The owl is a nocturnal bird of prey that is widely distributed throughout the world, belonging to the class Aves, order Strigiformes, and family Strigidae.

They are small in size with a round head, prominent eyes, and a flat face that gives them a cat-like appearance.

Owls have a body length of approximately 35-70 centimeters, a wingspan of up to 1.8 meters, and weigh between 200 grams and 4 kilograms. Their feathers are grey, brown, black, or white, providing excellent camouflage for stealthy hunting. Owls have powerful talons and sharp beaks, making them one of the top predators.

The chance of seeing an owl during the day is very low, but we may hear their unique calls at night. So, how do they catch highly alert prey like mice in pitch darkness?

Sharp Vision Owls have large pupils that can absorb more light at night. Most animals have two types of sensory cells in the retina of their eyes: rod cells and cone cells. Rod cells are sensitive to weak light but can only distinguish brightness, while cone cells can perceive strong light and colors, and detect details and colors of objects.

However, owls only have rod cells in their retina and no cone cells, which makes them sensitive to weak light and suitable for nocturnal activities.

Flexible Neck Rotation Although owls' eyes are sensitive to weak light at night, their forward-facing eyeballs fixed in sockets limit their visual range.

But owls have a special cervical structure that allows them to rotate their necks very flexibly, with a range of up to 270 degrees, and even turn their faces backward. Therefore, owls have a large observation range, which helps them locate prey and avoid danger.

Developed Hearing Owls have very developed hearing. The shape and structure of their left and right ears are not the same, with the left ear canal being wider and having a well-developed eardrum, which helps them locate sounds.

Most owls also have two tufts of feathers on the top of their heads, similar to human earlobes, which help them collect sound.

In addition, the distribution of their ears on both sides of the head, one high and one low, helps them determine the source of sound more accurately. You can observe an owl's eyes from the position of its ear openings.

The silent flight of owls is a combination of multiple noise-reducing factors. The wing shape and primary feather structure of owls play a role in muffling noise, while the fluffy structure of feathers distributed in other parts of the owl's body, as well as the skin and subcutaneous structure of owls, absorb sound.

The mechanical properties of owl feathers contribute complicatedly to noise reduction, possibly achieving both noise elimination and noise absorption.

Sharp Hunting Tools Owls have short, stout, sharply curved beaks, powerful legs, and hooked talons, which help them grasp and tear prey. Owls use their keen hearing and vision to accurately judge the position of their prey.

The owl is a mysterious and elegant bird with a unique appearance and excellent hunting skills, adaptability, and habits. They have important symbolic meanings in many cultures and traditions, and they are a precious species that people need to respect and protect.