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What an Owl Knows: the new science of the world’s most enigmatic birds
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Genius of Birds and The Bird Way, a brilliant scientific exploration of owls, the most elusive group of birds, and an investigation into why these remarkable and yet mysterious animals exert such a hold on human imagination.
For centuries, owls have captivated and intrigued us. Our fascination with these mysterious birds was first documented over 30,000 years ago, in the Chauvet cave paintings in southern France, and our enduring awareness and curiosity of their forward gaze and nearly silent flight has cemented the owl as a symbol of wisdom and knowledge, foresight and intuition. But what, really, does an owl know? Though our infatuation goes back centuries, scientists have only recently begun to study these birds in great detail. While more than 270 species exist today, and reside on every continent except Antarctica, owls are far more difficult to find and study than other birds — because while not only cryptic and perfectly camouflaged, owls are most active in the dark of night.
Joining scientists on this maddening and elusive treasure hunt, Jennifer Ackerman brings alive the rich biological history of these animals and reveals the remarkable scientific discoveries into their brains and behaviour. She explores how, with modern technology and tools, researchers now know that owls talk all night long — without opening their bills. That their hoots follow a series of complex rules, allowing them to express needs and desires. That owls duet. They migrate. They use tools. They hoard their prey. Some live in underground burrows, some dine on scorpions.
Ackerman brings this research alive with her own personal field observations about owls, and dives deep too into why this bird endlessly inspires and beguiles us. What an Owl Knows is an awe-inspiring and spellbinding journey across the globe and through human history, and a dazzling account of the astonishing health, hunting skills, communication, and sensory prowess that distinguishes the owl from nearly all other birds. An extraordinary glimpse into the mind of these brilliant animals, What an Owl Knows pulls back the curtain on the the hidden and still undiscovered realities of our shared world.
For centuries, owls have captivated and intrigued us. Our fascination with these mysterious birds was first documented over 30,000 years ago, in the Chauvet cave paintings in southern France, and our enduring awareness and curiosity of their forward gaze and nearly silent flight has cemented the owl as a symbol of wisdom and knowledge, foresight and intuition. But what, really, does an owl know? Though our infatuation goes back centuries, scientists have only recently begun to study these birds in great detail. While more than 270 species exist today, and reside on every continent except Antarctica, owls are far more difficult to find and study than other birds — because while not only cryptic and perfectly camouflaged, owls are most active in the dark of night.
Joining scientists on this maddening and elusive treasure hunt, Jennifer Ackerman brings alive the rich biological history of these animals and reveals the remarkable scientific discoveries into their brains and behaviour. She explores how, with modern technology and tools, researchers now know that owls talk all night long — without opening their bills. That their hoots follow a series of complex rules, allowing them to express needs and desires. That owls duet. They migrate. They use tools. They hoard their prey. Some live in underground burrows, some dine on scorpions.
Ackerman brings this research alive with her own personal field observations about owls, and dives deep too into why this bird endlessly inspires and beguiles us. What an Owl Knows is an awe-inspiring and spellbinding journey across the globe and through human history, and a dazzling account of the astonishing health, hunting skills, communication, and sensory prowess that distinguishes the owl from nearly all other birds. An extraordinary glimpse into the mind of these brilliant animals, What an Owl Knows pulls back the curtain on the the hidden and still undiscovered realities of our shared world.
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 13, 2023
1736 people are currently reading
17550 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Ackerman
18 books696 followersJennifer Ackerman has been writing about science and nature for three decades. She is the author of eight books, including the New York Times bestseller, The Genius of Birds, which has been translated into more than twenty languages. Her articles and essays have appeared in Scientific American, National Geographic, The New York Times, and many other publications. Ackerman is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship in Nonfiction, a Bunting Fellowship, and a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Her articles and essays have been included in several anthologies, among them Best American Science Writing, The Nature Reader, and Best Nature Writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 920 reviews
August 17, 2023
Image: Pair of Chocolate Boobooks
On a past review of some animal book or other, someone commented that I should just stick to reading encyclopedias.
I'm pretty sure he was being shitty and sarcastic - but he kinda had a point.
I get annoyed when I pick up a book on animals or other non-human scientific subjects and end up reading mostly about humans.
I want facts. I want it to stick to the topic. I don't want to hear about people. (This is perhaps where I should say sorry, but I'm not.)
I was excited to get this book about owls, those elusive and nocturnal birds of prey.
The subtitle is "The New Science of the World's Most Enigmatic Birds". My brain saw "science" and went "Hurray! A book of facts! About owls!"
Well. There were some facts, but the author spent a heck of a lot more time talking about the people who study owls and their methods for doing so than she spent on owl facts.
There was even a chapter about owls in art and another on people who have had birds for pets, including quite a bit about Harry Potter and Hedwig the Owl.
Can you guess how disappointed I was?
There were a few things I learned, interspersed here and there, that saved the book from receiving a miserly one star:
~There are around 260 owl species alive today that we know of, and a further 100 that have gone extinct.
~There is a species known as the Chocolate Boobook. What a cool name!!! Chocolate, boobs, books.... All things that I love.
~Owls can regenerate the hairs in their ears, preventing them from suffering hearing loss as they age.
~The biggest owl, the Blakiston's Fish Owl, is “the size of a fire hydrant with a six-foot wingspan".
~Owlets begin vocalizing while still in the egg.
~Burrowing Owl chicks can imitate the sound of a rattlesnake to scare predators away.
There were a few more noteworthy facts that I hadn't known and which were fun but for the most part this book failed to keep my interest.
I appreciate that the author talks about climate change and loss of habitat which threatens owls along with many other animal species, and conservation efforts that are being carried out around the world. (That was kinda boring for me too but I'm still glad she included it.)
I think others will love this book more than I did. The current trend with "scientific" books is to have a lot about humans and that must mean that the majority of people like reading about other people even when the main subject is (supposed to be) other animals.
I'll give it 3 stars simply because I finished it, because there were a few interesting facts, because it's well written, and because I think most people will be able to appreciate it more than I did. Oh, and there are a lot of cool photos too.
September 28, 2023
What a fantastic book combining old myths with the latest science to unpack these wonderful birds!
I've loved owls ever since I was a little kid. Why? Because they are awesome!
OK, I might be biased but even before I met some owls in person (not just in falconries but by going hiking with some at a falconer's sanctuary specializing in therapy birds), I was endlessly fascinated.
Their flight is almost completely soundless:
(The picture is a link to a video.)
When they zero in on something (prey, a place to land, ...), they actually use maths to calculate their flight path and whatever else they need, making their movements very precise. Leading to astonishing acrobatics like this:
(The picture is a link to a video.)
Moreover, one species of owl or another lives on EVERY continent of this planet (except Antarctica).
They also eat all kinds of prey. Eagle Owls, for example, carry away young deer despite them being bigger than they are and there is another species that does the same with small whales!
We still are far away from knowing everything about these animals. One of my favorite puzzles are parliaments of owls (why some owls congregate in the first place, if it has to do with where they live, if it's restricted to certain species or if others would do it, too, in certain environments etc.).
That's why I like that there are so many projects dedicated to protecting owls and studying them because it gives us the ability to observe hand-reared animals to see if there are differences (and if so, what kind) between wild owls and those living with humans.
Owls are not only different from species to species, they are true individuals, curious (instead of only going by instinct), they can be quirky and funny and are extremely smart, they live in all kinds of places (nests in trees, cracks on mountain sides, underground burrows, and more), eat all kinds of things (some eat scorpions, others even other owls) and are generally highly adaptable. Which probably explains their evolutionary success.
What I learned from this book (something I hadn't known before) is that owls lost the ability to see colour - a trade-in against other sensory powers:
(The picture is a link to a video.)
The author's passion for these stunning birds was palpable. The facts were presented in a highly engaging way, too, making this a really cool and informative reading experience.
So yes, this is a love letter of sorts. And one I was totally here for. This book was a great reading experience in audio but I've already also ordered the print copy. Like I said: I love that the author scoured all kinds of sources and nicely combined old beliefs with the latest discoveries, debunking wrongful assumptions along the way and generally painted an intricate picture of these beautiful animals.
I've loved owls ever since I was a little kid. Why? Because they are awesome!
OK, I might be biased but even before I met some owls in person (not just in falconries but by going hiking with some at a falconer's sanctuary specializing in therapy birds), I was endlessly fascinated.
Their flight is almost completely soundless:
(The picture is a link to a video.)
When they zero in on something (prey, a place to land, ...), they actually use maths to calculate their flight path and whatever else they need, making their movements very precise. Leading to astonishing acrobatics like this:
(The picture is a link to a video.)
Moreover, one species of owl or another lives on EVERY continent of this planet (except Antarctica).
They also eat all kinds of prey. Eagle Owls, for example, carry away young deer despite them being bigger than they are and there is another species that does the same with small whales!
We still are far away from knowing everything about these animals. One of my favorite puzzles are parliaments of owls (why some owls congregate in the first place, if it has to do with where they live, if it's restricted to certain species or if others would do it, too, in certain environments etc.).
That's why I like that there are so many projects dedicated to protecting owls and studying them because it gives us the ability to observe hand-reared animals to see if there are differences (and if so, what kind) between wild owls and those living with humans.
Owls are not only different from species to species, they are true individuals, curious (instead of only going by instinct), they can be quirky and funny and are extremely smart, they live in all kinds of places (nests in trees, cracks on mountain sides, underground burrows, and more), eat all kinds of things (some eat scorpions, others even other owls) and are generally highly adaptable. Which probably explains their evolutionary success.
What I learned from this book (something I hadn't known before) is that owls lost the ability to see colour - a trade-in against other sensory powers:
(The picture is a link to a video.)
The author's passion for these stunning birds was palpable. The facts were presented in a highly engaging way, too, making this a really cool and informative reading experience.
So yes, this is a love letter of sorts. And one I was totally here for. This book was a great reading experience in audio but I've already also ordered the print copy. Like I said: I love that the author scoured all kinds of sources and nicely combined old beliefs with the latest discoveries, debunking wrongful assumptions along the way and generally painted an intricate picture of these beautiful animals.
July 19, 2023
I had previously read and enjoyed Jennifer Ackerman’s The Genius of Birds, so when I saw she had written about owls, I was anxious to read it. Owls convey a mysterious image, and there is a reason – we still know very little about them. This book provides the latest scientific information based on recent studies. Technological advances have made it easier to study them in hard-to-reach places of the world. It also covers owls in history, popular culture, and superstitions. I particularly enjoyed the segment on their communication methods, and what their different sounds transmit to other owls. I found it fascinating.
December 30, 2023
I’ve been captivated by owls since I was a toddler. There was an owl-shaped switch plate in my bedroom — the light switch formed its beak, and it’s huge eyes absorbed light and glowed green in the dark. That was probably the start of it.
As an adult, I collect owl objects, and low key treat owls as a sort of totem. Being a word guy, most of my interest in owls has been directed toward stories, tending toward the cultural and mythological. Jennifer Ackerman’s book, What the Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Bird, is calculated to capture the attention of non-scientific enthusiasts like myself and draw us into the actual fascinating facts of this mysterious bird of the night.
And this book is full of fascinating owl facts, both about the birds themselves and the nature of the ongoing research on them. Among the fascinating facts that I learned was that the large dish-shaped face of some owl species is an adaptation to improve their hearing, that some owls can hunt in total darkness, by sound alone, and that at least some species of owls can start to vocalize while still in the egg.
These mysterious night birds with uncanny, human-like features have mystified and fascinated humans since the dawn of time. Ackerman’s book fills in some of that mystery with equally fascinating research.
As an adult, I collect owl objects, and low key treat owls as a sort of totem. Being a word guy, most of my interest in owls has been directed toward stories, tending toward the cultural and mythological. Jennifer Ackerman’s book, What the Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Bird, is calculated to capture the attention of non-scientific enthusiasts like myself and draw us into the actual fascinating facts of this mysterious bird of the night.
And this book is full of fascinating owl facts, both about the birds themselves and the nature of the ongoing research on them. Among the fascinating facts that I learned was that the large dish-shaped face of some owl species is an adaptation to improve their hearing, that some owls can hunt in total darkness, by sound alone, and that at least some species of owls can start to vocalize while still in the egg.
These mysterious night birds with uncanny, human-like features have mystified and fascinated humans since the dawn of time. Ackerman’s book fills in some of that mystery with equally fascinating research.
July 25, 2024
Cloud library app
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Very enjoyable and informative.. gets you thinking too.
Definitely appreciate these intriguing creatures more and I added another place to my bucket list to visit someday 😊.
Major respect for the people dedicated to the care for these owls 🦉 and the ones tracking them to learn more about them.
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Very enjoyable and informative.. gets you thinking too.
Definitely appreciate these intriguing creatures more and I added another place to my bucket list to visit someday 😊.
Major respect for the people dedicated to the care for these owls 🦉 and the ones tracking them to learn more about them.
March 18, 2023
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."*
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."*
July 24, 2023
I’ve had an obsession with owls for almost the entirety of my life (I even have an owl tattoo!) – even before it was a favored fad. Even though I have a connection to ALL birds; owls are one of my two spirit animals (the other is a bear, for those who are curious) and thus hold the top contender spot. Despite their popularity; owls are one of the least, if not THE least, studied birds in the field of ornithology due to their dusk-to-dawn lifestyles. Although much has already been gleaned about these beloved birds of prey; there are endless unanswered questions. Expert naturist and best-selling author of the astoundingly well-received, “The Bird Way” (and may I personally add: absolutely mind-blowing) returns with an exploration of the current state of owl research in, “What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Birds”.
In “What an Owl Knows”, Ackerman presents an expose of current state of affairs in owl research and recent revelations atop a foundation of owl facts and a personal field-study memoir. Those familiar with Ackerman’s writing style can attest that she does it well; equally drenching academia with an accessible format suited for all audiences. The first two sections of “What an Owl Knows” set an owl foundation exploring owls in general and their ways of existing. Rather than be a boring factual recall; Ackerman infuses the information with obvious passion and respect for the birds which translates onto readers. The only downfall is that this is more targeted towards those unfamiliar with the bulk of owl facts as fellow owl-lowers will not encounter any new information.
The third section of “What an Owl’s Knows” begins the reveal of current owl studies/research, organizations involved and how these affect the future. Ackerman spent years (the bulk of the pandemic) gaining first-hand experience in the field among owl experts and therefore doesn’t just present a journalistic recall in “What an Owl Knows” but shares first-hand experience adding both credibility and excitement to the text. Ackerman’s research is thorough and views the material through the lens of a scientist and also an owl-lover thereby answering all questions and perspectives packing meat onto the skeleton of “What an Owl Knows”. The extensive list of experts and organizations that Ackerman consulted and worked with is not only impressive; but brings awareness to readers.
Effortlessly, “What an Owl Knows” encourages readers to Google various owl species, regions, etc; while reading the text which helps solidify the information and heighten interest. Occasionally, this does make for a bit of an overwhelming pace but nothing that is too detrimental to readers. On the hand, Ackerman is guilty of selective repetition whether this is to solidify information or the absence of a staunch editor is unknown but it does impede the flow, slightly.
The glaring void in “What an Owl Knows” is the magnetic attraction and chemistry found within Ackerman’s “The Bird Way” and “The Genius of Birds”. It is difficult to pinpoint why “What an Owl Knows” isn’t as glittery and memorable but it simply doesn’t stack up. Personally, I was in a heightened state of glee while reading “The Bird Way” talking about what I learned to anyone who will listen meanwhile recommending left and right (my ‘victims’ also loved it). That isn’t the case with “What an Owl Knows” with it not encouraging page-turning as eagerly. Bluntly, I didn’t learn ‘that’ much but perhaps this is because I’m up-to-date with owl science. “What an Owl Knows” is better suited as an introduction to the field.
“What an Owl Knows” become more engrossing in the final chapters discussing owl anthropology/cultures, the future of owl species and what humans can do to help owls prosper due to the relatable characteristics of the content. These sections are fast-paced and a highlight of the text resulting in a solid and emotive finality.
Ackerman supplements “What an Owl Knows” with illustrations/images throughout, a section of photo plates and a list of references/further reading.
“What an Owl Knows” is a solid-enough read that it is critical in highlighting the importance of owls and preserving their species in a world of deforestation, climate change and over-agriculture. “What an Owl Knows” isn’t ‘bad’ but it simply lacks the magic of Ackerman’s other texts. “What an Owl Knows” is best suited for owl lowers still new to the field and obsession.
In “What an Owl Knows”, Ackerman presents an expose of current state of affairs in owl research and recent revelations atop a foundation of owl facts and a personal field-study memoir. Those familiar with Ackerman’s writing style can attest that she does it well; equally drenching academia with an accessible format suited for all audiences. The first two sections of “What an Owl Knows” set an owl foundation exploring owls in general and their ways of existing. Rather than be a boring factual recall; Ackerman infuses the information with obvious passion and respect for the birds which translates onto readers. The only downfall is that this is more targeted towards those unfamiliar with the bulk of owl facts as fellow owl-lowers will not encounter any new information.
The third section of “What an Owl’s Knows” begins the reveal of current owl studies/research, organizations involved and how these affect the future. Ackerman spent years (the bulk of the pandemic) gaining first-hand experience in the field among owl experts and therefore doesn’t just present a journalistic recall in “What an Owl Knows” but shares first-hand experience adding both credibility and excitement to the text. Ackerman’s research is thorough and views the material through the lens of a scientist and also an owl-lover thereby answering all questions and perspectives packing meat onto the skeleton of “What an Owl Knows”. The extensive list of experts and organizations that Ackerman consulted and worked with is not only impressive; but brings awareness to readers.
Effortlessly, “What an Owl Knows” encourages readers to Google various owl species, regions, etc; while reading the text which helps solidify the information and heighten interest. Occasionally, this does make for a bit of an overwhelming pace but nothing that is too detrimental to readers. On the hand, Ackerman is guilty of selective repetition whether this is to solidify information or the absence of a staunch editor is unknown but it does impede the flow, slightly.
The glaring void in “What an Owl Knows” is the magnetic attraction and chemistry found within Ackerman’s “The Bird Way” and “The Genius of Birds”. It is difficult to pinpoint why “What an Owl Knows” isn’t as glittery and memorable but it simply doesn’t stack up. Personally, I was in a heightened state of glee while reading “The Bird Way” talking about what I learned to anyone who will listen meanwhile recommending left and right (my ‘victims’ also loved it). That isn’t the case with “What an Owl Knows” with it not encouraging page-turning as eagerly. Bluntly, I didn’t learn ‘that’ much but perhaps this is because I’m up-to-date with owl science. “What an Owl Knows” is better suited as an introduction to the field.
“What an Owl Knows” become more engrossing in the final chapters discussing owl anthropology/cultures, the future of owl species and what humans can do to help owls prosper due to the relatable characteristics of the content. These sections are fast-paced and a highlight of the text resulting in a solid and emotive finality.
Ackerman supplements “What an Owl Knows” with illustrations/images throughout, a section of photo plates and a list of references/further reading.
“What an Owl Knows” is a solid-enough read that it is critical in highlighting the importance of owls and preserving their species in a world of deforestation, climate change and over-agriculture. “What an Owl Knows” isn’t ‘bad’ but it simply lacks the magic of Ackerman’s other texts. “What an Owl Knows” is best suited for owl lowers still new to the field and obsession.
July 26, 2023
Say whoo if you like this book. WHOO WHOO
June 13, 2023
Ackerman's books are always fascinating, and if you are interested in owls at all, this one is a must-read. I adored the Eastern screech and Great Horned owls that used to live around my backyard in Ohio, I'll have to find owls again in Spain. I also acquired an additional reason to dislike J. K. Rowling even more than I already did.
August 2, 2024
Whooo... Knew?
So much more than biology of breeds and kinematics of flight, Ackerman's new book transports readers to the world of owls. From the Burrowing Owls in dens, to the Barred Owls in the snags and woods in my area, to the Snowy Owls in the Arctic regions; this book covers habitat, habits, preservation and research methods. As an indicator of range of info covered, the author discussed over fifty different owl breeds of the two hundred plus worldwide. More than twenty-seven of those are included in the many photos, some types more often than others. There are over seventy photos, seventeen of which are color center inserts of owls.
The final chapters discuss owls in popular culture, such as Harry Potter's Snowy Owl, the Christmas tree survivor from 2020, and Barry the Barred Owl in New York. The book is written with much wit and wisdom, and is sure to be of interest to birders and nature lovers everywhere. I found this hardback among the new releases on a recent visit to Barnes & Noble.
So much more than biology of breeds and kinematics of flight, Ackerman's new book transports readers to the world of owls. From the Burrowing Owls in dens, to the Barred Owls in the snags and woods in my area, to the Snowy Owls in the Arctic regions; this book covers habitat, habits, preservation and research methods. As an indicator of range of info covered, the author discussed over fifty different owl breeds of the two hundred plus worldwide. More than twenty-seven of those are included in the many photos, some types more often than others. There are over seventy photos, seventeen of which are color center inserts of owls.
The final chapters discuss owls in popular culture, such as Harry Potter's Snowy Owl, the Christmas tree survivor from 2020, and Barry the Barred Owl in New York. The book is written with much wit and wisdom, and is sure to be of interest to birders and nature lovers everywhere. I found this hardback among the new releases on a recent visit to Barnes & Noble.
September 9, 2023
This book was right in my wheelhouse—an exhaustively researched and engagingly written look at an aspect of the natural world that I find appealing—so I just loved Jennifer Ackermans’s in-depth consideration of the ever-mysterious owl. I’m not alone in being drawn to the owl—I mean, who isn’t, really?—so if you share my fascination, you’ll find this a very rewarding read. Even if you already know a fair bit about the owl’s many sensory and other physical adaptations that allow it to be such a silent, lethal night hunter, there will be plenty of new info here for you, as Ackerman visits the ongoing field studies of the world’s foremost owl experts, where developing technology provides better information and surprising insights—though owls remain tantalizingly hard to find and understand. For instance, I had no idea that the annual October trapping in mist nets of migrating saw-whet owls that takes place near my friend’s house in Prince Edward County is part of a huge network of sites (I think I remember the author saying it is 200 North America wide) doing the same thing for research purposes. And as a personal aside, I’d have to say that perhaps my most thrilling hiking experience was encountering a great horned owl sitting quietly in a tree just off the path in the mixed deciduous forest we were walking through. It was broad daylight, and she was on a branch almost overhanging the path, her great golden eyes wide open and never leaving us as we stopped to admire her size and beauty before moving on, awed and humbled by our close encounter with such an incredible creature.
September 28, 2023
Mildly disappointing. There's a ton of information about owls here, but it reads a bit like a "one thing after another" list. The problem may be inherent in the material; it's hard to come to any useful generalizations about owls since there are so many different species. And the chapter on stories and legends about owls is thin. I'm an owl afficionado, so I'm nor sorry I read it, but the conclusions about owls as smart in their own way, as markers of our environmental problems and the ability of some owls to adjust in remarkable ways apply to almost any animal you focus in on. I was hoping for more.
September 4, 2024
4 stars ✨🦉❤️ There’s something about owls that’s just... enchanting. Maybe it’s those big, soulful eyes that seem to peer into the depths of your soul. Or perhaps it’s their silent flight, gliding through the night like a feathery ghost.
Reading this book, I expected to dive headfirst into the world of these mystical creatures. Instead, I found myself wading through a lot of talk about, well, people.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Ackerman’s book is charming in its own way. She weaves old myths with the latest science to unpack the wonders of owls, and there’s no shortage of fascinating tidbits. Did you know that the Blakiston’s Fish Owl is “the size of a fire hydrant with a six-foot wingspan”? Or that owlets start vocalizing while they’re still inside the egg? And let’s not forget about the Chocolate Boobook – honestly, that name alone is worth the price of admission.
But here’s the thing: I was hoping for a deep dive into the life of owls, a treasure trove of owl facts. Instead, I got a lot of stories about the people who study owls, their methods, and their sometimes eccentric obsessions. Interesting? Sure. But not quite what I signed up for.
While it’s cool to see how these birds have captured our imagination throughout history, I couldn’t help but wish for more of the birds themselves and less about the humans who adore them.
That said, I do appreciate Ackerman’s nod to the bigger picture. She doesn’t shy away from the threats facing owls today, from climate change to habitat loss. It’s a sobering reminder that these magnificent birds, like so many other species, are in trouble.
But let’s circle back to the owls, shall we? These creatures are downright magical. They can regenerate the hairs in their ears to avoid hearing loss as they age (can you imagine if we could do that?). Burrowing Owl chicks have mastered the art of mimicry, imitating the sound of a rattlesnake to scare off predators. And with around 260 species of owls that we know of – plus another hundred that have gone extinct – there’s no shortage of owl lore to explore.
'What an Owl Knows' will make you care not just about owls, but about the efforts to save their habitats and protect these extraordinary birds from the many threats they face. It’s a great read for anyone who loves birds, especially owls <3
Reading this book, I expected to dive headfirst into the world of these mystical creatures. Instead, I found myself wading through a lot of talk about, well, people.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Ackerman’s book is charming in its own way. She weaves old myths with the latest science to unpack the wonders of owls, and there’s no shortage of fascinating tidbits. Did you know that the Blakiston’s Fish Owl is “the size of a fire hydrant with a six-foot wingspan”? Or that owlets start vocalizing while they’re still inside the egg? And let’s not forget about the Chocolate Boobook – honestly, that name alone is worth the price of admission.
But here’s the thing: I was hoping for a deep dive into the life of owls, a treasure trove of owl facts. Instead, I got a lot of stories about the people who study owls, their methods, and their sometimes eccentric obsessions. Interesting? Sure. But not quite what I signed up for.
While it’s cool to see how these birds have captured our imagination throughout history, I couldn’t help but wish for more of the birds themselves and less about the humans who adore them.
That said, I do appreciate Ackerman’s nod to the bigger picture. She doesn’t shy away from the threats facing owls today, from climate change to habitat loss. It’s a sobering reminder that these magnificent birds, like so many other species, are in trouble.
But let’s circle back to the owls, shall we? These creatures are downright magical. They can regenerate the hairs in their ears to avoid hearing loss as they age (can you imagine if we could do that?). Burrowing Owl chicks have mastered the art of mimicry, imitating the sound of a rattlesnake to scare off predators. And with around 260 species of owls that we know of – plus another hundred that have gone extinct – there’s no shortage of owl lore to explore.
'What an Owl Knows' will make you care not just about owls, but about the efforts to save their habitats and protect these extraordinary birds from the many threats they face. It’s a great read for anyone who loves birds, especially owls <3
March 24, 2024
Owls fascinate me. We have woods behind our house, and hearing them hoot when the windows are open is one of my very favorite things. This book taught me a lot of new facts and had some good stories, too.
July 9, 2024
Common National Geographic contributor Jennifer Ackerman and author of "The Genius of Birds," has compiled a well researched book that imparts a cold magnifying glass for a feather-laden view into the microcosm of owls and those that study them with obsession.
“Once I watched a hummingbird dive-bomb a female owl who was sleeping. And she woke up and was like, ‘What the heck? I’m not doing anything!"
—Jennifer Ackerman"
Owls are commonly associated with omens, death and wisdom. So, what do owls really know about anything? Well to begin with, they have super hearing. Great grey owls have the ability to process sound which squirts a bold picture into the birds' mind instantaneously of the prey far below. Read.
“Once I watched a hummingbird dive-bomb a female owl who was sleeping. And she woke up and was like, ‘What the heck? I’m not doing anything!"
—Jennifer Ackerman"
Owls are commonly associated with omens, death and wisdom. So, what do owls really know about anything? Well to begin with, they have super hearing. Great grey owls have the ability to process sound which squirts a bold picture into the birds' mind instantaneously of the prey far below. Read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2024
I haven’t had a lot of time for audiobooks lately, but this was a recent random pick from Libby. I enjoyed it! It was like an easily digestible summary of various scientific articles about owls. I wouldn’t say that it was anything special, but nice if you want to learn some cool owls facts.
June 17, 2025
The nice lady who sells mushrooms at the farmers’ market is always reading a book about how the world is going to hell in a handbasket or, alternately, doomscrolling through social media, so one day, while negotiating the purchase of some Chanterelles for sauteing, I brandished my copy of What an Owl Knows at her and urged her to tear herself away from the endless cycle of toxic news and read it because while, God knows, owls (individually and as species) have their problems, even one chapter of this book contains more cheerful information about people who are doing fulfilling, necessary, selfless, and interesting work than the whole of the social media platform X.
She laughed. I’m pretty sure that she wasn’t laughing at me.
It’s not like this book is a fluffy confection of happy talk about cute round-faced birdies. Owls have problems. Climate change and deforestation did not surprise me as issues, but I did learn that well-meaning attempts to clear dead trees (called “snags” – a usage of this word that I had not heard before) also deprive owls of their accustomed habitats. Still, I say the book is cheerful because it features a lot of people who are in the happy position of being paid for doing what they love (that is, studying owls) and who are at peace with nature.
I read this book for a science book club at the local courageous independent bookstore. I enjoyed the book’s tone, but one young person at the club said the book was not terribly well organized, which might be a legitimate complaint. The author of this book reminded me of a kid who really likes dinosaurs and is constantly talking about them, except she is a grown-up with grown-up vocabulary and intellect. Also, owls are descended from dinosaurs, so such enthusiasm doesn’t seem completely inappropriate.
In addition to attending book clubs at the local courageous etc., I also lead a book club in my apartment building, which is on summer hiatus. I am putting this book as a candidate on the list for books to read in the fall because the grey-haired demographic that attends the club is especially interested in birds, and also because it is 293 pages long, which seems like a reasonable amount of pages to ask someone to read in a month. I guess, all in all, that is a genuine recommendation.
Other words in the book that I did not previously know:
-- understory (p. 183): an underlying layer of vegetation. (See here.)
-- irruption (p. 191 and elsewhere): a sudden sharp increase in the relative numbers of a natural population usually associated with favorable alteration of the environment. (See definition c here, the example sentence immediately following even mentions owls.)
-- pronghorn (p. 131): a type of animal, native to North America, which resembles an antelope and is sometimes mistakenly called an antelope, but is not an antelope. (See here.)
She laughed. I’m pretty sure that she wasn’t laughing at me.
It’s not like this book is a fluffy confection of happy talk about cute round-faced birdies. Owls have problems. Climate change and deforestation did not surprise me as issues, but I did learn that well-meaning attempts to clear dead trees (called “snags” – a usage of this word that I had not heard before) also deprive owls of their accustomed habitats. Still, I say the book is cheerful because it features a lot of people who are in the happy position of being paid for doing what they love (that is, studying owls) and who are at peace with nature.
I read this book for a science book club at the local courageous independent bookstore. I enjoyed the book’s tone, but one young person at the club said the book was not terribly well organized, which might be a legitimate complaint. The author of this book reminded me of a kid who really likes dinosaurs and is constantly talking about them, except she is a grown-up with grown-up vocabulary and intellect. Also, owls are descended from dinosaurs, so such enthusiasm doesn’t seem completely inappropriate.
In addition to attending book clubs at the local courageous etc., I also lead a book club in my apartment building, which is on summer hiatus. I am putting this book as a candidate on the list for books to read in the fall because the grey-haired demographic that attends the club is especially interested in birds, and also because it is 293 pages long, which seems like a reasonable amount of pages to ask someone to read in a month. I guess, all in all, that is a genuine recommendation.
Other words in the book that I did not previously know:
-- understory (p. 183): an underlying layer of vegetation. (See here.)
-- irruption (p. 191 and elsewhere): a sudden sharp increase in the relative numbers of a natural population usually associated with favorable alteration of the environment. (See definition c here, the example sentence immediately following even mentions owls.)
-- pronghorn (p. 131): a type of animal, native to North America, which resembles an antelope and is sometimes mistakenly called an antelope, but is not an antelope. (See here.)
August 7, 2025
When I was in high school back in the early to mid-70's we had this silly hand gesture known school wide as the "hoot me" and I'll leave to ya'lls imagination the intent & purpose though quite puerile and a bit salacious as to be expected in hypo-hormonally juiced teenagers, hah. Well here now it's 50 years hence, we're all grown had lives, careers, some of us raised families (not I unfortunately) of our own and are dealing with grandkids who are growing up with the damned ol' Internet which I thank god we were well before such distraction/destruction. So then, anyway, long as I'm adrift here in reflection it's funny that four of me mates from way back then whom I've kept touch with got together recently in Bozeman, MT to spend a few days golfing, drinking & reminiscing and one of the things that came up was where did the said hoot me originate from, WHO was the first knucklehead to conjure that ubiquitous HS hijinks? Well, needless to say but it was lost to time, hidden as a hoot owl you might say. Since I don't travel well and was not present, they sent me via Internet (it IS a valuable tool for certain things, yes) a silly pic of all four in full goofy-grin posture THAT hoot sign! Laughed my ass off I did.
Oh yeah, the review, well as evidenced by most of my stuff here lately, for a few years actually I don't really "review books, more so just comment on them where they intersect with personal interests and generally say, hey I like this book and you might too. Limitations, one finger typing, painful sitting and the like do not permit what some peeps do here so marvelously - you who are my fav's. know who you are, right? Inspector. So, let me just say that this IS a hella interesting book about an elusive but captivating avian creature that is little known to most yet enthralling in both good/bad mythological ways. I am now an OWL GUY forevermore. AND, as throwback ya'll can just hoot me .. but in a good way, right!
Oh yeah, the review, well as evidenced by most of my stuff here lately, for a few years actually I don't really "review books, more so just comment on them where they intersect with personal interests and generally say, hey I like this book and you might too. Limitations, one finger typing, painful sitting and the like do not permit what some peeps do here so marvelously - you who are my fav's. know who you are, right? Inspector. So, let me just say that this IS a hella interesting book about an elusive but captivating avian creature that is little known to most yet enthralling in both good/bad mythological ways. I am now an OWL GUY forevermore. AND, as throwback ya'll can just hoot me .. but in a good way, right!
March 24, 2024
Great read! Owls are so much more complex than I thought (previously thought they were just bird brains lol). This book was very well organized and easy to understand for a non-scientific thinker, it taught a bit about the evolution of owls and their complex mechanisms for mastery level hunting. It also talked about the threats to their habitats and their place in the ecosystem. I will never look at a poisoned rat the same way again (with malice) I will look at it as a potential threat to an owls life…
The more I learn about nature and its inhabitants the more vexed I become at humans for trying to destroy it (one could argue that we are also inhabitants of nature and that’s just our nature). If any animals make it out of the great slow burn that is the human apocalypse I’m sure owls will be one of them. Evolution has truly been kind to them. This book has opened my eyes to a great species and made me more of a softy to nature and its fragile ecosystem.
The more I learn about nature and its inhabitants the more vexed I become at humans for trying to destroy it (one could argue that we are also inhabitants of nature and that’s just our nature). If any animals make it out of the great slow burn that is the human apocalypse I’m sure owls will be one of them. Evolution has truly been kind to them. This book has opened my eyes to a great species and made me more of a softy to nature and its fragile ecosystem.
June 11, 2024
Everything you never knew you wanted to know about owls.
I found this book fascinating
I found this book fascinating
August 8, 2024
I have always been fascinated with owls, even in my childhood which preceeded the Harry Potter series by a number of years. (I think that my youngest child was in his late teens when Harry Potter first came out)
I loved that owls and books seem to be a natural pairing!
I felt Jennifer Ackermans passion for owls in every page that I read. This book was truly a tribut of love...
I loved that owls and books seem to be a natural pairing!
I felt Jennifer Ackermans passion for owls in every page that I read. This book was truly a tribut of love...
May 10, 2023
After reading and enjoying books like An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us, What a Fish Knows: The Inner Lives of Our Underwater Cousins, and The Genius of Birds, I've been hoping someone would write a book focused on owls. The good news is that Jennifer Ackerman has done just that with What an Owl Knows. People have both loved and been mystified by owls for centuries, even though we may not know many details about them besides their nocturnal nature. Ackerman provides a well-written overview of owls’ intelligence, evolution, their mating strategies, nest-building abilities, and communication skills. She also shares recent research findings that tell us even more about owls, such as the fact that great horned owls will go to great lengths to defend their nests, and some owlets may start their vocalizations while still in the egg.
Given that owls are found on every continent except Antarctica, this book covers the varied members of these birds, from the giant Eurasian eagle owl to the tiny elf owl. Human activities like logging and wildfires which ruin suitable owl habitats can have negative effects on owls, but the author helps the reader develop a respect and appreciation for owls through this book.
Thank you to Penguin Press and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this book. It will be published on June 13, 2023.
Given that owls are found on every continent except Antarctica, this book covers the varied members of these birds, from the giant Eurasian eagle owl to the tiny elf owl. Human activities like logging and wildfires which ruin suitable owl habitats can have negative effects on owls, but the author helps the reader develop a respect and appreciation for owls through this book.
Thank you to Penguin Press and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this book. It will be published on June 13, 2023.
April 19, 2024
3 stars ✨
I didn’t enjoy this as much as I thought I would. The beginning started off amazingly, charmingly. I lost interest before I could reach the halfway mark and it’s not the book, it was entirely my lack of interest. Sadly, unfortunately.
I will be revisiting this author. Her other books looks splendid ✨
I didn’t enjoy this as much as I thought I would. The beginning started off amazingly, charmingly. I lost interest before I could reach the halfway mark and it’s not the book, it was entirely my lack of interest. Sadly, unfortunately.
I will be revisiting this author. Her other books looks splendid ✨
October 2, 2023
PACKED with owl facts. No fluff. No memoirs about how owls helped the author find herself. Exactly what I was looking for.
February 8, 2025
I love all birds, especially the chickadees and the crows, but equally, the doves, the kingfishers, the hawks, and the herons. I know I'm stealing Mary Oliver without the poetry (see "When I am Among the Trees") but, owls! They are so special to me (too). As one Brazilian quoted in the book said, "owls enchant the environment."
Some facts I loved learning:
- Owls range in size from a pinecone: elf owl, to a fire hydrant: Blakiston's fish owl.
- If humans' eyes were the same proportion as owls', our eyes would be the size of oranges.
- Great grey owls' hoots sound low, like "stones falling through the air."
- Eastern screech owls bring blind snakes to their nests to keep it clean of parasites that would harm owlets.
- A group that was researching owls recorded their eye color by comparing them to swatches of Benjamin Moore paints.
Even though I enjoyed learning about owls, sometimes there were too many facts in a row for me to appreciate them all.
Beyond learning about owl physiology and behavior, I liked learning how owl researchers, carers, and volunteers were impacted by the owls in their lives. For example a woman doctor who worked in the Emergency Department during the day, volunteered to band owls at night to ease her stress and restore her empathy. And as the author described for herself, "being near her [the owl] made me somehow feel smaller in my body and bigger in my soul."
In my humble opinion and definitely without the same poetic ring, I'd say this book should be titled The Little that People Know About Owls, because at the end of this review of the current state of owl knowledge, there are still so many more questions than answers. There is much room for more owl research.
Quotes: (All transcribed from listening so not sure of punctuation.)
"Owls are not omnipresent for us the way songbirds are ––those beautiful warbling flowers–– but, they are present for us in some deeper way or place, where night lives inside us, and also there in the dark, embodying the unknown and the unknowable."
"The idea that snowy owls, creatures lodged so deeply in our psyches might vanish ––to have that magic and then to lose it–– is unfathomable and points to the urgency of doing everything we can to save these birds."
"Scientists predict that within the century, aspen forests may all but disappear in many parts of North America, and along with them, the cavities many owls depend on for nesting." This fact toward the end made me cry. I hadn't thought about the loss of aspen forests before. And aspens would definitely make my Mary Oliver list of trees.
Some facts I loved learning:
- Owls range in size from a pinecone: elf owl, to a fire hydrant: Blakiston's fish owl.
- If humans' eyes were the same proportion as owls', our eyes would be the size of oranges.
- Great grey owls' hoots sound low, like "stones falling through the air."
- Eastern screech owls bring blind snakes to their nests to keep it clean of parasites that would harm owlets.
- A group that was researching owls recorded their eye color by comparing them to swatches of Benjamin Moore paints.
Even though I enjoyed learning about owls, sometimes there were too many facts in a row for me to appreciate them all.
Beyond learning about owl physiology and behavior, I liked learning how owl researchers, carers, and volunteers were impacted by the owls in their lives. For example a woman doctor who worked in the Emergency Department during the day, volunteered to band owls at night to ease her stress and restore her empathy. And as the author described for herself, "being near her [the owl] made me somehow feel smaller in my body and bigger in my soul."
In my humble opinion and definitely without the same poetic ring, I'd say this book should be titled The Little that People Know About Owls, because at the end of this review of the current state of owl knowledge, there are still so many more questions than answers. There is much room for more owl research.
Quotes: (All transcribed from listening so not sure of punctuation.)
"Owls are not omnipresent for us the way songbirds are ––those beautiful warbling flowers–– but, they are present for us in some deeper way or place, where night lives inside us, and also there in the dark, embodying the unknown and the unknowable."
"The idea that snowy owls, creatures lodged so deeply in our psyches might vanish ––to have that magic and then to lose it–– is unfathomable and points to the urgency of doing everything we can to save these birds."
"Scientists predict that within the century, aspen forests may all but disappear in many parts of North America, and along with them, the cavities many owls depend on for nesting." This fact toward the end made me cry. I hadn't thought about the loss of aspen forests before. And aspens would definitely make my Mary Oliver list of trees.
March 15, 2025
More accurate rating: 7.5/10.
What an Owl Knows is a very good, comprehensive overview of 'owl science' (with both greyscale and full colour pictures too!). I really liked the fact the book covered a lot of different species, and that it included a chapter on owls in human culture, folklore, etc... as well as a chapter on owls as 'pets' (or relationships between human beings and owls more broadly). I also really appreciated the way the author emphasised the contributions of amateur, or 'citizen' scientists to research, and the way she put forward the researchers' passion and love for owls (and the natural world as a whole).
If I'm being honest, the book felt a little long, perhaps even dragging at times, though that is principally because I wasn't necessarily the most interested in the minutiae of, I don't know, data gathering, out in the field (I'm more into ethology proper and cognitive research, I guess, rather than, say, feeding habits and the like when it gets into more detail).
Still, I learned a lot – like the fact owls' auditory nerves link up with their optical nerves, which means they might, potentially, 'see' sounds! – and found the way the author chose to wrap it all up very poetic, even moving (there's a lot of warmth and much needed optimism in this book, and that's a good thing).
What an Owl Knows is a very good, comprehensive overview of 'owl science' (with both greyscale and full colour pictures too!). I really liked the fact the book covered a lot of different species, and that it included a chapter on owls in human culture, folklore, etc... as well as a chapter on owls as 'pets' (or relationships between human beings and owls more broadly). I also really appreciated the way the author emphasised the contributions of amateur, or 'citizen' scientists to research, and the way she put forward the researchers' passion and love for owls (and the natural world as a whole).
If I'm being honest, the book felt a little long, perhaps even dragging at times, though that is principally because I wasn't necessarily the most interested in the minutiae of, I don't know, data gathering, out in the field (I'm more into ethology proper and cognitive research, I guess, rather than, say, feeding habits and the like when it gets into more detail).
Still, I learned a lot – like the fact owls' auditory nerves link up with their optical nerves, which means they might, potentially, 'see' sounds! – and found the way the author chose to wrap it all up very poetic, even moving (there's a lot of warmth and much needed optimism in this book, and that's a good thing).
June 17, 2025
I love an owl
August 23, 2024
Loved this one! Owls are my favorite bird (and animal) and so I loved this deep exploration of them. Full of deep research and interesting facts along with humorous stories of the birds and the people that study them, the book made me appreciate these birds even more, along with a greater appreciation for the environment around them and us that they need to survive. This quote from the book (originally from Henry Beston):
"They are not brethren, they are not underlings: they are other NATIONS, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendor and travail of the earth."
was my favorite and is something that is easy to forget when thinking about animals, plants, and all the living things on the planet. These kinds of books (and documentaries) are great reminders of that in such an accessible way.
"They are not brethren, they are not underlings: they are other NATIONS, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendor and travail of the earth."
was my favorite and is something that is easy to forget when thinking about animals, plants, and all the living things on the planet. These kinds of books (and documentaries) are great reminders of that in such an accessible way.
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