One of the commonly used animals in the English language is Owl because now and then, all the people use the idiom, as wise as an owl. This idiom refers to the Greek goddess of wisdom who was exceptionally wise and used since then. However, there are specific interesting and amazing fun facts about owls that you need to know. These fun facts about owls are listed below.
Fun Facts About Owl Head Rotation
An interesting fun fact about owls is that they can rotate their head at 270 degrees. This rotation enables an owl to see in different directions haphazardly. They can rotate their heads, and no artery or vein gets damaged. At the same time, human beings can rotate their heads from 160 degrees to 180 degrees. In this respect, owls are more keen observers than human beings. Owls can only look in the straight direction, so they have to turn their heads around to look at the sides.
Parliament
A cool fun fact about owls is that a group of owls is known as Parliament. So don’t get confused by the heading, as no governmental institution will be discussed here. This name, however, originated from a very famous film, the Chronicles of Narnia. So next time you watch this film, keep your ears open to hear this word Parliament being referred to as the group of owls in the film.
Owls Hunt Other Owls
Yes! The fun fact about owls that you are reading is accurate. Owls fall into the category of those animals that sometimes eat their kind. As the rule of this world is that smaller people suffer at the hands of bigger ones. The same goes for the owls. The smaller owls become the food of Great Horned Owls. Isn’t it an interesting fact that owls eat other owls?
Owls Can Be Found On Every Continent Antarctica
Owls can be found on every continent except for Antarctica. They live in a wide variety of habitats as well, from deserts to tropical forests to fields and swamps. In the northern hemisphere, they are most often found in lowlands and near water sources during winter seasons. However, the tallest owl species (the Eurasian eagle-owl) can live as high up as 8,200 feet above sea level.
Owls Have A Surprisingly High IQ
Owls have a surprisingly high intelligence quotient, gradually building up their knowledge through experience, and can live up to twenty years in the wild. They are known as one of the most intelligent bird species in the world, with a higher intelligence quotient than many other animal species including chimpanzees. They often embody symbols of wisdom and deep understanding. Having sharp eyesight, they rely on sight more than sound; much like the stereotype of a wise old man who emphasizes “seeing” as opposed to “hearing.”
Owls have long been seen as symbols of wisdom by many cultures. In Ancient Greece, it was believed that an owl appearing on a doorstep of a house would signify the death of one of the inhabitants. The German word for “owl” means “wise.” The Ainu people of Japan believe that owls are bringers of good fortune to humans. Native to North America, stories of “Owl people” are prevalent in the culture.
Owls Have Incredible Sight
Their eyes also feature something called a foveal depression which is an area on the retina where there is no photoreceptor cells. Rather than this being a bad thing, it actually makes for incredibly better vision. This allows them to spot prey scurrying underneath leaves in the dark. Owls are known for rotating their heads 270 degrees, though they can only move their eyes 180 degrees.
Owls Have Fantastic Hearing As Well
Not only do they have incredible sight, but also fantastic hearing as well. In fact, owls have asymmetrically placed ear openings with a facial disc, which enhances their ability to pinpoint the location of prey without moving their head. Their facial discs focus sounds into a beam that allows them to hear a mouse beneath leaves and snow.
Owls have a wide variety of vocalizations, from soft hushing sounds to clucks and hisses. These sounds help them locate prey before swooping down on the unsuspecting victim. In addition to their hunting instincts, owls are very territorial animals who often hiss or flap their wings in order to scare away predators from their nests.
Feet Of Snowy Owls
An interesting fun fact about snowy owls is that the feet of the snowy owls are covered with a lot of feathers. It keeps their feet insulated from the cold. If you are not living in a cold place, then google it and witness this fun fact with your eyes.
Strange Toes Of Owls
A little-known fact about owls is that two toes of the owls are on the feet’ front side while two are faced backward. But unlike other birds, it can move its one toe forward to catch the prey and grip it well. Owl hardly misses its prey, and one of the primary reasons behind this is the Owl’s toes.
Babies Of Snowy Owls
Another interesting fun fact about snowy owls is that their females remain with the babies while the males search for food, and then females feed it to their babies. In other words, snowy female owls act like homemakers who take care of the children while the husband goes to work. The mother must feed her babies. The same pattern is observed in snowy owls that brings them close to human beings. Another interesting fun fact about snowy owls is that the wings are mighty, and so it helps them accelerate the speed and catch their prey.
Barn Owls Hunt In The Dark
An interesting fun fact about Barn owls is that these owls usually hunt during the nighttime. The darkness does not matter as they can locate their prey with their strong heating power. Similarly, another amazing fact about barn owls is that, on average, four small mammals are eaten by a barn owl every day. So calculate yourself the average of mammals wiped out from the surface of the earth by Barn owls.
The barn owl has been known to live up to 20 years in captivity. This is because they are not hunted or subject to any other form of human disturbance, so they can live out their natural lifespan. They are also able to hunt for small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects which makes it easier for them to find food. Owls feed on these animals at night time due to their ability to use their acute sense of hearing to locate prey that they cannot see.
Barn owls don’t build their own nests; they just take over an abandoned nest from another bird or animal and move right in!
Night Owl Meaning
An interesting unknown fact about night owl is that this term does not imply an owl, but it refers to the person who stays up late in the night. Waking up in late hours at night can result in several health problems such as diabetes, heart issues, and obesity. Hence one should go to bed early so that he/she can wake up early in the morning.
Owls Eyes Are Not Round In Shape
An interesting fun fact about Owl’s eyes is that they are not round in shape, just like humans. Their eyes are long like that of a tube. Their eyes limit them from seeing in all directions, but their heads do this job for them, as mentioned above. It helps them to look in every direction.
In addition to this, there is another exciting and amazing fun fact about Owl’s eyes. If an owl has black or dark brown eye color, it means that the owl hunts during the nighttime. If the color of an owl’s eyes is yellow, it signifies the fact that the owl hunts during the daytime. Whereas if the color of the Owl’s eyes is red or orange, it implies that the owl hunts in the twilight. Next time if you come across an owl, don’t forget to look into his eyes to know at what time the owl hunts.
Owls Have Asymmetrical Ears
An interesting fun fact about Owl’s ears is that the ears are not in symmetry in most owls. Their ears are not symmetrical as one ear is above in height than the other ear that is low. This asymmetry helps the Owl to hear sounds from different places and angles at the same time. It helps them to pray also.
Camouflage In Owls
A unique fun fact for kids about Owls Is that, like many other animals and birds, owls can camouflage too. Their feathers help them in doing so. The color of their feathers is such that it blends with the environment, making them not visible.
ELF OWLS
Another unique but interesting fun fact about Elf owls is that they are the world’s smallest owls. They primarily reside in woodpecker holes. Elf owls can make different kinds of sounds. Formatting, for threat signal, for prey, and everything else, an elf owl makes different sounds.
After going through the fun facts about Owls in the article, one realizes the power of owls. They are not only wise but great hunters also.
Species Of Owls
A true fun fact about owls is that there are almost two hundred species of owls in the world. Owls are present everywhere around the world. There are over 200 species of owls in the world and more than 40 types in North America alone. These owls vary in size too; some are as small as a sparrow, while others can be even bigger than great horned owls. The largest owl in the world is the Blakiston’s Fish Owl (Bubo blakistoni) which is native to Russia and Eastern China.
It has a wingspan of 174cm and can reach weights of up to 4kg, making it one of the heaviest birds in the world! The Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) is the smallest of all of these owls, while the Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) is the largest species. The Eurasian Eagle Owl has a wingspan of up to 1.8 meters (6 feet) and has been recorded at weights of nearly 3 kg (6.6 lbs.).
Here is 25 species of owls:
1. Southern Rock-Owl
2. Tawny Owl
3. Snowy Owl
4. Pale-Blonde Scops-Owl
5. Spotted Eagle-Owl
6. Great Gray Owl
7. Eurasian Eagle-Owl
8. Blakiston’s Fish Owl
9. Sooty Falcon-Owl
10. Northern White-faced Owl
11. Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl
12. Burrowing Owl
13. Great Horned Owl
14. Elf Owl
15. Southern Boobook
16. African Barred Owlet
17. Spectacled Owl
18. Tropical Screech-Owl
19. Long-Eared Owl
20. Masked Owl
21. Blonde Hawk-Owl
22. Tawny Fish-Owl
23. African Wood Owl
24. Buff-Spotted Owl
25. Snowy-Throated Kingfisher-Owl
