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Owl

Hunters of the Night: Owls are the silent hunters of the night. At first glance they may look like a typical day-flying predator, like the hawk or eagle, but their special adaptations allow them to find prey under the cover of night. Large eyes collect all available light, even if it's only the light of the moon; their sensitive ears can hear the tiniest scampering sound of prey; and soft wings make them silent stalkers.

Food Preference: Food preference depends on the owl species. Most feed on insects, birds or small mammals, but some species, such as the Pel's fishing owl, feed on fish. Owls ingest all parts of their prey — skin, bone and feathers. After several hours they will regurgitate the indigestible bits in the form of a pellet, which are collected in their nest or roosting site.

Found Worldwide: The two families of owl — typical and barnyard — can be found in a variety of habitats worldwide.

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MORE OWL

VIDEO: An Owl Kills a Mouse

INTERACTIVE: Anatomy of an Owl

SPECIES: Meet the Great Horned Owl

FACTS: More Owl Facts

DID YOU KNOW?

A Real Head Turner: Though they cannot move their eyes side to side, owls can turn their heads three-fourths of the way around.

Owl Vision: Owls have binocular vision, are far-sighted and have a hard time seeing things up close. They have large eyes and see in the dark exceptionally well.

How Stuff Works

How Can Owls Fly Silently?
Owls can fly without making a sound, which makes sneaking up on prey at night a cinch. How can they do this? Find out at HowStuffWorks.com.