<p> <b><i>Heavily illustrated with beautiful, clear photographs.</i><br> -- Booklist</b> </p><p> Owls are almost everywhere. These distinctive birds populate every continent except Antarctica and survive in everything from arid desert to arctic tundra to dense rain forest. </p><p> Frances Backhouse provides an in-depth yet lively study of these fascinating birds. Topics include anatomy and adaptations, mating behaviors, egg laying and chick rearing, feeding habits, communication displays and location. </p><p> Superbly designed birds of prey, owls are equipped with highly effective tools for killing and dismembering their prey: strong feet with curved, stiletto-like talons and a sturdy hooked bill with razor-sharp cutting edges. What makes owls unique is that most of them hunt in darkness from dusk to dawn using their keen hearing, enhanced low-light vision and sound-muffling structures on their flight feathers. </p><p> With detailed profiles of and range maps for all 23 species, along with 70 color photographs illustrating key behavioral characteristics, <b><i>Owls of North America</i></b> is a solid reference for birders, naturalists and general readers. </p>