Typical Owls
Since owls are night birds, they are difficult to see although their
characteristic songs and calls can often be easily heard.Because there
are owls living everywhere, there’s a good chance that there are several
different species of owls living near your home. Some owls prefer cold
climates, while others live in deserts or rain forests. Some, like barn
owls Tyto alba, hunt in wide open spaces. Others, like long-eared owls
Asio sp., make their home in the forest. A small wingspan on a
chestnut-backed owlet Glaucidium castanonotum helps it to navigate
around trees in a tropical rain forest, but the longer wings on a barn
owl are ideal for cruising over open fields. Animals that are active at
night usually have large eyes, which lets them make use of any available
light. With owls, the eyes are so big that they can’t move in any
direction. This means that an owl must move its entire head to follow
the movement of prey, but it also gives it better focus with both eyes
looking in the same direction. And even though it seems that an owl can
twist its head completely around, most owls actually turn their heads no
more than 270 degrees.» Life span: 20 years or more
» Weight: typical owls–1.5 ounces to 9 pounds (42.5 grams to 4 kilograms)
» Range: every continent except Antarctica
» Wingspan: up to 43 inches.
» Females larger than males.
» Species: typical owls–189 species; barn owls–16 species
» Food: Rodents, birds, reptiles, fish, large insects.
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