What...Owls Have Three Eyelids? We Did Not Know That, Did You?

Owls are solitary and nocturnal birds of prey. They can also be really cute and funny as you'll see from the gallery of photos we've picked out for you. Read on to find out more about this intriguing creature.

Owls hunt small animals like rodents, insects and small snakes. They can also eat other birds. The owl can swivel its head at 270°. Its round eyes cover half of its head. The owl's hearing is very developed, which makes it a great hunter. Their asymmetric ears capture the sound waves of their prey and they do not need to see them to know where they are. Owls have virtually disappeared from cities and intensive farming areas. They are often found crushed because car headlights blind them. The owl can be very aggressive if it is disturbed during its nesting period. Owls are usually found in forests, mountains and gardens.

Nesting

Owls nest in tree hollows, but they can also use old squirrels' or crows' nests. The female lays 2 to 4 eggs between March and April. The female stays in the nest and the male will provide food for 30 days. The young leave the nest after 5 weeks.

Symbolism

The owl is symbolic of wisdom and is related to the goddess Athena. Due to its nocturnal nature, it also has some demonic connotations. The Romans thought that owls drank children's blood at night. Owls are often associated with witchcraft.