![]() Parents work together to raise their young. Only the short-eared owl and the iconic snowy owl build their own nests, which they often construct by scraping dirt into a hollow in the ground at a high point such as the top of a mound, to allow them to keep watch for for predators. Parents protect their babies, called owlets or nestlings, in a tree cavity or nest built and abandoned by other birds such as hawks and crows. Owls lay up to 14 eggs per brood, depending on the species and the availability of food. Most owls pair with the same mate at least once a year to breed, while pairs from some species, such tawny owls and little owls, remain together throughout the year. After a female responds with her own calls, the male begins an elaborate wooing session: gifts of food, chest-fluffing, and spectacular aerial dances. ![]() Male owls initiate the mating process, most often in winter, by calling out to females in vocalizations that vary from deep hoots to high-pitched shrieks, depending on the species. The majority of owl species roost by themselves and may attempt to scare off intruders by hissing or spreading their wings to appear larger. Barn owls typically roost on roof timbers or inside tree cavities, while other species prefer to perch on shady tree branches near their hunting grounds. Mating and other behaviorĪfter a hunting session, owls return to a place to rest, called a roost. They later cough up pellets of indigestible hair and bones. Toothless like other birds, owls swallow their victims whole or in large chunks. Because the edges of owl feathers are soft instead of stiff, the carnivores have an advantage over their targets: a silent swoop. Most owls scan for prey from their perches or while mid-air, but some will hover like a helicopter above their victims. Although they can’t move their large eyes, they make up for their lack of ocular musculature with necks that can twist up to 270 degrees to track the movement of prey. The glow is caused by a layer of tissue behind their retinas that reflects visible light, giving them extraordinary ability to see in the darkness. Owls have a trait called eyeshine-their eyes glow orange-red when illuminated at night. ![]() Some owls hunt during the day or at dusk, but the majority pursue prey at night, aided by their ultra-sensitive hearing and excellent night vision. ![]() Most owls eat mainly small rodents, but their diets also include birds, fish, insects, and larger creatures like young deer and foxes. ![]()
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