Skeleton of an owl: features of a structure. Appearance of the owl

The owl is a representative of the predatory class, it includes more than 200 species of large and medium sizes, mostly night birds that can be found all over the world. The appearance of all varieties of owls is similar to each other. These birds have settled almost the whole world, except that they do not exist in Antarctica.

Structure of the owl skeleton

There are two families: this is a detachment of owls or real owls, and barn owls. According to their anatomical features and plumage, owls are very different from day-to-day predators, so ornithologists brought them into a separate detachment. The features of the owl skeleton include the following features:

• Spines of the base bone.
• Triple connection of the lower jaw with the skull.
• Short phalanges of the third finger.
• Mobility of the outer toe which bends backward.

Habitat

In Russia there are seventeen species. Most of these nocturnal birds can be found in dense forests, and only some live in open terrain. Mostly found in nests, which they themselves built, can also use the monastery of crows or a tree hollow. Owl can find a house in almost any area: in the forest, steppes, mountains, deserts. A long-eared owl prefers fields, as it hunts in open areas, but nests in the forest. White Owl lives in the tundra, and in winter flies to the south. Barn owl or the owl owl nest under the roofs of houses and attics.

Description and appearance of the owl

As we found out, the owl is a bird of prey, nocturnal. It can have a different color of plumage, depending on where it lives. Owls vary in size depending on the species. The smallest is the passerine owl. Its size is 17-20 cm, weight is up to 80 grams. And the largest bird of this family is the eagle owl. Its length is 60-70 cm, weight is up to 4 kg. The head of a round-shaped owl with huge eyes, long and sharp claws, has a short and strong beak. The animal lives on average about ten years, and in captivity lives to 40. Such a short life in the wild is explained by the fact that they are hunted by larger predatory birds such as a hawk and a golden eagle.

The skeleton of an owl differs strong and grasping paws. Claws sharp and bent, they are needed to quickly capture the victim. The owl flies almost noiselessly, and all thanks to the structure of the feathers. The tail is rounded and trimmed, the wingspan is up to 200 cm. Birds fly incredibly fast, the speed can reach up to 80 km / h. These individuals produce a characteristic sound-click, when they are irritated or are excited.

The skeleton of an owl is arranged so that these unique birds can turn their heads 180-270 degrees without causing pain or harm to themselves. Since the owl is a predator, and it needs to track down its prey, its eyes are not on the sides, but in front. Eyes do not move and look forward. To change direction, the bird needs to turn its head. The angle of view is 160 degrees and it is binocular. Owls see the world in black and white colors. The lens is not in the eyeball, but in the cornea, so they can see perfectly at night. The skeleton of an owl is formed so that their hearing is four times stronger than that of cats. Once the prey creates a rustle or sound, the bird immediately pounces on it.

A family

Family owls create once and for all - they are in this respect constant. Swamp owls can build nests on the ground in dense vegetation. They multiply one or more times, depending on the environment and habitat. In the masonry there can be from 3 to 10 eggs, which are usually white, spherical and small in size. The eggs are planted by the female, and the male takes a direct part in feeding offspring. An interesting fact is that in most cases only older chicks survive, while others die. When they have a hunger strike, they can eat the chicks that hatch last.

What they eat

Thus, large and medium-sized individuals eat rats, mice, lemmings, hedgehogs, shrews, hares, frogs, toads, bats, moles, snakes, chickens. Small owls feed on insects (beetles, grasshoppers), and those who live in coastal areas are tasty with fish, crabs, mussels. Living in tropical latitudes eat fruits, grass, berries. What is remarkable, this bird can do without water for several months, thirst quench the blood of its prey.

The most popular species

• Screech-eared owls. They are the most common species in the European part of Russia. The name came from their ears, which are formed from feathers. Eared owls prefer to nest in coniferous forests, which means that they are forest birds. Owls, living to the south, lead a sedentary life, while the northern ones are migratory birds. They feed on shrews, small rodents.
• The polar. It represents the largest species of the order of owls in the Arctic. The female weighs three kilograms, and the male weighs two and a half. The wingspan reaches half a meter. Inhabits the tundra of North America, Greenland. Also can be found on some islands of the Arctic Ocean. In the natural environment live up to 8 years.

• Owl. One of the largest species of owls on the planet. They weigh more than three kilograms, live in places where people can hardly be seen. They are comfortable in the dense forests. According to an old legend, feathers of an owl protect from misfortunes. In Kazakhstan and Central Asia, people believed that the drawing on the side feather of the eagle owl is an aphorism from the Koran. The marital period falls on March. A person who gets into the habitat of an owl will be intimidated by the hooting of birds. A married couple makes these sounds first individually, and then together. Also, this bird has another name - Pugach. In addition to hooting, his performance ends in loud laughter. They feed on rodents, amphibians, insects and reptiles.
• Fish eagle owl. This bird lives in Primorye, not far from the Sea of Okhotsk, Sakhalin and Japan. A favorite place for nests is the river floodplains overgrown with large trees. They feed exclusively on the inhabitants of the sea. And they catch them in two ways: the first is to watch the victim, not far from the water. The second is wandering along shallow water and grabbing fish passing by.

Interesting Facts

• Owl's cry is needed for different purposes. There is an or something resembling a dialogue that occurs between two males. You can also hear the invocative sound during the mating games. Cubs owls make a similar scream to indicate their location.
• In the old days, the owls were very much afraid, they were identified with mysticism and in every possible way expelled.
• But in Egypt, birds were protected and respected, there were cases when they were mummified.
• Some time ago, the Babylonian bas-relief was found, where owls are depicted. On each side were birds, and in the center there was a woman with wings and paws. People thought that it was a goddess, and owls were her personal guards. In addition to dark and mystical symbols, these individuals mean wisdom and a bright mind.
• In Christianity, their cry was considered the song of death. Symbolized desolation, loneliness, sorrow. The Slavs considered this bird a keeper of underground wealth, also a sign of the widow and a harbinger of fire or death.