Meet Our Owls
One of our most interesting neighbors is rarely seen, but can often be heard making spooky noises in the night - owls! Owls are some of the largest birds in our forests, and yet their soft feathers make them one of the quietest. These sneaky birds of prey often hunt in the night: their large forward-facing eyes, sharp tallons and beak help them to feed on animals including mice, squirrels, frogs, lizards, snakes, insects and even animals as large as rabbits or skunks!
Because owls are such effective predators, they are keystone species in many habitats - they help to keep wildlife populations in check and plant species healthy.
Did you know?
- While an owl hunts mostly at night, the daytime hours are spent “roosting” or resting in trees close to their nests and/or good hunting spots.
- When owls have lots of food available, they will actually “cache” or hide their food in clumps of grass, holes in trees or between branches.
- Owls don’t make their own nests, but instead they use the homes of other animals, like tree cavities made by a woodpecker or a sturdy nest made by a hawk.
- A group of owls is called a parliament.
- Owls live on all continents, except Antarctica.
Owl Superpowers
Animals have adaptations - the things about how they look or act that help them survive where we live. We like to think of these as their superpowers. Owls have a few really unique superpowers:
- Owls can rotate their heads 270 degrees (thanks to 14 extra bones in their neck!)
- The sounds that owls make have a low frequency or pitch, which means their calls can travel long distances.
- Owls are zygodactyl, which means that they have 2 toes that point forward, and 2 that point backward, one of which can change from backward to forward when needed!
Long Eared Owl - USFWS
Snowy Owl - USFWS
Silent Flight
Owls are special birds because they can fly almost completely silently! Their feathers are very soft and have tiny, comb-like edges that break up the air as they fly. This keeps their wings from making loud flapping sounds. Silent flight helps owls sneak up on their prey, like mice, without being heard. It also helps owls listen carefully for tiny sounds on the ground, so they can find food even in the dark. Thanks to their quiet wings, owls are amazing nighttime hunters!
Color it Wild
Ready to bring an owl to life with color? Ask an adult to help you print the page so you can color it at home or in the classroom!
Explore the World of Owls
Download our Owl Scavenger Hunt and explore the world of owls! Look and listen for hoots and chirps, search for tree holes and sturdy branches, spot the moon, and find places owls hunt—like fields, rivers, and animal burrows. Ask your grown-up to help you download it!
Create Owl Art
Do you want to create art that helps other people care about our native owls? You can create an Owl Hanging Craft with materials found right in your home! Watch the video to learn what to do!
