On the one hand, an owl is a symbol of intelligence and wisdom, since it has long been believed that it can portend events. On the other hand, owing to their nocturnal lifestyle and sinister hoot, owls have also been associated with occultism and otherworldly forces. Their calm flight, strange hoots and secretive habits turned them into objects of fear and superstition in many parts of the world. In the Middle Ages they were considered a symbol of “darkness”, and after a while it was used to symbolize an unbeliever who lives in this darkness. Some considered this bird a bad omen and a symbol of shame.
Mysterious Owl Bird: Description
Owl squad is a mysterious bird, which is characterized by silent night activity. Thanks to numerous studies, the features of their behavior, nutrition and reproduction were studied, however, many species are still poorly understood.
Vision in the binocular with a deep perception, which is enhanced by sudden movements of the head. The lack of color vision is compensated by increased sharpness and photosensitivity. Contrary to popular belief, owls do not go blind in bright daylight. A special membrane protects the sensitive retina and provides better daylight vision than in humans. Big ears serve to concentrate sounds. Feathers covering the ear holes, together with a special movable flap, are responsible for focusing sounds.
Some owls can find and catch prey in complete darkness, relying on their ability to localize the rustling of the mouse in the leaves. The plumage is soft, dense and loose. A thick layer of fluff provides northern owls with isolation from the cold. The shades of plumage range from white, brown, gray, reddish to dark brown. The plumage is rarely monophonic, often it is decorated with mysterious patterns with veins and spots, as a result of which the bird is almost invisible against the background of the tree bark.
general characteristics
There are 216 species of owls, and each of them has its own life span. Owls are nocturnal predators that feed on mice and other small animals. Since they have no teeth, they eat their prey whole. The sizes of owls coincide with the parameters of their diurnal analogues of hawks, with a length of about 13-70 cm and a wingspan of 0.3–2 m. Most species are on the lower boundary of the size range. These carnivorous birds feed only on animals. The most common prey are various rodents, some species feed on insects.
For all representatives, the following description of an owl is characteristic: a flat face with a small hooked beak and large frontal eyes, a short tail and rounded wings. Between themselves, they differ in their size, color of feathers, the presence or absence of ear bundles and the form of plumage around the face. Like daytime birds of prey , the owl class is distinguished by large legs with sharp claws.
Where do owls live
Owls are found on all continents except Antarctica, and on most oceanic islands. Some of them, such as Barn Owl and Swamp Owl, are among the most widespread species, while others, such as Palau and the Seychelles owl, are endemic island species with a small number of individuals.
Owls often reach higher densities in the population than hawks. Their nocturnal habits and inconspicuous daytime behavior provide them with protection from hunting. Owls live mainly in a wooded area, most insectivorous representatives share their personal space in such a way that about 200 meters fall on each pair.
Habitat and nutrition
Owls use almost all habitats, from meadows and tundras to dense tropical forests. The distribution and density of most species is mainly limited by the availability of suitable nesting sites, and not by the number of possible prey. The type of prey depends on the size of the bird of prey. Owls that hunt pastures (Barn Owl, Swamp Owl) track down a potential prey during the flight, and then quickly fall into the grass and catch rodents.
Many forest owls get their livelihood by hunting perches in ponds located on the outskirts of forest glades. In Southeast Asia, a hawk owl lives , the food of which is perch and various flying insects. A whiskered owl catches insects in the foliage of trees. An elf (owl squad) repels insects with its wings during flight and then catches them with its beak. As a rule, prey is swallowed whole, along with indigestible elements such as feathers, fur and bones.
How many owls live
The life span of an owl usually depends on its size. The smaller the bird, the shorter its life cycle. This is because the smaller species are characterized by a very fast metabolism and they need more food and, as a result, they age faster. However, no one can say for sure the true life expectancy of an owl.
In captivity, where predators are protected from enemies and diseases, large species live for about 20 years. In the wild, most do not live up to 5 years, and some do not live more than one breeding season. The Great Horned Owl lives an average of 13 years in the wild or 38 years in captivity.
Behavior features
The whimper, the specific sound that owls make, plays a particularly important role during the mating season and for territorial defense. Sounds made, cheeks, flapping wings in flight, a variety of vocal intonations, timbre and rhythm are unique to each species. The female voice range is higher than that of males, although less melodic.
Birds behave in an interesting way during the mating season and dancing. In order to please the female, the male bows, raises its tail, and crouches during courtship. If the bird is in danger, a special protective mechanism is activated. Most large owls during the protection of their nests visually increase the size of the body, turning their wings forward and swaying in different directions. At this time, the feathers rise, making the bird look more threatening. Often the life of an owl depends on its proper behavior in dangerous situations.
Nesting Features
Mostly owls nest in natural hollows of trees or on rocks. Barn Owls and Eurasian Owls often use building cavities. Some large species use old hawk or raven nests. In the meadows and in the tundra, owls nest on the ground, on small elevations, less often in rodent burrows.
Fur, feathers and undigested pellet leftovers spilled by birds provide protection for the eggs. The lining in the nest is leaves, grass, or other soft material. In desert areas, small owls occupy holes made by woodpeckers in large cacti. Eggs have a more spherical shape than any other group of birds.
Interesting Facts
- There are about 200 different species of owls.
- Owls are mostly nocturnal.
- Most owls hunt insects, small mammals, and birds.
- Some species catch and eat fish.
- The owl has powerful claws that help them catch and kill prey.
- They have big eyes and a flat face.
- Owls can turn their heads 270 degrees.
- Far-sighted owls, that is, they cannot see things near distinctly.
- Their flight is very quiet compared to other birds of prey.
- The color of the plumage helps them merge with the environment and serves as a kind of camouflage.