With more than 205 species of owls worldwide, this book provides a fascinating species-by-species portrait of these marvellous, sometimes rare, members of nature?s family of birds. While many of the world?s often-photographed owls are wide ranging in terms of habitat, many lesser-known species such as the Cuban owl and the Jamaican owl are found only in smaller, more specific geographic locations. Such indigenous species as the Australian boobook owl, found only in the islands of Australia, New Zealand, and Indonesia are compared and contrasted with other North American, European, and Asian Species in terms of habitat, adaptability, and physical appearance. The book traces the evolution of owls and their place within the avian order ? both as predators and as prey. And, because many species throughout the world are threatened due to environmental devastation caused by the world?s hunger for wood products, this book is intended to raise awareness about the plight of many lesser-known or rare owls. The book features an extensive section detailing the range and ?conservation status? of every species of owl, including those on the brink of extinction and newly discovered species. (August 2003)