Description

‘And if anyone knows anything about anything… it’s Owl who knows something about something.’ Winnie-the-Pooh, A. A. Milne

From prehistoric cave paintings to the prints and etchings of Picasso, owls have captivated and inspired us for millennia.

Whether they appear as ancient Athenian symbols of wisdom, ghostly harbingers of death, or the cuddly sidekicks of Harry Potter and Winnie the Pooh, these birds have continued to fascinate and disturb us in equal measure.

Through revelatory new behavioural research, Jennifer Ackerman provides an intimate glimpse into these magnificent creatures’ lives. From the evolutionary quirks behind their silent flight and rotating heads, to their romantic relationships and parenting styles, What an Owl Knows brings the rich natural history of owls to life. Deftly weaving together science and art, Ackerman journeys into the owl’s moonlit world and asks: what is it about these birds that so enthrals us?

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*THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER*

A TIMES AND ECONOMIST BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023

‘Fascinating… we often hear a barn owl hooting in a stand of pine trees behind the house. It’s an eerie, mysterious sound that never fails to enchant. And it is this enchantment that is at the core of this charming, deeply researched book.’ GUARDIAN

‘Once again, Jennifer Ackerman has written a fascinating, fact-filled and wonderfully readable work of popular science – this time on one of the most mysterious and charismatic of all bird families: the owls.’ STEPHEN MOSS

‘Ackerman’s love for these birds is totally infectious… Long may they continue to fly through the darkness.’ DAILY MAIL

Publisher Review

'Ackerman is a warm and companionable guide, so enthusiastic about her subject that I suspect even the avian-indifferent will be charmed by her encounters with owls and the dedicated people who study them.' -- New York Times 'Once again, Jennifer Ackerman has written a fascinating, fact-filled and wonderfully readable work of popular science - this time on one of the most mysterious and charismatic of all bird families: the owls.' -- Stephen Moss, author and naturalist 'An absorbing ear-tuft-to-tail appreciation of the raptor that Mary Oliver, a poet, called a "god of plunge and blood".' -- Economist 'Immensely enjoyable... What an Owl Knows eloquently bridges the gap between science and popular assumption to brings us the surprising (and often endearing) facts about these legendarily mysterious birds. Forget what you know, or think you know, because the truth is stranger than fiction!' -- James Aldred, author of Goshawk Summer 'Absorbing and exquisitely researched. Ackerman guides the reader around the world, carefully unpacking what it means to be an owl and examining the human relationship with these oft-misunderstood birds.' -- Jonathan Slaght, author of Owls of the Eastern Ice 'I loved it... richly detailed, wide in scope, written with precision and clarity... I won't be able to see an owl in the same way again.' -- Stephen Rutt, author of The Seafarers: A Journey Among Birds 'A fascinating study of a captivating bird. I learnt something new on every page. Ackerman's book is a wonderful synthesis of ethology, wonder and passion for her subject.' -- James Macdonald Lockhart, author of Wild Air 'Ackerman (our smartest bird writer) should do for hooting what a wave of octopus books did for slithering.' -- Chicago Tribune '[A] masterful survey... There's fascinating trivia on every page, making for a revelatory glimpse into the lives of the "enigmatic" raptors. Bird lovers will be enthralled.' -- Publishers Weekly 'Always eloquent and engaging... Ackerman's latest vivid and compelling narrative is enlivened by her own passion for owls and her excitement over discoveries in the wild that show that, for humans, owls continue to be full of surprises.' -- Booklist 'Fascinating food for thought for owl seekers and sure to please any lover of immersive treks into the lives of birds.' -- Kirkus, starred review