Owl Master of Silence By: Bn

Introduction Owls scientific name is strigiformes Owls are raptors (which is a bird that eats prey) Owls are part of the bird family Are one of the best hunters in the bird family Are the most silent bird

Physical Features Owls are many different colors most are brown or gray There are two different types of owls Barn owls have heart shaped faces Typical owls have round faces Ears are slits Have nostrils instead of noses called nares They have talons which are really sharp nails Big eyes are set in front of face weigh up to 4 lbs Is about 22 inches high

Habitat/Climate Owls live everywhere except Antarctica Not picky about climate Roosts (which is a nest) have to be near food Likes cold, warm, and hot climate Some owls dig burrows

Landforms Landform must have trees to live in Live in North America Typical owls live away from humans Barn owls live near humans Most owls live in forests Live in forests, prairies, mountains, swamps, and deserts

Lifespan/Endangered Not an endangered species Live up to 20 years in captivity The great horned owl lives up to 13 years or more in the wild How long they live depends on the type of owl People cut down owls homes but they are still not endangered

Food They are carnivores (which means they only eat meat) Eat insects, rabbits, mice, and skunks Use beaks to tear meat from prey Grabs prey with sharp talons Wings have fringes that makes them silent to sneak up on prey Return to perches to eat

Predator/Prey Predator Humans Prey Eagles Mice Big birds Skunks Foxes Predator/Prey Prey Mice Skunks Young deer Fish Rabbits Insects

Reproduction Hatch from eggs Hatch three days apart Covered with fluffy feathers called down Eat all the time Female owls lay 3 to 12 eggs Start to fly at six weeks old

Behavior Tufts on ears show feelings Sleeps standing up Twist necks backward Mates clean each other by rubbing each other with their beaks Quiet while hunting They are fast flyers and can fly up to 40 miles an hour

Physical Adaptation Sharp talons help grab prey Eyes are big to let in more light Colored feathers help owls camouflage in habitat Hooked beak helps to tear up meat Wings help owls fly quickly and quietly

Behavioral Adaptation Hunt alone to find more food Is nocturnal because prey is more active at night Twist necks so it can look around Spits up prey’s bones and fur in pellets so that it won’t get sick on the bones Eats food whole so they don’t have to waste their time picking out fur and bones

Physiological Adaptation Have hollow bones which makes them lighter and easier to fly Has binocular vision so it can see things in three dimension which helps them spot their prey One ear is higher then the other so it can find out exactly where sound (and prey) come from Lots of rods in eyes to help see in dark Bones are fused to support weight on ground

Fun Facts Owls have a bad sense of smell and taste They have no teeth Males are smaller than females There are 200 to 225 species of owls People believe hooting caused sickness Some owls are not nocturnal Smallest owl is elf owl which is only 5 to 6 inches and ½ ounces

Owl Clips Owl Sounds and Calls Games and Information Study Jams: Food Chains