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Most people at least know a few basic bits of owl trivia. ThatÌýthe birdsÌýcan contort their necks in , for example. Or that theyÌýscarf down rodents—skeletons and all—only to eject the bones asÌýÌýlater.ÌýAnd that theirÌýabilityÌýtoÌýfly near soundlesslyÌýmakesÌýowls some ofÌýthe deadliestÌýnocturnal hunters in the forest.

But those areÌýgeneral facts. AmongÌýthe 19 species found in the United States, owls canÌývary widely in theirÌýshapes,Ìýcalls, and behaviors. From the one-ounceÌýElf Owl to the four-poundÌýSnowy Owl, each bird has its ownÌýlist ofÌýlesser-known traitsÌýandÌýtalents.Ìý

In her newestÌýbook,Ìý, biologist and nature writer Leigh Calvez shares many suchÌýtrivia-friendly tidbitsÌýwhile providing the definitiveÌýhistoriesÌýof 11 owlÌýspecies.ÌýInspired by Calvez'sÌýstories, we've created a quiz to help youÌýmeasure your own expertise (answers are at the end). Bonus:ÌýLeaveÌýa comment at the very bottom toÌýenter a drawing to win one of three free copiesÌýofÌýThe Hidden Lives of Owls. Terms and conditions are here.

Update: The drawing for the books is now closed.

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1.ÌýWhat type of owl preys on the Great Gray Owl?

a) Great Horned Owl

b) Snowy Owl

c) Barred Owl

Ìý

2. Which species can sound off at up to 160 hootsÌýperÌýminute?

a)ÌýWestern Screech-Owl

b) Burrowing Owl

c) Northern Saw-whet Owl

Ìý

3. Which tiny owl only weighs about as much as 25 pennies?

a)ÌýNorthern Saw-whet Owl

b) Flammulated Owl

c) Northern Pygmy Owl

Ìý

4. An Inuit legend describes which owl as getting its color from a raven’s paintbrush?

a) Barn Owl

b) Snowy Owl

c) Flammulated Owl

Ìý

5. What owl helps to spread false truffle spores by throwing up squirrel pellets?

a) Great Horned Owl

b) Great Gray Owl

c) Northern Spotted Owl

Ìý

6. Which birds reclaim old badger and prairie dog homes?

a) Northern Saw-whet Owl

b) Short-eared Owl

c) Burrowing Owl

Ìý

7. What species impales its prey on a long thorn? (No, shrikes are not owls.)

a)ÌýNorthern Pygmy Owl

b) Eastern Screen Owl

c) Long-eared Owl

Ìý

8. Which owl has resided on Hawaii for hundreds, maybe thousands of years?

a) Barred Owl

b) Short-eared Owl

c) Barn Owl

* * *

a, c, b, b, c, c, a, b

The Hidden Lives of Owls: The Science and Spirit of Nature's Most Elusive Birds,Ìýby Leigh Calvez, Sasquatch Books, 224 pages, $14.51. Buy it atÌý.