The second edition of Birds of Coimbatore is a handy guide for seasoned bird watchers of Tamil Nadu

A striking image of a dusky brown bird captures my attention as I flip through the pages of the newly-launched book titled Birds of Coimbatore. It’s the spot-bellied eagle-owl with a pair of round, dark eyes staring out of a flat face. It has a sharp yellow bill but what makes it arresting is its pair of distinctive ear tufts. A quick glance through the section on owls enlightens you on 15-odd species: the serene-looking barn owl in brown and grey shades, the Ceylon bay-owl distributed across the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, and the jungle owlet with bright, yellow eyes.