Owl
There are about 162 different species of
owls alive today, inhabiting a huge variety
of ecological niches around the world,
from rain forests to the tundra.
Smallest and L argest: The smallest owl
in the world is the Elf Owl (
Micrathene
whitneyi
), which is about 6.1 inches (16
cm) long, has a wingspan of 15 inches (38
cm), and weighs about 1.5 ounces (4g).
The largest owls are the Great Gray Owls
(
S
trix nebulosa
) [which are about 33
inches (84 cm) long, have a wingspan of
about 5 feet (152 cm), and weigh about 3
pounds (1450 g)], the Eurasian Eagle Owls
(
Bubo bubo
) [which are about 28 inches
(71 cm) long, have a wingspan of about
5.2 feet (160 cm), and weigh up to 9.8
pounds (4200 g)], and the Great Horned
Owls (
Bubo virginianus
) [which are about
25 inches (63 cm) long, have a wingspan
of about 5 feet (152 cm), and weigh about
4 pounds (1800 g)].
Eyes: Owls have a large head and large eyes that face forwards (unlike other birds,
whose eyes are on the sides of their head). This eye placement gives them binocular
vision and very precise depth perception. Also, there are circles of radiating feathers
surrounding each eye, giving them a wide-eyed, alert look.
Owls cannot move their eyes within their sockets like we can. In order to look around,
they have to move their entire head, which has a range of movement of about 270°.
Diet: Owls are ca rnivo res (meat-eaters). Most are nocturnal and hunt at night. They
use a keen sense of sight to find prey in the dark (owls see mostly in black and white).
They have an acute sense of hearing which also helps in finding meals. Owls are
stealth hunters; they can easily sneak up on their prey since their fluffy feathers give
them almost silent flight. Owls hunt and eat rodents, insects, frogs, and birds. Owls
eat smaller prey whole and larger prey in chunks. They regurgitate the inedible parts
