Owl: Encyclopedia - Owl

Owl

Strigidae
Tytonidae

An owl is any of some 220+ species of solitary, mainly nocturnal birds of prey in the order Strigiformes. Owls mostly hunt small mammals, insects, and other birds, though a few species specialize in hunting fish. They are found on all the Earth's lands except for Antarctica, most of Greenland, and some remote islands.

Owl - External appearance

Owls have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak, and usually a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disc. Although owls have binocular vision, their large eyes are fixed in their sockets, and they must turn their entire head to change views.

Owls are far-sighted, and are unable to clearly see anything within a few inches of their eyes. Their far vision, particularly in low light, is incredibly good.

Many owls can also hunt by sound in total darkness. Different species of owls make different sounds, one of which is the widely recognizable, drawn-out "hoo" sound. The facial disc helps to funnel the sound of rodents to their ears, which are widely spaced. In some species, they are placed asymmetrically, for better directional location.

Despite their appearance, owls are more closely related to the nightjars (Caprimulgiformes) than to the diurnal predators in the order Falconiformes. Some taxonomists place the nightjars in the same order as owls, as in the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy.

Owl - Behavior

Owls' powerful clawed feet and sharp beak enable them to tear their prey to pieces before eating, although most items are swallowed whole. Their muffled wings and dull feathers allow them to fly almost silently and unseen.

Scientists studying the diets of owls are helped by their habit of disgorging the indigestible parts of their prey (bones, scales, fur, etc.) in the form of pellets. These "owl pellets" are often sold by companies to schools to be dissected by students as a lesson in biology and ecology, because they are plentiful and easy to interpret.

Owl eggs are white and almost spherical, and range in number from a few to a dozen dependent on species. Their nests are crudely built and may be in trees, underground burrows or barns and caves.

Most owls are nocturnal, but several, including the pygmy owls (Glaucidium), are crepuscular, or twilight active, hunting mainly at dawn and dusk. A few owls, such as the Burrowing Owl (Speotyto cunicularia) and the Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus), are also active during the day.

The smallest owls include the pygmy owls, some of which are only 13 cm (5.1 in) long, have a 32-cm (12.6-in) wingspan, and weigh only 50 g (1.76 oz). The largest owls are the eagle owls, the Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo and Verreaux's Eagle Owl B. lacteus, which may reach 71 cm (28 in) long, have a wingspan of just over 2 m (6.6 ft), and weigh about 4 kg (almost 9 lb).

Owl - Myth and lore

In the Western world, owls are traditionally associated with wisdom and knowledge and with the Greek goddess Athena. That's because Athena was a bird goddess and assumed often the form of an owl. Athena was not only the goddess of wisdom, but was also the goddess of arts and skills. With this association, owls became also the symbol of teaching and of institutions of learning, being present in the crest of arms of many universities.

The Ancient Egyptians made a representation of an owl into their hieroglyph for 'm', although they would often draw this hieroglyph with its legs broken to keep the bird of prey from coming to life and attacking. Another goddess possibly associated with owls is Akkadian Lilitu.

In Japanese culture, the bird is a symbol of death and seeing one is considered a bad omen (though in recent times, they are sometimes considered as a bird of luck). The same is true in Italian and Romanian culture, where the mournful call of an owl predicts the death of somebody living in the neighbourhood.

The Romans also considered owls to be funerary birds, for their nocturnal activity and having their nests in inaccessible places, therefore, seeing an owl at daytime was considered a bad omen. Their vampiric strix was in part based on the owl.

Taboo surrounds owls in the culture of the Native American Hopi nation as they are closely associated with evil sorcery. Possession of owl feathers is considered an indication of witchcraft.

In Indian Culture a white Owl is considered a companion of the goddess of wealth and therefore a harbinger of prosperity. In colloquial terms though an owl is used to refer to someone stupid. Probably because of an Owl's poor vision in short distances.

Owl - Bibliography

1. North American Owls: Biology and Natural History by Paul A. Johnsgard, ISBN 1560987243, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1997

Categories: Owls | Heraldic birds

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Owl", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki