Physical description
The owl is a nocturnal raptor. There are dozens of species, including the great horned owl, the long-eared owl, and the short-eared owl.
The Great Horned Owl, the largest nocturnal raptor in Europe, has a thick, hooked beak and large eyes, often orange or yellow, which are very sensitive to light, placed forward, and have the particularity of being attached to the skull, which allows the owl to properly appreciate distances at night. Its head, unlike the owl's, is furnished with erect feathers resembling ears. These feathers, called egrets, stand up when the owl is stressed. Its large legs have powerful heels. It can be up to 70 cm long with a wingspan of up to 190 cm. Its weight is about 2 kg (the female can weigh up to 2.6 kg, it looks a lot like the male). Its plumage is downy, brown, and streaked.
On the contrary, the eagle owl weighs only 100 g, with a size of 20 cm for a wingspan of about 50 cm.
where it lives
The owl does not make a nest, it just occupies the nests abandoned by other birds (pigeons, herons, hawks ...). It is very widespread in Europe, where it is native. It can also be found in North Africa, Asia, and North America.
Its diet
This bird has a varied diet. It feeds mainly on small rodents such as mice, field mice, and flies. It can also feed on insects, small birds, bats... It stores its surplus prey only during the breeding period.
Its reproduction
Owls reach sexual maturity after one year. The eagle-owl breeds in January-February. The female has a clutch of 2 to 4 eggs, and the incubation period is 30 to 36 days. The female incubates the eggs, while the male takes care of bringing her food during the night. The young are feathered after about 4 weeks and leave the nest at the age of one and a half months. Owl pairs stay together for the rest of their lives.
Life expectancy
The life expectancy of the owl is very variable, it depends on the species. It generally varies from 5 to 20 years. However, it is estimated that in captivity, it can live up to 60 years.
The owl's cry
Owls are fat, boo, or hoot. Its lugubrious cry is often associated with anxiety.
Special signs
The owl is characterized by highly developed hearing and excellent night vision, which allows it to hunt in complete darkness. He is a great hunter, enjoying a silent flight thanks to his plumage of rounded feathers. He can turn his head 270 degrees. It is rarely seen, although it can often be heard at night several miles away.
Like some nocturnal birds of prey, the owl has been considered since the dawn of time as a bird of misfortune, a bad omen, which announces death. There are many myths and legends about it. However, it is considered useful in agriculture as it helps to suppress parasitic rodents.