, and health for more than three decades. Her work aims to explain and interpret science for a lay audience and to explore the riddles of the natural world, blending scientific knowledge with strong storytelling. She has won numerous awards and fellowships, including a 2024 Guggenheim Fellowship, a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and fellowships from the National Endowment of the Arts, the Bunting Institute of Radcliffe College (now the Radcliffe Institute), Brown College at the University of Virginia, and the Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service at Tufts University.
This sounds really good! I’ve always been a big bird lover but I don’t think I’ve ever read a book about birds. My husband would probably love this too, since he’s crazy about owls.😁 Thanks for sharing, Stephanie!
It’s REALLY good, Tammy! But it also made me sad that I have never seen an owl in the wild.
What an interesting topic! I hear owls around here sometimes.
I am fascinated by owls, so I fall into that category too. You always feature the most interesting books! I am adding this to my wish list. I think I would like it too!