Keely L.

OWLS    

Owls are one of the most fascinating birds because of what they eat and what different appearances they have.

Would you believe that there are more than 10 types of owls? Well, there is the Barn Owl, the Screech Owl, the Burrowing Owl, the Great Horned Owl, the Tawny Owl, and many more. Many owls make nests, such as the Screech Owl. On the other hand, the Burrowing Owl makes burrows. All owls need a place to rest such as twigs, a nest, or a burrow so they can get nice and cozy to sleep and rest. It can also be for their young.

It’s amazing to think about all the different appearances that owls have. Let’s get started with the colors. There is light brown, dark brown, orangish brown, white, black, black with white, and many others. Now onto wings. Whenever they land their wings are wide open and they kind of crouch over. As soon as they settle in they put their wings back. They have designs of all sorts on their wings. The Eastern Screech Owl’s wings are red on the top view and on the underside they are white with a little black. Now onto eyes and heads. All owls have a beak. They all also have big round eyes that can’t move, so they need to turn their heads to see. The furthest they can turn their heads around is 270 degrees. They can also turn it upside down.

The foods owls eat are fascinating. Owls are birds of prey, so that means that they have to kill their prey. Some owls eat specific food. Scopes and Screech Owls both mostly eat insects. Barn Owls mostly eat mice, shrews, and voles. Eagle Owls eat young foxes and birds the size of ducks and other game birds. Some owls are good at fishing such as the Asian Fishing Owl and the African Fishing Owl. Most owls will eat any live prey that they can fit in their mouth and that won't kill them before swallowing it. Hearing and sight helps them find their prey. They fly silently because birds have stiff wings but owls have serrated feathers.

Amazingly, you now know how to go owling. You know what they eat, what they look like, and what different owls there are. Next time you see an owl you will surely notice their beautiful eyes, their interesting features, and look out for their nests and burrows!