Meet the owl
An owl's ears sit at different heights on its head, so sounds arrive at slightly different times and the owl can pinpoint prey in the dark.
Friends and family
Mostly solitary, though many species pair for life.
Parents take shifts: one hunts, one shelters the chicks.
How they talk
Hoots, screeches, bill-snapping and wing claps.
How clever are they?
Owls are specialists — brilliant hunters who learn their whole territory by heart.
What they feel
Owls show clear stress signals when disturbed and calm signals when settled.
Superpower: Silent wings
Comb-like feather edges break up the air, so prey never hears them coming.
👀 See the world through their eyes
Hearing
A barn owl can catch a mouse in total darkness using sound alone.
Sight
Huge tube-shaped eyes gather light, but they must turn their whole head to look around.
🤓 Did you know?
- An owl can turn its head 270 degrees without hurting itself.
- Barn owls hunt in complete darkness by hearing alone.
- Owl feather edges are being copied to make quieter aeroplanes.
Living alongside people
Owls control rodents on farms naturally, and are harmed by rat poison and car headlights.