5 Interesting Facts About Owls
1. Owls' eyes cannot move.
In order to look around, they must move their heads in the direction they would like to look at unlike humans who have peripheral vision and can move their eyes side to side without having to move their head. It's kind of like looking through a pair of binoculars all the time!
In order to look around, they must move their heads in the direction they would like to look at unlike humans who have peripheral vision and can move their eyes side to side without having to move their head. It's kind of like looking through a pair of binoculars all the time!
2. Owls are silent flyers.
Most owls have specially adapted flight feathers that allow them to fly silently in order to better hear their prey to figure out where they are as well as to remain unnoticed. The next time your outside, listen for the sound of birds flying, you can often hear the flapping noise of geese flying overhead!
Most owls have specially adapted flight feathers that allow them to fly silently in order to better hear their prey to figure out where they are as well as to remain unnoticed. The next time your outside, listen for the sound of birds flying, you can often hear the flapping noise of geese flying overhead!
3. The 'Ear Tufts' that some owls have, are not ears at all.
These ear tufts are actually just feathers meant for decoration. Their ears are actually located at the sides of their head, behind the eyes.
These ear tufts are actually just feathers meant for decoration. Their ears are actually located at the sides of their head, behind the eyes.
4. Owls' ears are NOT symmetrically placed on the sides of their heads.
The left ear of the owl is actually slightly higher than the right, this allows the owl to better pinpoint the location of their prey in the dark by sensing the difference in time it takes to reach each ear.
The left ear of the owl is actually slightly higher than the right, this allows the owl to better pinpoint the location of their prey in the dark by sensing the difference in time it takes to reach each ear.
5. Owls create a variety of sounds.
Even though most people relate the owl to the 'hoot' sound... not all owls can make a hooting call. They can make hooting, hissing, clacking, hisses, and screams.
Even though most people relate the owl to the 'hoot' sound... not all owls can make a hooting call. They can make hooting, hissing, clacking, hisses, and screams.