Owl
| Owl Temporal range: Late Paleocene to recent
| |
|---|---|
| Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Clade: | Telluraves |
| Order: | Wagler, 1830 |
| Families | |
|
Strigidae | |
| range of all species of owls, combined | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Strigidae sensu Sibley & Ahlquist | |
Owls are birds from the order Strigiformes[1] (/ˈstrɪdʒəfɔːrmiːz/), which includes over 200 species of mostly solitary and nocturnal birds of prey typified by an upright stance, a large, broad head, binocular vision, binaural hearing, sharp talons, and feathers adapted for silent flight. Exceptions include the diurnal northern hawk-owl and the gregarious burrowing owl.
Owls are divided into two families: the true (or typical) owl family, Strigidae, and the barn owl and bay owl family, Tytonidae.[2] Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish. They are found in all regions of the Earth except the polar ice caps and some remote islands.
A group of owls is called a "parliament".[3]
- ^ Cholewiak, Danielle (2003). "Strigiformes". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
- ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (2022). "Owls". World Bird List Version 12.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
- ^ Lipton, James (1991). An Exaltation of Larks. Viking. ISBN 978-0-670-30044-0.