A raptor’s mystique inspires “What an Owl Knows”
They know rather a lot, reveals the book’s author, Jennifer Ackerman
With a face as round as the first letter of its name and a stance as upright as the last—along with human-like features and a haunting cry—the owl has a mystical, mythical perch in the imagination. Difficult to spot because of their mostly nocturnal habits, and sporting cryptic plumage that helps them melt into landscapes, owls, writes Jennifer Ackerman, are the most enigmatic of birds.
This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “You elegant fowl!”
Culture June 10th 2023
- Two alarming books on the power of America’s Supreme Court
- A museum in Albania aims to commemorate a painful past
- A raptor’s mystique inspires “What an Owl Knows”
- Leïla Slimani’s new novel ranges from France to Morocco
- “Amongst the Ruins” explores the collapse of civilisations
- Gestures are a subtle and vital form of communication
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