Facts, Information, Scientific Name of Owl
Let us learn about the Bird that is feisty as they hunt during their flight but also are romantic singers.
My Facial disc is the secret of my stunts,
Which help me in acquiring good Hunt.
Owl
Scientific Name– Strigiformes
Size – 71cm
There are around 200 species of owls distributed everywhere in the world except extreme polar regions.
Facial Disc of an Owl-
Owls have large forward-faced eyes and ear holes. The beak is like a hawk and the face is flat.
All this is lined inside a ‘Facial disc’, which is a small feather around the eyes, which can be conspicuous. Feathers make this disc adjust and the owl can sharply focus on the sounds of activities by its prey.
Owls have forward-facing eyes unlike other birds, which gives them the benefit of depth perception in low light. They have binocular vision. Although their near-sighted vision is weak. Prey is felt by filoplumes when caught. Filoplumes are hair-like feathers on beaks and feet.
Owls turn their head 270 degrees as they have 14 neck vertebrae unlike humans have 7.
The facial disc also helps to channel the sound waves as a funnel to their ears.
Plumage and Sexual Dimorphism –
Plumage of Owl is very cryptic. Facial and some marks on the head are present. The Iris is bright in colour. The markings are more common in every species, mostly in the species of open habitats, as they can signal with other owls in the low light atmosphere.
Female owls are larger. Males are good hunters because of their small size. In this way, they can get more food in the breeding season.
Female owls’ job is to incubate the eggs, hence males bring food to them.
Also, female owls have larger body mass so they can stay long without starving.
Food-
Owls are carnivores. They feed on Insects, Rodents, small mammals as well as Fish.
The talons(claws) help in grabbing the skull of prey and crush the skull. They also knead the prey before consuming it.
The downward-facing hooked, short and curved beak is for tearing the prey.
Owls always regurgitate the indigestible pellets. These pellets contain bones of prey and other undigested food.
Reproduction
Owls are Monogamous.
Courtship includes calling and provision of Food.
Female lay eggs and Incubates them while the male brings the food.
Climatic conditions and the availability of food are important factors for mating.
Threats–
Owls are threatened due to Habitat loss, Hunting and Climate change issues.
- Also See – Parrot