Owls
are birds that belong to the order Strigiformes. There are over 200 species that are all prey animals. They are mostly single and night-time birds In fact they are the only big group of birds that hunts during the night. Owls are the most adept hunters at night.
They hunt small mammals like rodents as well as insects and birds. Some species prefer eating fish too. As a whole they are extremely successful. They are present throughout the world , except for Antarctica and the majority in Greenland and small islands.
Owl families change change source
True Owls: The families Strigidae (185 species within the 25 genera)Barn Owls The group of Tytonidae. The genus Tyto is included. Tyto and, in particular, Tyto alba and its numerous sub-species. The Pholidus genus Pholidus is comprised of only two species, called bay-owls. It hunts mostly by the sound. How Long Do Birds Live
Appearance
An owl is a huge head with a flat face, hooked beak short tail with sharp talons. The wings of owls are long. Owls sport gray, brown or white plumage that is flecked with spots or streaks.
Adaptations changes the source of change
Owls have a range of adaptations that allow them succeed.Owls have large eyes with holes in their ears as well as they have a bird’s beak, a-like beak and a plain face. The majority of species of birds are equipped with eyes at side of their head However, the eyes of the owl are oriented forwards, which helps to see more clearly in the darkness.
The eyes of owls are also fixed within their sockets. This means that they must turn their entire heads to view other objects. Owls can turn their necks and head at 270 degrees in both directions.
Owls are adept at seeing things that are far away from their eyes, however they is unable to see clearly anything just a couple of centimeters from their eyes. Owls make use of tiny feathers on their beaks as well as the feet to detect the prey it captures.
Hunting[change | change source]
Owls are most active at night and during the evening twilight ( dawn and dusk). Some owls are active during the day.The owl’s hunt is dependent on the ability to surprise its prey. Their primary adaptation is their silence flight.
They have soft feathers with fringes along the back edges and at the bottom of each feather is downy. The softness of the feathers reduces noise and creates a quiet environment. Additionally, they glide in when they are aiming to killing.
The dull hues of feathers of owls
makes them look less noticeable through concealing their ancestors. This assists them when they are able to roost throughout the day.Owls have amazing hearing. The shape of their head assists in bringing sound to the ears.
The feathers on the disc on its face are placed to improve the volume of sounds that reach the ears. The ears of owls are unsymmetrical which allows the owl to detect a sound. They can detect mouse movements through the grass.
The sharp beak of an owl and strong
talons permit it to devour its prey and then swallow the entire thing in the event that it’s too large. Owls typically digest the portions of their prey they can’t digest. They eat bones scales, fur, and bones.
Scientists studying the food that owls eat may find clues from the food which owls throw out, also known as “owl pellets”. Pellets “owl pellets” are offered through supply firms to school in order to use them in ecological and biology lessons.[4[4
Winter larder[change change source
Animals store food in periods of excess to help them prepare for less food-rich times. Owls could save dead mice to store to store for cold winter days. [5]
The head is swiveled change source source of change Swivelling the head change
Owls have unique adaptations that allow them to rotate their heads to 270 degrees. Owls are equipped with 14 cervical vertebrae instead of the seven vertebrae we have. Additionally, the huge carotid vessels rather than being located on the back of the neck like in humans, are located near the center of rotation, just behind the spine.
Therefore, these arteries undergo less stretching and twisting, and the risk of damage is significantly decreased. This is the same arrangement observed in other birds, however in owls, vertebral vessels – the ones that run through channels within neck bone ridges – have additional room. [6]Owls also have large parts of their carotid veins located just below the skull’s base. skull.
Researchers discovered that they could dilate and then fill with blood. “We think this is a kind of a brand new structure that wasn’t yet understood” according to a researcher. “It’s possibly a method to pool blood and ensure an uninterrupted flow of blood even when there’s disruption below another degree”. [66
Owls in the cultural context
Stories and mythology that contain Owls include:Owls are one of the symbolic animal for the Greek goddess Athena (Minerva to the Romans)A nursery rhyme “The elderly wise owl stood in the oak and the higher he heard less he talked”.
Poetry of Tennyson: “The wise owl in the belfry is sitting …”“Wol” is one of the characters in”Wol” in the Winnie the Pooh books written by A.A. Milne.Owls transport post in the
Also ReAD