Discovering the Fascinating World of Owls: Surprising and Intriguing Facts”

Owls can swim: Certain species of owls with large wings can swim by using their powerful wing strokes. They can crawl on the surface of the water using their wings, which is often easier for them than flying with wet wings. Once they reach the shore, they usually spread out their feather layers to dry. This was observed in 2014 when Steve Spitzer, a bird researcher and photographer, saw two eagles chasing a horned owl on the surface of Lake Michigan.

Not all owls are nocturnal: While owls are commonly associated with nocturnal behavior, not all owls are strictly nocturnal. Some owl species, such as the Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) and the Northern Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium gnoma), are diurnal, meaning they hunt during the day. These owls prefer prey species like songbirds or small diurnal mammals. Additionally, owls are closely related to hawks, which are diurnal birds of prey. However, it is not clear whether the common ancestor of owls and hawks was diurnal like hawks or nocturnal like most other owl species. Owls have impressive neck flexibility: Owls have 14 vertebrae in their necks, double the number that humans have. This unique structure allows owls like the Barred Owl (Strix varia) to rotate their heads up to 270 degrees. They achieve this incredible feat because their neck vertebrae have large hollow spaces that are about 10 times the size of their blood vessels. With this flexible spacing, blood vessels can easily pass through the vertebrae as the owl turns its head. The largest owls are extinct: The largest known owl species in history was the Cuban Giant Owl (Ornimegalonyx), which is now extinct. It was featured in the “Cuba” exhibition at the United States National Museum of Natural History. Scientists are unsure if this 1.1-meter-tall owl was capable of flight. However, its long and powerful legs indicate that it would have been a gold medalist in running if it participated. If it could fly and glide, it would have been one of the largest flying birds ever known.

These are just a few fascinating facts about owls and their diverse characteristics.

These are just a few fascinating facts about owls and their diverse characteristics.