All About Owls

With their large eyes and silent wing beats, owls are unbeatable hunters of the night!

All About Owls All About Owls - Photos: (TL-BR) Carol Gray/Shutterstock, Milan/stock.adobe.com, Mircea Costina/Shutterstock, FotoRequest/stock.adobe.com

What Are Owls?

Owls are nocturnal birds that primarily hunt in the dark. They possess large, round eyes that allow them to see exceptionally well even in low light. Additionally, they have an excellent sense of hearing, aided by special facial feathers that function like a satellite dish. Their unique feathers enable them to fly almost silently, allowing them to surprise their prey. With their sharp talons and pointed beaks, they mainly catch mice, insects, and small birds.

Main Characteristics of Owls

1. They Are Nocturnal

Most owls are nocturnal because they can catch prey more easily at night than during the day. Furthermore, there is less competition from birds of prey at night.

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2. They Have Large, Round Eyes

Owls are perfectly adapted to life in the dark due to their large eyes, which can see well even in low light. They cannot move their eyes left or right, but they can turn their heads! Their heads are highly flexible, providing them with a 270-degree field of vision.

3. They Can Fly Silently

The feathers of owls are unique: upon close inspection, one can see that their edges are not smooth. The individual, thin feather barbs vary in height and depth, resembling a comb. This special structure ensures that sounds typically produced during flight are 'swallowed' up, allowing them to fly almost silently.

Owl Family Tree

Amazing Facts About Owls

There are about 200 different species of owls.
Owls have amazing hearing and excellent vision, especially at night.
They have large, round eyes that face forward.
Owls can turn their heads 270 degrees, giving them a wide field of view.
They have a very sharp, curved beak that points downward.
Owls can fly almost silently because they have special feathers with comb-like edges.
Most owls are active at night.
The largest owl is the Eurasian eagle owl, which is 22-30 inches (56-75 cm) long and weigh up to 10 pounds (4.6 kg).
The smallest owl is the elf owl, measuring only 4.7-5.5 inches (12-14 cm) in length and weighing around 1.4 ounces (40 grams).