6 SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT OWLS

SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT OWLS

Jul 28, 2024 Anshu Bajaj

Owls possess specialized feathers that minimize noise, enabling them to fly nearly silently and catch their prey by surprise

[{"selector":"#anim-dc63a467-1eb0-4a34-8fbd-8b66e70057c9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-33829051-9095-4a4a-8e91-0e9cba83d39b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93bfa9e4-d165-4ffa-8b07-d109d03f13b5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 131.61449%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-65a1ce53-c8ce-4d37-a85b-283993a3cb6f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e2e3c62f-ca4b-4da7-ae2a-4c23d3c13708","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 176.73616%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Tooltip

Thanks to extra vertebrae in their necks, owls can rotate their heads up to 270 degrees

[{"selector":"#anim-8fca5663-e550-4c6d-a690-8ca06924f663","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-66c31396-57dd-4608-8547-c6e3a380abe9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 131.61449%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-55ac854c-985f-4030-bcc8-4c6902f3f418","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-96e77368-441d-4f67-b1ce-b9838d7216b3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 151.52206%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e970a803-f440-448a-920d-3d53cc00a785 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Tooltip

Many owl species have asymmetrical ear placements that enhance their ability to pinpoint sounds accurately

[{"selector":"#anim-4f0aa804-452b-464d-9837-0b0637bb306c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cbc5b88e-95ab-4642-a240-8a5f509b8ebc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 126.01010%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9fbe7d93-6ca8-40c5-b402-bb76bda2ddcb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-de3924cb-738c-4365-bab2-c45c79da2dff","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 156.62272%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5be6a796-92e9-4448-ac83-edbbb17d71bb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Tooltip

Their large eyes are adapted to low-light conditions, providing them with excellent night vision

[{"selector":"#anim-844341d1-f3e9-477e-a9e3-12d5ebdd1516","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c4236781-9d91-4b8e-8ebd-dd4f84a0dc9c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 149.04421%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c60a94ba-5a53-4ca6-88f2-10432bc380eb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c4bc59a6-e83d-4f49-a218-5fe779d6afa0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 195.22691%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-03a27fef-2d60-423b-9ecb-dcb621b7a00c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Tooltip

Owls often swallow their prey whole, then regurgitate indigestible parts such as bones and fur as pellets

[{"selector":"#anim-111b525b-b9e8-42fd-882e-0cc574bad683","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3c3ec2e5-266c-4a4a-82f0-a8ec417e5c01","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 149.04421%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-65c826e1-3ecd-4082-b9d6-3f5d7019097e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3b8edbc4-ac61-4c0d-b407-d129cc583105","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 195.22691%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-53cd1cbf-5587-49b2-8d69-eb8e57944b1a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Tooltip

With two toes pointing forward and two backward, owls can grip prey and perch securely

[{"selector":"#anim-cba064d9-b187-4c2a-bc5f-de8b66c456cb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99041315-f6b9-4aa6-bc60-ee1a30070a9b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 149.04421%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ca05cad9-add0-4bb6-821f-9b198b4d4dbf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-886b1632-9da3-4ba7-95f6-2def3b07ee14","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 195.22691%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c8c18843-c50d-44ec-a3cf-bc4e49d6b56c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Tooltip

Read More Laurene Powell Adopts Hindu Name ‘Kamala’ for Maha Kumbh 2025 in Saffron Attire Faith in Flow: Mahakumbh Mela 2025 Begins with Sacred Shahi Snan Travel Hierarchy: The Best and Worst Passports of 2025 Lohri 2025: A Harvest Festival of Gratitude and Togetherness