Illinois Owls

Owls are a type of raptor, a bird of prey with forward-looking eyes, large talons, and hooked beaks.  Raptors are known for having the best vision of any animal, and they are skilled hunters found across all  habitats.  Other raptors include hawks, eagles, falcons, kites, and vultures.  There are nineteen owl species native to North America, and eight of them are regularly found in Illinois. 

^{Pictures clockwise above: Black Kite by Martine LIU, Getty Images; Golden Eagle by Timu Abasov, Getty Images; Red-tailed Hawk by BrianEKushner, Getty Images; Turkey Vulture by James Opiyo, Getty Images; Peregrine Falcon by Harry Collins, Getty Images Pro}

Owls have large eyes that look forward and provide a wide angle of view.  Their binocular vision helps these birds easily spot prey and accurately judge distances when either stationary or in flight.  An owl’s eyes cannot move within the eye socket, so the owl must move its entire head, which is capable of rotating 270 degrees to see completely around itself.  Their vision is extremely sensitive to light, and they are capable of hunting when conditions are quite dark. 

The feathers on their round faces help to direct sound into their ears, which are located on either side of their head.  Their ears are small openings covered by feathers that can enhance and separate sound waves, working like binocular vision, allowing the bird to identify how far and in which direction a sound originates.  Their enhanced ability to detect movement around themselves, coupled with excellent vision, makes these birds of prey one of the top hunters in their environment.

^{Owl beak closeup by GrahamH, Pixabay; Snowy Owl talons by WWing, Getty Images; Black fur in owl pellet by Justin Smith, Getty Images}

Sharp beaks and talons are used to capture and hold prey, and to easily tear apart meat.  All raptors have eight toes ending in a talon, or sharp claw, made of keratin.  Owl talons are long and curved and are used to easily grasp a branch or a prey animal.  Their beaks are made of bone covered with keratin, with very sharp edges.  They have no teeth to chew food, and they eat their prey whole or in large chunks.  Whatever is not digestible, including bones, fur, and feathers, is compressed into a wad in the owl’s mouth and spit back out as a pellet.  An Investigation of owl pellet contents can reveal the prey the owl is currently eating.

Owls have fringed outer edges to their flight feathers that deaden almost all sound made while flying, making it difficult for prey to detect an owl coming for them.  An owl’s large, rounded wings and short tail provide great maneuverability while flying.  Their excellent vision, hearing, and flight maneuverability allows them to hunt at night in areas with numerous obstacles including woodland and urban areas.

In the next blog, I will take a closer look at the owls in Illinois.  At the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum, we have several displays that highlight the various characteristics of owls and other raptors.  We are closing for the holiday break, but consider visiting us as we reopen for the Spring semester in early January.  Check out our schedule and make a reservation to come see us at https://ben.edu/campus-links/jurica-suchy-nature-museum/.