Learn a Little: Owls

Owls, like other raptors, are powerful birds of prey. They are nocturnal, meaning they are most active during the nighttime, with many unique features that help them while hunting at night.

Owls use keen eyesight to hunt for their food from the air as well as powerful talons (super sharp nails) and sharp hooked beaks to capture and eat mice, chipmunks, and other small mammals.

Their very large eyes take up most of the space in their skulls, helping them see far into the distance, even after the sun sets. Their eyes are fixed in their heads, causing them to move their whole head to better see their surroundings.

Owls are equipped with special feathers on their wings that make them silent flyers, so their prey won’t hear them coming.

While owls live in forests all over the world, there are several owl species native to deciduous Alabama forests, including barred owls, great horned owls, barn owls, and eastern screech owls. You may hear their distinctive hooting calls, especially near wooded areas at dusk and dawn.

Learn more about how an owl rotates its head in the Arctic/Desert Exhibit.