Nature

Owl are a group of “Birds of Prey” i.e. a bird who uses its claw to hunts for food. They are solitary and nocturnal (sleeps during day and active at night). They usually eat small mammals, insects and birds. The owls are divided into two families typical owls and barn owls. Typical owls are known as Strigidae and barn owls as Tytonidae. There is a circle of feathers around eyes called a facial disc. They are far-sighted and are unable to clearly see anything within a few inches of their eyes. Their far vision, particularly in low light, is incredibly good, and they can turn their head 135 degrees in either direction; they can thus look behind their own shoulders. Owl eggs are white and almost spherical, and range in number from a few to a dozen, depending on species.

 Facts:

• Their nests are crudely built and may be in trees, underground burrows, or in barns and caves. 
•  The smallest owl is the Elf Owl, Micrathene whitneyi, at as little as 31 g (1.1 oz) in weight and 13.5 cm (5.3 inches) in height. 
• They have large forward facing eyes and ears, a beak like a hawk. Owls are carnivorous i.e. meat-eaters, eat small mammals, insects and birds. 
•  Short eared owls and Snowy owls are daytime hunters while other sleeps during day and active at night.
•  Owls that hunt in night have very good hearing power so they catch their prey in darkness of night. 
• They fly quietly so that they can listen hard for the tiny sounds made by prey animals, and so that they do not scare them away by making a noise. 
•  Owls have very soft feathers that help them to fly without making any noise and also keep them warm but can get owls into trouble because they are not very waterproof. 
• They have sharp beaks for tearing up meat, although they often just swallow their food whole. 

• They have powerful feet with sharp claws for catching and holding onto their prey.

SOURCE FROM: http://www.whereincity.com/india-kids/animals/owl.htm

(amirah batrisyia)