Field Guide to Owls of California and the West - Peeters, Hans J. (University of California Press, 2007)
Cover; CONTENTS; PREFACE; INTRODUCTION; What Is an Owl?; Owls in California and the West; AN OWL'S BODY; An Owl's Head; Senses; Vision; Hearing; Touch; Voice; Skeleton and Legs; Wings; Feathers; Silent Flight; Thermoregulation; Plumage; Hygiene; Parasites; Deconstructing a Mouse; Digestive System; Pellet Analysis; AN OWL'S LIFE; Predators and Predator Avoidance; Predators of Owls; Going Undetected; Mobbing; Defensive Behavior; Hunting and Eating; Feeding; Owl Foods; Owl Ecology; Reproduction; Territoriality; Pair Formation and Courtship; Nests and Eggs; Young and Their Care
Dispersal and MigrationFINDING AND WATCHING OWLS; Finding Owls; When to Look for Owls; Where to Look for Owls; Direct Evidence: Songs, Calls, and Deceptions; Circumstantial Evidence; Finding Owl Nests; Watching Owls; Owl Photography; Owl Identification; OWLS AND HUMANS; Attitudes Past and Present; Native Californians and Owls; Owls in the Modern World; The Barn Owl Industries; Owl Conservation; Owls in Trouble; Hazards to All Owls; Living with Owls; Nest Boxes; Wildlife Rehabilitation; SPECIES ACCOUNTS; Overview; Identification Key; Range Maps; Barn Owl; Flammulated Owl; Western Screech-Owl
Eastern Screech-OwlWhiskered Screech-Owl; Great Horned Owl; Snowy Owl; Northern Hawk Owl; Northern Pygmy-Owl; Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl; Elf Owl; Burrowing Owl; Spotted Owl; Barred Owl; Great Gray Owl; Long-eared Owl; Short-eared Owl; Boreal Owl; Northern Saw-whet Owl; Glossary; References; Index; Additional Captions
Most owls are almost perfectly adapted to life in the dark. Their vaguely humanoid faces reflect the spectacular evolution of their hearing and vision, which has made flight, romance, and predation possible in the near absence of light. This accessible guide, full of intriguing anecdotes, covers all 19 species of owls occurring in North America. More than an identification guide, Field Guide to Owls of California and the West describes the biology and behavior of owls to make finding and identifying them easier and watching them more enjoyable. The guide also explores the conservation challeng