Owl Pictures

Owls are birds of prey that are mostly nocturnal. And there are many interesting things about these solitary and silent hunters. So we’ve collected some of the best owl pictures to show just how amazing they really are.

Barn Owl

The barn owl has the widest range of any owl and can be found on six continents. There are anywhere between twenty and thirty sub-species. In general, the barn owl is a pale bird with white under-parts and brown or golden speckled wings. Some sub-species may be darker in color.

The barn owl has a distinct heart-shaped face and dark eyes. Its unique face is often compared to that of a mask or a ghost. Unlike many other owls, the barn owl doesn’t hoot instead it screams or shrieks. It often roosts in barns and can be a big help to farmers since its diet consists mainly of rats and mice.

Owl Pictures

 

 

Snowy Owl

The snowy owl is found in arctic regions of both Eurasia and North America. This species is mostly white to help camouflage it in the arctic tundra. Young snowy owls have black flecks on their feathers which turn white as they get older.

Females however will keep many of their dark spots in adulthood. The snowy owl is large and in North America is considered to be the heaviest owl. It hunts in the daytime and while it mostly preys on lemmings it is known to take prey as large as adult geese.

Owl Pictures

 

 

Great Horned Owl

The great horned owl is widespread and can be found throughout North, Central, and South America. It is a large owl that has very big eyes. It has two distinct tufts of feathers on its head that look like horns, which is how it got its name.

These tufts are known as plumicorns. This species eats a variety of prey such as rodents, rabbits, and snakes. But it will also kill and eat larger animals such as hawks, skunks, and porcupines. Because it is such a ferocious and powerful predator it is sometimes also called the tiger owl.

Owl Pictures

 

 

Owl Eyes

Like other birds of prey, owls have excellent eyesight. Their eyes are very large in comparison to the size of their heads. These large eyes allow them to have excellent nocturnal vision.

Because their eyes are set in the front of the face it gives them a very large binocular view and also incredible depth perception. However, their eyes cannot move so in order to change their field of view owls must move the position of their heads.

Owl Pictures

 

 

Great Grey Owl

The great grey owl is a large owl that inhabits the northern hemisphere. It is grey with fluffy plumage and a big head. This species also has long wings and a long tail. Even though it is not the heaviest, based on the overall body length it is considered to be the biggest owl in the world.

Despite its large size, however, up to ninety percent of the great grey owl’s diet consists of small rodents. This species has one of the best senses of hearing of all owls and using its hearing alone it can locate prey under one to two feet of snow. Once the position of the prey is located the owl will then plunge into the snow to catch it.

Owl Pictures

 

 

Owl Feathers

Owl feathers of course help an owl to fly but they are also specially adapted to help it hunt. The feathers are colored to help the owl blend in with its environment. And unlike many other types of birds, the colors on the feathers are dull. This makes it much harder for their prey to see them.

Most owls, except for some fish-eating species, have feathers with special serrated edges. These edges are located on the flight feathers and reduce the amount of noise created by the wings when flapping. This can make owls seem almost silent in flight which is a very helpful advantage as a predator.

Owl Pictures

 

 

Owl Beak

An owl beak looks much different from that of eagles and other birds of prey. It is short and downward curving. This helps to keep the owl’s field of vision as clear as possible. The beak is hooked at the end with sharp edges on both the upper and lower parts. It is used to crush and kill prey along with gripping and tearing through tissue.

Owl Pictures

 

 

Owl Eating

An owl catches its prey by grabbing it with its sharp talons. The initial impact of this will typically stun the animal giving the owl time to kill it with its sharp and powerful beak. The prey animal may then be eaten on the spot or carried away.

Small animals are carried in the beak while larger animals are carried in the talons. When there is an abundance of prey, owls may actually save their kills in a cache located in their nest or in a hole in a tree.

Owl Pictures

 

 

Flying Owl

The majority of owl species have wings that are large, rounded in shape, and also wide. These physical features help to provide a large surface area that allows a flying owl to use little energy and requires minimal flapping.

Owl Pictures

 

 

Owl Claws

All owls have long claws known as talons. They use their talons to catch their prey. When attempting to grab their prey they spread out their talons widely to help increase the chances of success. The shape, length, and color of owl talons can vary depending on the specific owl species.

Owl Pictures

 

 

Baby Owl

Baby owls are fed by the male owl which brings prey items back to the nest several times per day for them to eat. From between one and two weeks of age, they develop a coat of down feathers known as mesoptile. After around three or four weeks baby owls may begin to explore the area outside of their nest.

Owl Pictures

 

 

Pet Owl

Some owl pictures can make owning one as a pet one seem tempting. However, it’s not a good idea for many reasons. In most countries, it is actually illegal to own an owl without a special permit. And as predators, they have sharp beaks and talons that can cause serious injuries and damage.

Most owls are nocturnal and therefore can be very noisy at night, especially during mating season. Owls also require a diet of whole dead animals which will need to be purchased, frozen, and also prepared on a daily basis. And owls can live up to thirty years in captivity which means a lot of care over many years.

Owl Pictures

 

Start Shopping for Birding Supplies!

 

The Most Dangerous Birds In The World

The Most Dangerous Birds In The World

Most bird species are harmless, although there is a handful that can seriously injure or even kill you.  And while the chances you’ll have a run-in with an aggressive winged beast is low, for safety’s sake (or your own curiosity) you’ll want to know more. So here’s a...

Iridescent Birds

Iridescent Birds

Iridescent birds have plumage that can appear to change color depending on the angle at which you are looking at them. This makes these special birds not only unique but also oftentimes amazingly beautiful. So here are the top iridescent bird species you’ll want to...

Flightless Birds

Flightless Birds

There are many bird species that have lost the ability to fly due to evolution. While you may be familiar with some of them already, the odds are that there are quite a few which you aren’t. So here are some of the top flightless birds and what you’ll want to know...

Birds With Hair

Birds With Hair

Many bird species can look as if they have hair on their heads. While that “hair” is really made up of feathers they are nevertheless fun to look at. So here are some of the most interesting and unique looking and birds with “hair,” you’ll ever see. Silver Pheasant...

Bearded Birds

Bearded Birds

Birds with beards are always an interesting sight. And while they may not have real facial hair like us humans, it can often look like it. So here are some of the top bearded birds and what you’ll want to know about them. Wild Turkey The male wild turkey has a beard...

Cool Looking Birds

Cool Looking Birds

With so many different bird species on the planet, they really come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and other physical characteristics. And some bird species are just much more interesting in appearance than others. The following are some cool looking...

Birds With Huge Beaks

Birds With Huge Beaks

There is an enormous variety of bird species on the planet. And while many have stunning colors or plumage, there are only a handful of birds with huge beaks. The following birds have some of the largest beaks on the planet. Toucan Toucans can have beaks that are as...

Ostrich Facts

Ostrich Facts

The ostrich is a unique bird that is famous for its enormous size. But there are many more things you’ll want to know about this unusual-looking species. So here are some of the most amazing ostrich facts. Ostriches Live In Groups With more eyes on the lookout for...

Pink Bird Species

Pink Bird Species

There’s just something special about pink plumage. Not only does it stand out visually, but the fact that it’s quite rare in the world of birds makes it even more extraordinary. So here are some of the coolest-looking pink bird species you’ll want to check out. Galah...

Birds That Look Like Penguins

Birds That Look Like Penguins

Penguins are flightless birds that typically have black and white plumage. They are top-notch swimmers that are only found in the Southern Hemisphere. However, there are quite a few other birds that are often confused with them. So here’s a list of birds that look...

Scary Looking Birds

Scary Looking Birds

There are many bird species that are known for their incredible beauty. Yet there are a few that are instead famous for their frightening appearance. So here are some scary looking birds you’ll want to check out. Shoebill The shoebill is a truly prehistoric looking...

Crazy Looking Birds

Crazy Looking Birds

There is an unbelievable number of bird species on the planet. And that means that there are a few that are bound to stand out in terms of their looks. So here are some crazy-looking birds, that you’ll not only be shocked to see but that you’ll want to learn more...

Prehistoric Looking Birds

Prehistoric Looking Birds

The birds we see today evolved from dinosaurs. Many species have changed so much that they don’t really resemble their ancestors much at all. Yet there are still a handful of birds that look as if they have stepped right out millions of years in the past. So here are...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This