Friday Feathered Fact
Daytime or Nighttime? The general belief is owls are nocturnal where they sleep by day and hunt by night. However, this is not true for many species of owls. Examples of diurnal (daytime active) owls include our Burrowing Owl and the […]
Is that a one-legged owl? Nearly all birds routinely perch or stand on just one leg. The “missing” leg is drawn up close to the body, hidden under the feathers. Why do they do this? We receive several calls each month about […]
Friday Feathered Fact
Great Horned Owls are nesting! These are some of the earliest nesters, laying eggs in January and February. Our first egg rescue was mid-February with the chicks hatching this Mar 02. Owls never build their own nests or even add material to it. Instead, they confiscate nests of other large birds or, simply […]
Owls have excellent vision. But, do they have four eyes? The two species of pygmy-owls found in the US have a unique adaptation. The back of the head shows two large eye-shaped patterns believed to offer it protection from larger predators that may approach from behind. These small owls are daytime hunters, specializing on other […]
When most of us see an owl in the wild, we are often impressed at how big it appears. As an example, the Great Horned Owl is the largest owl in Arizona and stands over a foot and a half tall. However, what is not widely known is how little most of Arizona’s owls really […]
Contrary to popular thoughts, most owl species don’t simply “hoot”, if at all. Burrowing Owls have many types of vocalizations used in different situations. Some are for advertising their territory, sounding an alarm or, announcing a warning. The warning call is an awesome imitation of a rattlesnake’s “buzzzz”, which shares burrows with these owls. A […]
Barn Owl
Owls have remarkable hearing as well as exceptional abilities at locating its prey in nearly complete darkness. Two physical adaptations make this possible. First, the ear openings are asymmetric, with one slightly higher on the head than the other. This […]
The Cooper’s Hawk is a specialized hunter that concentrates on birds such as doves, pigeons, and sparrows. This hawk’s body is uniquely adapted to pursue its prey through thick branches. It has shorter, rounder wings and a longer tail to assist with […]
As a slightly different Feathered Fact this week, we introduce yesterday’s rescue: An Eared Grebe. Grebes are strictly water birds built for swimming. Their legs are located near the rear of their bodies. This is excellent for swimming underwater but quite useless for […]
