# Owl (*Strigiformes*) Owls are nocturnal birds known for their big eyes and silent flight. They can turn their heads almost all the way around to see behind them. Owls are excellent hunters, with sharp talons and keen eyesight. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Night Owl, Screech Owl ![Owl](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426289/objects/6281.jpg) ## Appearance The Owl has a distinctive flat face with large, forward-facing eyes, often rimmed with facial disks. Its soft, mottled feathers in shades of brown, grey, and white provide excellent camouflage against trees and bark. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Strigiformes - **Family:** Strigidae ## Interesting facts - Certain owls, like the Burrowing Owl, surprisingly live underground! - Many owls also hunt during the day, not just at night! - Owls are found on every continent except cold Antarctica! - Some owls swallow small prey whole, later spitting out undigested pellets! ## Special abilities - **Neck Gymnast:** Owl can rotate its head 270 degrees because of extra vertebrae, allowing it to see all around without moving its body. - **Stealth Mode:** Owl has unique fringed feathers that muffle sound, helping them fly silently to surprise unsuspecting prey. - **Super Sonic Sensor:** Owl has highly sensitive, sometimes asymmetrical ears, helping it pinpoint prey's exact location in darkness. - **Night Vision Goggles:** Owl has massive, tube-shaped eyes that gather maximum light, helping them see clearly in very dim conditions. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 20-70 cm - **Wingspan:** 30-180 cm - **Weight:** 0.1-4 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-15 years - **Speed:** 70 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-7 - **Incubation:** 28-35 days ## Diet & Feeding Owls are fierce hunters that mostly eat small animals and insects, using their sharp talons to catch prey. - **Primary Foods:** mice, voles, shrews, insects, small birds, rabbits - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Meadow Vole (*Microtus pennsylvanicus*) — Primary prey for many owl species across North America. - **Hunts:** [Deer Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/deer-mouse) (*Peromyscus maniculatus*) — A common small rodent frequently caught by various owl species. - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — Coyotes may opportunistically prey on owls, especially fledglings. - **Shelter:** [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) — Many owls use cavities in oak trees for nesting and roosting. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Echolocation](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/echolocation): Echolocation is a biological sonar used by animals to navigate, hunt, and communicate by emitting sound waves and interpreting the echoes. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Owls are wild animals and should be observed from a distance to avoid disturbing them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Owl? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Owl? 20-70 cm ### What is Owl's wingspan? 30-180 cm ### How much does Owl weigh? 0.1-4 kg ### How long does Owl live? 5-15 years ### How fast can Owl move? 70 km/h ### What does Owl eat? Owls are fierce hunters that mostly eat small animals and insects, using their sharp talons to catch prey. ### Where is Owl usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Honolulu Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/honolulu-zoo) — Hawaii, US · Zoo - [Cosley Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cosley-zoo) — Illinois, US · Zoo - [Screech Owl Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/screech-owl-sanctuary) — England, GB · Zoo - [Henson Robinson Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/henson-robinson-zoo) — Illinois, US · Zoo - [North Powellhurst Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/north-powellhurst-park) — Oregon, US · Park [View all places to see Owl](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/owl) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Owl: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/owl)