Owl
From Freepedia
- For uses of the word Owl as a three letter acronym, see OWL.
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An owl is any of some 200+ species of solitary, mainly nocturnal birds of prey in the order Strigiformes. Owls mostly hunt small mammals, insects, and other birds, though a few species specialize in hunting fish. They are found on all the Earth's lands except for Antarctica, most of Greenland, and some remote islands.
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External appearances
Owls have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak, and usually a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk. Although owls have binocular vision, their large eyes are fixed in their sockets, and they must turn their entire head to change views.
Owls are far-sighted, and are unable to clearly see anything within a few inches of their eyes. However, their vision, particularly in low light, is incredibly good.
Many owls can also hunt by sound in total darkness. Different species of owls make different sounds, one of which is the widely recognizable drawn-out "hoo" sound. The facial disc helps to funnel the sound of rodents to their ears, which are widely spaced. In some species, they are placed asymmetrically, for better directional location.
Despite their appearances, owls are more closely related to the nightjars (Caprimulgiformes) than to the diurnal predators in the order Falconiformes. Some taxonomists place the nightjars in the same order as owls, as in the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy.
The owls' powerful clawed feet and sharp beak enable them tear their prey to pieces before eating, although most items are swallowed whole. Their muffled wings and dull feathers allow them to fly almost silently and unseen.
Scientists studying the diets of owls are helped by their habit of disgorging the indigestible parts of their prey (bones, scales, fur, etc.) in the form of pellets. These "owl pellets" are often sold by companies to schools to be dissected by students as a lesson in biology and ecology, because they are plentiful and easy to interpret.
Owl eggs are white and almost spherical, and range in number from a few to a dozen dependent on species. Their nests are crudely built and may be in trees, underground burrows or barns and caves.
Most owls are nocturnal, but several, including the pygmy owls (Glaucidium), are crepuscular, or twilight active, hunting mainly at dawn and dusk. A few owls, such as the Burrowing Owl (Speotyto cunicularia) and the Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus), are also active during the day.
The smallest owls include the pygmy owls, some of which are only 13 cm (5.1 in) long, have a 32-cm (12.6-in) wingspan, and weigh only 50 g (1.76 oz). The largest owls are the eagle owls, the Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo and Verreaux's Eagle Owl B. lacteus, which may reach 71 cm (28 in) long, have a wingspan of just over 2 m (6.6 ft), and weigh about 4 kg (almost 9 lb).
- ORDER STRIGIFORMES
- Family Tytonidae: barn owls, 12 to 18 species
- Family Strigidae: typical owls, about 195 species.
- Proposed family Phodilidae: one or two species (currently included in Tytonidae)
Myth and lore
In the Western world, owls are traditionally associated with wisdom and knowledge and with the Greek goddess Athena. That's because Athena was a bird goddess and assumed often the form of an owl. Athena was not only the goddess of wisdom, but was also the goddess of arts and skills. With this association, owls became also the symbol of teaching and of institutions of learning, being present in the crest of arms of many universities.
The Ancient Egyptians made a representation of an owl into their hieroglyph for 'm', although they would often draw this hieroglyph with its legs broken to keep the bird of prey from coming to life and attacking. Another goddess possibly associated with owls is Akkadian Lilitu.
In Japanese culture, the bird is a symbol of death and seeing one is considered a bad omen. The same is true in Italian and Romanian culture, where the mournful call of an owl predicts the death of somebody living in the neighbourhood.
The Romans also considered owls to be funerary birds, for their nocturnal activity and having their nests in inaccessible places, therefore, seeing an owl at daytime was considered a bad omen. Their vampiric strix was in part based on the owl.
Taboo surrounds owls in the culture of the Native American Hopi nation, they are regarded as a dirty and ominous creature.
External links
- Owl species of the World
- Animal Diversity Web Page: Owls
- Smithsonian Snowy Owl Info
- Australian Owls and Frogmouths
Bibliography
- North American Owls: Biology and Natural History by Paul A. Johnsgard, ISBN 1560987243, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1997
