I must say, having spent 15 minutes flicking through it yesterday I was disappointed with the lack of taxonomic and vocal research for the book, Mikkola hasn't seemed to even bother checking out latest publications or even xeno-canto, ie:
Flores Scops Owl - Vocalisations unknown, thought to largely be silent (see Forktail 23, and xeno-canto!).
Javan Scops Owl vocal description is largely inaccurate.
Brown 'Hawk Owl' - not split, given his willingness to split others that are not peer-reviewed splits, ie Singapore Scops Owl, Red Boobook ('said to be different' - though it clearly is not on current evidence!), Nias Wood Owl and Sunda Scops Owl (the latter of which goes against published molecular work which he deemed necessary for other groups).
What is the justification for splitting Sula Scops, and not Banggai Scops...
Vocal descriptions for highly variable 'groups', such as Southern Boobook complex are disappointingly brief and unexplained.
His choice of english names, ie Forest Spotted Owl rather than Forest Owlet - what is that about?!
Plenty of nice pictures, but I see the book as little more than a coffee-table photo guide. It would have been fantastic to have something similar to Helm's recent photographic monographs, though I agree with Richard, for the money, it offers good value.
Cheers,
James
