Animal
Eurasian eagle-owl
Orange eyes and quiet flight equip this nocturnal hunter from Europe and Asia.
Content language
The Eurasian eagle-owl hunts mainly at night. Large orange eyes help it see in dim light, while sensitive hearing locates prey. Feathers around the face form a facial disc, directing sound towards the ears. The feather tufts on top of the head are not ears and do not amplify hearing. Their position can instead change with the bird’s level of arousal.
Soft edges on the wing feathers reduce noise during flight. The owl can approach prey quietly and then seize it with its talons. It hunts various animals, including rodents and birds. This is a large owl, with females bigger than males. The species occurs across a broad area of Europe and Asia, using habitats including rocky terrain and wooded hills.
It rests during the day, when camouflage colouring makes it difficult to spot against bark and branches. Despite quiet flight, it is not a silent bird: it communicates through calls, including hooting. The contrast between a loud call and nearly silent movement through the air reflects two different tasks: contacting other owls and approaching prey without being detected.
For children
Two feather tufts stick up from the eagle-owl’s head. They look like ears, but they are not. The real ears are hidden. Feathers around the face form a facial disc, helping direct sounds towards them.
An eagle-owl has large orange eyes and excellent hearing. At night it searches for prey, such as mice and other small animals. Soft feather edges reduce wing noise, so it can approach very quietly. It catches prey with its talons.
During the day it rests, and its colours resemble bark and branches. A female is larger than a male. Although it flies quietly, it can hoot loudly to communicate with other eagle-owls. A motionless owl may therefore be a night hunter taking a daytime break.
Question 1 of 2
What does an eagle-owl’s facial disc do?
- Location
- Eurasian eagle-owl aviary