Description

Owls are birds from the order Strigiformes,which includes about 200 species of mostly solitary and nocturnalbirds of prey typified by an upright stance, a large, broad head,binocular vision, binaural hearing, sharp talons and feathersadapted for silent flight. Exceptions include the diurnal northernhawk-owl and the gregarious burrowing owl.

Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds although afew species specialize in hunting fish. They are found in allregions of the Earth except Antarctica and some remoteislands.

Owls are divided into two families: the true owls or typical owls,Strigidae; and the barn-owls, Tytonidae.