What about owls?

Distribution & Size

Owls are found on all continents except Antarctica, and in a great variety of habitats, from thick forests to open prairies.

They range in size from the Least Pygmy Owl 12cm (4.5”) tall to the Great Grey Owl 84cm (33”).
Males and Females are generally similar in appearance, although the female is often up to 25% larger.

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Hunting

Owls have exceptional vision and hearing with powerful talons and beak, with the ability to fly silently.

An owl uses its uniquely sensitive ears to locate prey by listening for prey movement through ground cover from leaves to snow.

Like other birds, Owls cannot chew their food, small prey being swallowed whole, while larger prey are torn into small pieces.
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Several hours after eating, the indigestible parts (fur, bones, teeth and feathers) still in the gizzard are compressed into a pellet and regurgitated. Often at a regular resting site, giving telltale signs of an Owls presence.

The most unique adaptation of Owl feathers is the comb like leading edge of the primary wing feathers. This edge effectively muffles the sound of the air rushing over the wing surface, allowing the owl to fly silently.

Owls cannot move their eyes in the sockets, but they do have large eyes to improve sight, especially in low light conditions. They also have long necks that allow it to turn its head almost upside down and to turn its head through 270

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Nesting

Will nest anywhere from the ground to high in the hollow of a tree. One to thirteen eggs are laid, depending on the species but 3-4 is the average. Laid over several days with the parent incubating from the first laid means the chicks will hatch accordingly after an average 30 day period. Resulting in a nest of four chicks, for example, aged from 8 days to 1 day old.

arely do all survive, unless food sources are abundant. Often the younger sibling being eaten by the older.

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