Owls explained: These master hunters use their extraordinary senses to rule the roost
Owls are found in every corner of the world. One thing they all have in common? Exceptional vision and hearing.
Transcript
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NARRATOR: Owls flourish in
every corner of the world,
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from extreme desert heat
to harsh arctic cold.
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Yet wherever they're found,
owls all share a common trait--
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superior senses.
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From head to claw, owls
are perfectly suited
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to their hunting lifestyles.
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Large, front-facing
eyes provide exceptional
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long-distance vision.
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This northern hawk owl can
pinpoint a tasty vole from half
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a mile away by eyesight alone.
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Some owl eyes, like
those of this barred owl,
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account for up to 3% of
their total body weight.
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To put that in
perspective, human eyes
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only make up three
ten-thousandths of a percent
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of our total weight.
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Owls' large eyes are
also specifically adapted
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for low-light
conditions, allowing
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them to see in the dark perhaps
eight times better than humans.
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Unlike our eyes' ability
to move side to side,
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owl eyes are fixed
in their sockets.
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Instead, they swivel their
necks up to 270 degrees,
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allowing them to see in
nearly every direction.
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Rotating their heads also
enables owls to better
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hone in on sounds around them.
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Their hearing is super tuned.
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Some owls have
flattened, dish-like
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faces that focus and amplify
sounds to their ears.
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Others have
asymmetrical ears that
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allow sounds to be identified
in multiple dimensions.
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The great gray owl has both.
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This heightened hearing
allows them to locate
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the slightest rustling of prey,
whether on the ground or even
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below it.
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This great gray
owl can detect prey
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as much as two feet under snow.
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Once zeroed in, it dive-bombs
its unsuspecting meal.
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Unlike most birds, owls make
little noise while flying.
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Soft, serrated feathers
serve as a silencer,
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breaking up the turbulent
air that would typically
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create a swooshing sound.
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These quiet birds
are able to hunt
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without alerting their
prey, such as rodents,
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lizards, and even insects.
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Without the sound of their
wings beating in the air,
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owls home in on their prey
with impeccable precision.
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With their super-powered
senses, owls are among the most
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masterful stealth hunters.
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Who knew?