Hailed for their supposed wisdom and cuteness but derided as pests, objects of superstition and devourers of pesky rodents, owls have had a love/hate relationship with humans since the beginning of recorded history. On the following slides, you'll discover 10 essential owl facts, ranging from how these predatory birds hunt to how smart they actually are.
The vast majority of the roughly 200 species of owls are so-called true owls, which possess large heads with round faces, short tails, and muted feathers with mottled patterns. The remainder, accounting for a little over a dozen species, are barn owls, which can be distinguished by their heart-shaped faces, long legs equipped with powerful talons, and moderate size. With the exception of the common barn owl—which has a worldwide distribution—the most familiar owls, at least to residents of North America and Eurasia, are the true owls.
Evolution has an efficient way of relegating animals to particular niches: because other carnivorous birds (like hawks and eagles) hunt during the day, most owls have adapted to hunting at night. The dark coloration of owls makes them nearly invisible to their prey—which consists of insects, small mammals, and other birds—and their wings are structured so as to beat in almost complete silence. These adaptations, combined with their enormous eyes (see next slide), makes owls some of the most efficient night hunters on the planet, wolves and coyotes not excluded.
No one is quite sure why, on average, female owls tend to be slightly larger than their male counterparts. One theory is that smaller males are more agile, and therefore more suited to catching prey while the females brood young; another is that, because females don't like to leave their eggs, they need a larger body mass to sustain themselves for long periods of time without eating. A third theory is less likely, but more amusing: since female owls often attack and drive off unsuitable males during mating season, the smaller size and greater agility of males prevent them from getting hurt.
Distinct from most of the birds virtually make no noise when they fly. They are even known as silent predators. This uniqueness of owl bird is owned to their specialized feathers. There are edges to the owl’s wing which are covered with feathers in a small structure which help to break the flowing air into smaller, micro-turbulences. Altogether these specified feathers help owls to remain undetected when they fly.
It’s a mistaken belief that owls can rotate their heads 360 degrees. Instead, they can manage to rotate their head up to 270 degrees without causing any physical damage. Around their neck, they have 14 vertebrae unlike usual seven found in normal birds. This provides the range of movement to owls. Many scientists have discovered that owls have a special blood-pooling system.
The vast majority of the roughly 200 species of owls are so-called true owls, which possess large heads with round faces, short tails, and muted feathers with mottled patterns. The remainder, accounting for a little over a dozen species, are barn owls, which can be distinguished by their heart-shaped faces, long legs equipped with powerful talons, and moderate size. With the exception of the common barn owl—which has a worldwide distribution—the most familiar owls, at least to residents of North America and Eurasia, are the true owls.
Evolution has an efficient way of relegating animals to particular niches: because other carnivorous birds (like hawks and eagles) hunt during the day, most owls have adapted to hunting at night. The dark coloration of owls makes them nearly invisible to their prey—which consists of insects, small mammals, and other birds—and their wings are structured so as to beat in almost complete silence. These adaptations, combined with their enormous eyes (see next slide), makes owls some of the most efficient night hunters on the planet, wolves and coyotes not excluded.
No one is quite sure why, on average, female owls tend to be slightly larger than their male counterparts. One theory is that smaller males are more agile, and therefore more suited to catching prey while the females brood young; another is that, because females don't like to leave their eggs, they need a larger body mass to sustain themselves for long periods of time without eating. A third theory is less likely, but more amusing: since female owls often attack and drive off unsuitable males during mating season, the smaller size and greater agility of males prevent them from getting hurt.
Distinct from most of the birds virtually make no noise when they fly. They are even known as silent predators. This uniqueness of owl bird is owned to their specialized feathers. There are edges to the owl’s wing which are covered with feathers in a small structure which help to break the flowing air into smaller, micro-turbulences. Altogether these specified feathers help owls to remain undetected when they fly.
It’s a mistaken belief that owls can rotate their heads 360 degrees. Instead, they can manage to rotate their head up to 270 degrees without causing any physical damage. Around their neck, they have 14 vertebrae unlike usual seven found in normal birds. This provides the range of movement to owls. Many scientists have discovered that owls have a special blood-pooling system.