Birds and Birding's Guide to:

Watching THE ROLLER-LIKE BIRDS

THE ROLLERS AND THEIR ALLIES

THE OWLS

Owl habitat

The Owls constitute a very natural assemblage of birds and one about the limits of which there is no doubt, since there are but one or two slightly aberrant forms the world over. They are practically cosmopolitan in distribution, ranging from the Arctic regions to the far islands of the sea, some being confined to small islands or equally limited continental areas.

They are so well known that an extended description is hardly necessary, yet it may be said that they are birds with compact bodies, short, rather thin necks, very large, rounded heads, and rather short but strong legs and feet, the latter with four toes, of which two are directed forward and two backward, although in most species the fourth toe is reversible and may be directed either way at will.

The toes are armed with strong, sharp claws. The bill is strong but relatively short, with the upper mandible strongly curved and the tip turned strongly downward. The bill is provided with a cere through which the nostrils open, but the latter are usually covered by a series of stiff bristles.

The most marked feature is the”Owl-face”so called, due to the large eyes, which are directed forward and are capable of but limited motion, and to the radiating disk of feathers surrounding the eyes. Aside from the great size the eyes are peculiar in other ways, being provided, for instance, with eyelashes, a rare thing in birds, while in closing the eyes the”upper lid is principally effective, the reverse of what is true in most birds.”The so-called third eyelid or nictitating membrane is very conspicuous, especially when drawn over the eyes to exclude the bright sunlight.

Many Owls are provided with tufts or crests of feathers above the eyes, producing the so-called horns or ears, although it is perhaps unnecessary to state they have no connection with the true ears, which are usually large and not infrequently furnished with a protecting lid or operculum.

These ear-tufts, which at least in some cases may be raised or deflected at will, probably serve merely as ornaments. In certain species there is a curious asymmetry of the skull in the vicinity of the ear. The wings are long or moderately so, and usually very broad and rounded; they are comprised of eleven primaries and eleven to eighteen secondaries. The tail is composed of twelve feathers and is usually short and somewhat rounded.

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