Owls By Miss Allison

Table of Contents Appearance Habitat Hunting Habits Food Choices Adaptations Owlets Glossary Index

What do owls look like? There are over 200 species of owls. 1 There are over 200 species of owls. All owls have similar features such as: Large, forward facing eyes Rounded heads Short tails Stiff, upright posture Flexible necks that allow them to turn their heads up to 270°

Where do owls live? 2 Owls can live all over the world in many different habitats. Most owls, like the tawny owls, live in forests where they make their nests in trees. Other owls, such as artic owls, can live on the Artic tundra and they make their nests on the ground. Other owls, such as the burrowing owls, owls can live in the grasslands and prairies where they make their nests in the abandon burrows of animals.

How do owls hunt? Most owls are nocturnal. Owls often hunt alone and 3 Most owls are nocturnal. Owls often hunt alone and use their feathers as camouflage. Owls consume the entire body of the prey even though they do not have any teeth. As an owl approaches it prey, it spreads its wings as wide as they will stretch. The owl thrusts its large claws forward to grab the animal. Once an owl has successfully caught its prey, it will immediately start to eat it, unless the owl is catching food for its young.

What do owls eat? 4 Owls only digest the parts of their prey that provide them energy. The rest of the animal that they have no use for (fur, bones, etc.) is coughed up in pellets. An owl’s typical diet includes: Rodents Small birds Fish Frogs Insects

What adaptations do owls make? 5 Adaptations are made to make them excellent predators. The six common owl adaptations are: Camouflage – Owls have special markings on their feathers that help keep them from being seen by other animals. Claws & Beak – Owls have extremely powerful claws and beaks to help catch prey quickly. Eyesight – Owls have great eyesight because of the location and size of their eyes. Since they cannot move their eyes they can almost turn their heads in a full circle. Hearing – Owls faces are shaped elliptically to help their ears take in as much sound as possible. Both ears are shaped and positioned differently to pic up more sound.

Owlets Nests to lay eggs are built in dark burrows and tree hollows. 6 Nests to lay eggs are built in dark burrows and tree hollows. The eggs are often white to help the parents of the offspring locate them. The mother incubates the egg for about a month. Once they hatch they rely on their parents for food and shelter for about two months. The babies leave their parents and the nest when they begin growing their first adult feathers at about three months old.

Glossary Nocturnal – owls are mostly active at night 7 Nocturnal – owls are mostly active at night Pellets – a compact ball of all the parts of an animal that an owl could not digest Predator – an animal that naturally preys on others Prey – an animal that is hunted by another for food Owlets – baby owls Incubate – to keep warm Elliptical – having a shape like an oval with both ends alike

Index 8 Adaptations, 5 Baby Owls, 6 Elliptical, 5 Features, 1 Food, 4 Homes, 2 Hunting Patterns, 3 Incubate, 6 Nocturnal, 3 Owlets, 6 Pellets, 4 Predator, 5 Prey, 3, 4, 5