Owls are one of the most fascinating animals in the animal kingdom. They not only have a completely different appearance from most other birds, but many of their behaviors are different too.
But what are these unique characteristics that set them apart? That’s what we’re going to look at here as we take a fascinating journey through the world of owls and 10 ways that they differ from most birds.
1. Owls Are Nocturnal Hunters
Most birds, along with us humans, are what’s called diurnal, which means they are mostly active during the day. Most species of owl are nocturnal. This gives owls a few advantages over other animals, including access to nocturnal prey such as mice.
Their bodies are specially adapted for these low-light conditions, and it means they don’t need to compete with other large birds that may operate in the daytime. While most other birds are resting for the night, the majority of owl species will be most active. It’s one of the many reasons owls don’t make good pets.
2. Exceptional Night Vision
Owls have incredible night vision, which is helped in part by their famously big eyes. Those eyes account for an incredible 5% of their body weight. If humans had eyes with that percentage, they’d be around the size of a softball. There are only a few animals in the world that can match an owl’s exceptional animal vision.
An owl’s eyes are packed with rod cells which are sensitive to light, and they are also tubular shapes to maximize light intake. As with cats and a few other animals, owls also have a tapetum lucidum which is a reflective layer at the back of their eye that shines light back into their retina.
3. Silent Flight
Most birds will produce noise while flying. This is generally because they find prey in other ways such as insects off the ground, or by other methods, such as diving at great speed. Owls instead rely on stealth to make their kills.
This is due to a serrated leading edge on their large feathers which will disrupt any turbulence and dampen the sound. Added to this, their soft down feathers help to absorb noise. It allows them to swoop on prey undetected.
4. Facial Discs Enhance Hearing
Another of the most striking features of an owl is their beautiful arrangement of facial feathers. These go around the entire circumference of their face but aren’t there for aesthetics. These act like a dish, directing sound towards their ears.
This vastly increases the amount of sound they can hear. It allows them to detect even the faintest sound, allowing them to easily locate prey. Rather than relying on just eyesight like most birds, they utilize many of their senses.
5. Asymmetrical Ears for Precision Hunting
The amazing facts about their ears don’t stop there. They have asymmetrical ears, with the left ear being higher than the left. Almost like your phone using different satellites to pinpoint its location, this helps owls detect sound.
The slight time difference between the owl hearing sounds can be detected by its brain. This allows owls to not only know the horizontal position but also the vertical position of a sound. If a rodent makes the faintest rustle, the owl instantly knows where it is.
6. Zygodactyl Feet for a Stronger Grip
Nearly all songbirds and most perching birds have what’s called an anisodactyl foot arrangement. This means they have three toes facing forward, and one facing back. Owls are zygodactyl, meaning they have two toes going in each direction, almost in an ‘X’ shape.
The benefit of this arrangement is an incredibly strong grip, which is one of the owl’s most fascinating features. Owls are capable of killing quite large prey, and the toes help them hold onto it. What’s even more incredible, is that an owl can swivel one of its back toes forward to have an anisodactyl foot arrangement whenever required.
7. Fixed Forward-Facing Eyes
Most birds have eyes positioned on the side of their heads. This allows them to have a wide field of view and look out for predators. This doesn’t give them great depth perception but is a safety mechanism we also see in many grazing animals.
Instead, owls have much narrower eyes, much like humans. This gives them binocular vision, allowing them to accurately perceive depth. It’s another fact that showcases how owls evolved to be hunters with little care about being hunted.
If they need a wider field of view, owls famously rotate their heads. While they can’t swivel them right around, most species, such as the beautiful snowy owl, do have 270 degrees of motion. They need to do this as they have fixed eye sockets, meaning they can only see in the direction they are facing.
8. Owls Swallow Food Whole
The stomach of an owl is a prey processing factory. They swallow their prey whole and then begin to break it down. It will first pass into their glandular stomach, where enzymes will begin to break down the food.
It will then pass into the gizzard, where it will be broken down by sand and gravel the owl has previously swallowed. Many birds, including chickens, have a gizzard to break down food as they don’t have any teeth to chew. However, an owl can’t digest bones and fur. Instead, these are compacted into pellets and regurgitated at a later time.
9. Unique Vocalizations
Many birds use beautiful chirps or songs to communicate. It is an area where owls aren’t quite as cute. Instead, they use hoots, screeches, and whistles. Its famous deep hoots are used to establish territory or attract mates.
The famous “twit-twoo” sound isn’t just made by one owl. And it’s only made by one species, the tawny owl. Instead, a female will make the “twit” sound, and a male will respond with the “twoo”.
10. Year-Round Residency
Many birds will migrate to warmer climates during the winter. Others can constantly move around, not settling in one place. Most owls are different. They will remain in one spot and can do so for long periods of time.
They will create a mental map of their area, know the best hunting spots, and are well-adapted for all seasons. They have thick feathers for insulation and as they don’t rely on insects, they still have an abundance of prey.
