It is the end of another work week and I hope everyone is ready to have a great weekend. Now, before you get all excited and start planning your weekend, I want you to take two seconds and continue reading today’s Wild Fact.
I have been wanting to write about the owl since I started this online project so today’s fact will be about owls. More specifically, I want to talk to you about the barn owl. I chose the barn owl since it is the most widespread owl species and thus very common so you might be familiar with it. The first thing you notice about the owl is the unique parabolic shape of its face. At first you might think that the large satellite dish shape around the eyes must help the owl see its surroundings. The truth of the matter is that these parabolic shapes actually draws sound into the ears of the owl. Yes, folks the heart shaped face of the barn owl actually helps their hearing. Similarly, their ears are placed asymmetrically in order to improve their detection of sounds and to judge the distance of its prey.
Barn owls are nocturnal and usually hunt during dusk and dawn. Although, owls may have good eyesight, the barn owl does not need to see in order to catch its prey. Believe it or not the barn owl can locate, dive down and capture a rodent through the snow, grass or bush just by using its hearing. It might seem almost impossible but it is true! You know I wouldn’t lie to you!
Barn Owl Fast Fact – The barn owl has a higher metabolism then other owls. For this reason it consumes a lot more food then other owls. Pound for pound, the barn owl consumes more rodents than any other animal.
Thanks for sticking with Wild Facts while I was gone all week. I hope everyone has a great weekend!
What a beautiful little bird. I have two owls that have been hanging around. I haven’t seen them but I can certainly hear them at night. I’m not familiar with the different species so I don’t know what kind it is, but I’ve been very careful keeping the cats in at night now just in case. Our neighbour has a pond and he used to keep ducks, the owls put a quick end to that. Maybe that’s why they’ve moved over to my neck of the woods.
Now you have me curious as to what type of owls are hanging around your house. The following site has a variety of owl sounds:
http://www.owlpages.com/sounds.php
Considering where you live I would suggest checking out the following Owls:
– Great Gray
– Boreal Owl
– Northern Saw-Whet
– Barred Owl
If you or anyone else is interested in providing data about the owl species population status in Ontario then I would recommend checking out the following site:
http://www.bsc-eoc.org/owls.html
I have completed this Nocturnal Owl Survey while working for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. It is an easy survey to complete that will help managers understand the numbers and distribution of owls in Ontario. Please don’t hesitate to ask me if you have any questions pertaining to this survey.
Make sure you keep me posted on the Owls. I would love to know what you have on your property.
The closest sound is the gray owl. I even listened to the chicks and I’ve heard that as well so maybe we have a family. I’ll have to keep an eye (an an ear) out.
The Great Gray Owl would be a great bird to have hanging around your house. They are huge owls and incredibly spectacular!
How do owl’s turn there head all the way around?
Hi Hailey,
Great question! Owls are able to turn their head an astounding 270 degrees due to the number of vertebrae supporting their nect. Owls have 14 vertebrae which gives them this greater flexibility. In contrast, humans only have 7 vertebrae.
Owls need to be able to move their heads in these extreme directions since they aren’t able to move their eyes like we can. This neck movement allows them to keep a watchful eye on their surroundings.
I hope this answers your question. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any other questions.
Nathan
Hey Nathan!
I Have been Seeking in my Stash for tis Collector’s Magazine “The Tree of Knowledge”
gosh! It’s a Limmited magazine so I didn’t complete the full set,
By The Way I remembered that there’s an Article for Owls in that magazine so
I Seek and found it and Re read 😀
this is What it said for Barn Owls
Barn Owls have soft fringed feathers which creates a smooth airflow,
allowing the bird to fly silently.
and..
All Owls belong to the order “Strigiformes”.
Barn Owls and Bay Owls belong to the Family “Tytonidae”.
😀
Hey Kanjiruminamoto,
Thanks for sharing the awesome owl facts! I guess those soft fringed feathers allow the Barn Owl to be a sneaky assassin. I guess they are like ninja’s!
Thanks again for sharing the great info.
@Nathan, Yeah! They’re Way too Sneaky for a Rodent that is also sneaky heheh!
Barn Owls and Snowy Owls are One of My Fave’ Birds!
I Really Love this Wild Fact About Barn owls 😀
More Powers Nathan! 😀
@kanjiruminamoto,
I have a Wrong Grammar It’s Supposedly two of My Fave’ Birds XD Sorry XD