"The world's owls fully covered." - Birdwatch magazine From ancient myth and superstition to the most popular modern children's stories, these beautiful, deadly birds are harbingers of good and bad news, icons of fear and wisdom, and powerful sidekicks of magic-makers. Their charm and mystique resonate through human history, yet uncovering the reality of their lives is a tremendous challenge, as most are nocturnal and many extremely secretive. This charming and informative book brings together full descriptions and distribution maps for all 225 owl species in the world, including the most recently discovered, and includes details on hunting and breeding behaviour, habitat and conservation. With stunning colour photographs of even the shyest and most elusive owl species, provided by leading wildlife photographers from around the world, this is a must for any bird enthusiast.