What bird would be more perfect to start our blog with than an owl? This family, belonging to the Strigiformes order, is one of the most intricate of the aves, so we´ll only cover the most crucial information now and maybe we´ll post about some interesting facts in the near future.
As some general information: owls are predatory birds with carnivorous diets based on insects and small rodents, although some species are adapted for hunting fish. One of owls´ most notable characteristic is that they are nocturnal (with some exceptions), so they have several feats that fit them for a nocturnal lifestyle...
A Burrowing Owl flock. These species are mostly diurnal.
Owls´ vision is extraordinary and works perfectly for seeing their prey in the dark. Their eye size shows that, but it isn´t a defining fact (these are much more complicated). They also have what´s called "nocturnal eyes", which means that their eyes have tubular forms and in turn, can´t move them. For that reason, owls have multiple vertebrae and other mechanisms that let their necks turn up to 270ยบ without breaking or ending up in internal failure.
A Great Horned Owl´s serrated wings.
As predators, specially when hunting at night, the owls must be quick and deadly, for which they have really strong talons and sharp beaks, but they also need to stay undetectable so they can surprise their prey. For this feat, owls have serrated edges on their wings so they can soar silently at night and cryptic plumages that camouflage them in the daytime.
A Mottled Wood Owl with camouflaging plumage.
