Owl

Animal Spotlight

November 2002

The Physiology of Owls

What is an owl? Owls are a group of mainly nocturnal (active at night) birds classified as belonging to the order Strigiformes, a group which is most closely related to nightjars (Caprimulgiformes).

Appearance Owls are characterised by their large, round heads and huge, forward-facing eyes. These are features that make an Owl instantly recognisable. They also have a sharp, downward-facing beaks, and soft, cryptically coloured plumage. Males and Females are generally similar in appearance, although the female is often up to 25% larger.

Adaptations Owls are Raptors, or Birds of Prey, which means they hunt other living things for their food, using their special adaptations and unique abilities that set them apart from any other creature.

Exceptional vision, and acute hearing play a major part in an Owl's hunting technique. Couple these with powerful talons and beak, plus the ability to fly silently, and you have a formidable predator, using stealth to hunt down prey.

After eating, Owls regurgitate pellets, which contain the indigestible bones, fur and feathers of their victims. These pellets can be collected by researchers to study Owls' eating habits.

Distribution Owls are found on all continents except Antarctica, and in a great variety of habitats, from thick forests to open prairies.

Size They range in size from the tiny "Least Pygmy Owl" (Glaucidium minutissimum) at 12cm (4½") tall, to the rather large "Great Gray Owl" (Strix nebulosa) at up to 84cm (33") tall.

Eagle Owl With the 2nd Harry Potter movie showing in the cinemas in November 2002, Animal Spotlight switches over to birds once more and focuses on the Mascot of the NSVRs !
	Animal Name: Eagle Owl Scientific Name: Bubo bubo Range: North Africa, southern and central Europe, Scandinavia east to Siberia and China Habitat: Wide range of habitats, from rocky deserts to temperate woodlands Diet: Small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, crabs, insects and spiders.
Life Span: Oldest recorded 21 years	Social structure: Solitary
Conservation/status: Becoming rare due to shooting, habitat loss, nest robbing by egg collectors, pesticide poisoning and fatal collisions with power lines and vehicles. Remarks: One of the largest owls, it hunts other birds of prey like buzzards, kestrels and other owls. It can also kill more powerful birds of preys like young sea eagles. For further information about Owls,,check out this great website that is dedicated to these unique birds of the night !

Acknowledgements - Facts on the Eagle Owl from Wildlife Fact File, Photo from Night Safari, while any additional general info on owls is taken from the above source website about owls.

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