• A New York Times Notable Book of 2023

• Chosen as a BEST BOOK of 2023 by:

  The Economist

  The Times of London

  NPR’s Science Friday

  Publisher’s Weekly

  Amazon (Science)

  Birding Magazine

• Winner of a 2023 National Outdoor Book Award in Outdoor Literature

Reviews:

“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.” —The New York Times

“[Ackerman] offers an absorbing ear-tuft-to-tail appreciation of the raptor that Mary Oliver, a poet, called a ‘god of plunge and blood.’ Owls, it seems, know a lot. Ms. Ackerman draws on recent research to explain what and how.” —The Economist

‘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.’ —The Guardian

“Owl fans, rejoice: Jennifer Ackerman’s latest book, What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Birds, is the ultimate guide to all things feathered and nocturnal . . . Surprising and enthralling stories can be found on every page of What an Owl Knows . . . Those who enjoyed Ackerman’s previous books on bird behavior and intelligence, The Genius of Birds and The Bird Way, will be pleased to find that Ackerman’s writing is just as engaging and enthusiastic as ever; her genuine affection for her subjects infuses her descriptions of scientific studies of owls and the researchers who’ve carried them out . . . What an Owl Knows is an ideal introduction to these enigmatic and fascinating birds, sure to convert a whole new generation of owl lovers.” — American Birding Association

“Lively and informative . . . While her straightforward style enables easy comprehension for the science-phobic, there is lyricism too . . . Her sense of wonder runs through the book.”—The Times Literary Supplement

“A fascinating read on how scientists are beginning to better understand the lives and ecology of these secretive and rarely visible birds.” —Science

“Ackerman (our smartest bird writer) should do for hooting what a wave of octopus books did for slithering.” —Chicago Tribune

“An enchanting guide.” —People

“A must-read for all bird lovers, Ackerman’s latest engaging work contains a feast of revelations about creatures that have fascinated us throughout human history.” —The Observer

“With their largely nocturnal lifestyles, cryptic plumage and wary nature, owls can be difficult to locate, let alone study. But in recent years, discoveries about these mysterious and otherworldly birds have come thick and fast as radio trackers, infrared cameras, drones, audio lures, DNA analysis and even specially trained sniffer dogs have joined more traditional methods in unlocking their secrets. What an Owl Knows is an accessible, highly readable tour of these discoveries by Jennifer Ackerman.” —The Times of London

“Ackerman is an excellent writer on the natural world, and in this wise and thoroughly researched book, her chapter on human-owl relations is especially fascinating.”—New Statesman

“What an Owl Knows zips along merrily because Ackerman’s love for these birds is totally infectious… Long may they continue to fly through the darkness.” —Daily Mail

“A scientific investigation rich in narrative detail. Her writing is at its most compelling when she lets her own delight and surprise at the birds slip through.” —New Scientist

“‘What is it about owls that so enthralls us?’… [Ackerman] explores this question with her trademark thoroughness and care, leading readers on an in-depth tour through the extraordinary world of owls… Edifying and immersive.” —BookPage (starred review)

“[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 (starred review)

“Fascinating food for thought for owl seekers and sure to please any lover of immersive treks into the lives of birds.” —Kirkus (starred review)

“Always eloquent and engaging, science writer Ackerman turns her attention to owls, those mysterious, nocturnal birds that everyone can recognize but few really know . . . 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 . . . Captivating.” —Booklist (starred review)