Owl is a representative of the class of predators, includes more than 200 species of large and medium sizes, for the most part these are nocturnal birds that can be found all over the world. The appearance of all varieties of owls is similar to each other. These birds inhabited almost the entire world, except that they are not in Antarctica.
Owl skeletal structure
There are two families: this is a detachment of owls or real owls, and barn owls. In their anatomical features and plumage, owls are very different from diurnal predators, so ornithologists brought them into a separate detachment. The features of the skeleton of an owl include the following features:
- Processes of the main bone.
- Triple connection of the lower jaw with the skull.
- Short phalanges of the third finger.
- Mobility of the outer finger that folds back.
Habitat
In Russia, there are seventeen species. Most of these nocturnal birds can be found in dense forests, and only a few live in open areas. Mostly found in nests that they themselves built, they can also use the abode of crows or a hollow tree. The eagle owl can find a home in almost any area: in the forest, steppe, mountains, deserts. The long-eared owl prefers fields becausehunts in open areas, but nests in the forest. The snowy owl lives in the tundra and flies south in winter. The barn owl or little owl nest under the roofs of houses and in attics.
Description and appearance of an owl
As we found out, an owl is a bird of prey, nocturnal. She may have a different plumage color, depending on what area she lives in. Owls vary in size depending on the species. The smallest is the sparrow owl. Its size is 17-20 cm, weight up to 80 grams. And the largest bird from this family is the eagle owl. Its length is 60-70 cm, weight up to 4 kg. The head of an owl is round in shape with huge eyes, long and sharp claws, and has a short and strong beak. An individual lives on average about ten years, and in captivity lives up to 40. Such a short life in the wild is due to the fact that they are hunted by larger birds of prey, such as hawks and golden eagles.
The skeleton of an owl has strong and prehensile paws. The claws are sharp and curved, they are needed to quickly capture the victim. An owl flies almost silently, and all thanks to the structure of feathers. The tail is rounded and cut off, the wingspan is up to 200 cm. The birds fly incredibly fast, the speed can reach up to 80 km/h. These individuals make a distinctive clicking sound when irritated or aroused.
The owl's skeleton is designed so that these unique birds can turn their heads 180-270 degrees without hurting or harming themselves. Since the owl is a predator, and it needs to track down its prey, its eyes are not on the sides, but in front. Eyes notmove and look straight ahead. To change direction, the bird needs to turn its head. The viewing angle has 160 degrees and it is binocular. Owls see the world in black and white. The lens is not in the eyeball, but in the horn tube, so they see perfectly at night. The skeleton of an owl is shaped so that their hearing is four times stronger than that of cats. As soon as the prey creates a rustle or sound, the bird immediately pounces on it.
Family
Owl couples create once and for all - they are constant in this regard. Short-eared owls can build nests on the ground in dense vegetation. They reproduce one or more times, depending on the environment and living conditions. The clutch may contain from 3 to 10 eggs, which are usually white, spherical and small in size. The eggs themselves are planted by the female, and the male is directly involved in feeding the offspring. An interesting fact is that in most cases only older chicks survive, while the rest die. When they are on a hunger strike, they may eat the last hatchlings.
What do they eat
Thus, large and medium individuals eat rats, mice, lemmings, hedgehogs, shrews, hares, frogs, toads, bats, moles, snakes, chickens. Little owls feed on insects (beetles, grasshoppers), and those who live in coastal areas feast on fish, crabs, mussels. Living in tropical latitudes eat fruits, grass, berries. Remarkably, this bird can go without water for several months, quench their thirst with the blood of their prey.
Most popular species
- Eared owls. They are the most common species in the European part of Russia. The name comes from their ears, which are formed from feathers. Long-eared owls prefer to nest in coniferous forests, which means they are forest birds. Owls living further south are sedentary, while northern ones are migratory birds. They feed on shrews, small rodents.
- Polar. It is the largest owl species in the Arctic. The female weighs three kilograms, and the male two and a half. The wingspan reaches half a meter. It lives in the tundra of North America, Greenland. It can also be found on some islands in the Arctic Ocean. In the natural environment, they live up to 8 years.
- Owl. One of the largest species of owls on the planet. They weigh more than three kilograms, live in places where a person is practically invisible. They are comfortable in dense forests. According to an old belief, eagle owl feathers protect from misfortune. In Kazakhstan and Central Asia, people believed that the drawing on the side feather of an eagle owl is a saying from the Koran. The mating season is in March. A person who enters the habitat of an eagle owl will be frightened by the hooting of birds. A married couple makes these sounds, first separately, and then together. Also, this bird has another name - pug. In addition to hooting, his performance ends with loud laughter. They feed on rodents, amphibians, insects and reptiles.
- Fish owl. This bird lives in Primorye,not far from the Sea of Okhotsk, Sakhalin and Japan. A favorite place for nesting is river floodplains, overgrown with large trees. They feed exclusively on marine life. And they catch them in two ways: the first is the stalking of the victim, not far from the water. The second is to roam the shallow water and catch fish passing by.
Interesting facts
- The cry of an owl is necessary for different purposes. There is an op, something like a dialogue that takes place between two males. You can also hear the calling sound during mating games. Baby owls make a similar call to indicate their location.
- In the old days, owls were very much afraid, they were identified with mysticism and expelled in every possible way.
- But in Egypt, birds were protected and respected, there were cases when they were mummified.
- Some time ago, they found a Babylonian bas-relief depicting owls. On the sides were birds, and in the center was a woman with wings and paws. People believed that this was a goddess, and owls were her personal guards. In addition to dark and mystical symbols, these individuals mean wisdom and a bright mind.
- In Christianity, their cry was considered a song of death. Symbolized desolation, loneliness, sorrow. The Slavs considered this bird to be the keeper of underground riches, also a sign of a widow and a harbinger of fire or death.
