Owls What do you already know about Owls

Owls What do you already know about Owls?

Owl Facts • Owls are known as “Birds of Prey” or Raptors (A bird that has sharp beak and claws and uses them to hunt food) • Scientists believe there is over 155 types of owls! • Owl fossils have been dated to be over 70 to 80 million years old!

How big are they? • Owls can be very small. As small as 5 inches (The Elf Owl) • They can also be up to 2 feet tall (The Grey Owl)

What do they look like? • Whether large or small, they all look stocky with large heads and soft feathers. The colors of owl feathers tend to be tan, brown, gray, rufous, and white. • Many owls have feathers on their legs and toes. • Owls have large eyes that face forward as do your eyes. • Their wings are long and broad and their tails are usually short.

Nocturnal • Nocturnal means that they are active at night (This is when they hunt). • Hunting happens at night because they need to be active when their prey is active.

Food • Owls eat food depending on what size they are. • Small owls eat things like large insects or small rodents, like mice. • Larger owls also capture rabbits, squirels, scorpions, lizards, snakes, frogs, birds, bats, and even fish.

Barn Owl

The Great Horned Owl

Snowy Owl

Northern Spotted Owl

Pygmy Owls

Young Browning Owl

Great Grey Owl

Saw Whet Owls

What have you learned about owls?

True or False Owls only hunt during the day time? True False

Which owl is the biggest? a) Saw Whet Owl b) Great Grey Owl c) Great Horned Owl

What do larger owls eat? a) Snakes b) Scorpions c) Rabbits c) d) All of the Above

True or False Owls do not have feathers on their legs or toes. True False

What is your favorite type of Owl? a) Great Grey Owl b) Saw Whet Owl c) Great Horned Owl d) Barn Owl e) Snowy Owl f) Northern Spotted Owl g) Pygmy Owl h) Young Browning Owl