Test Your Owl Call Knowledge
Go Owl-Out On Our Quiz!
Owls are amazing! More often heard than seen, these nocturnal birds are fascinating predators with amazing "superpowers."
Six owl species nest regularly in Wisconsin and are some of the earliest nesting birds in the state. You're likely to hear them calling soon in a park, field or forest near you – if they're not already hooting it up where you live.
Enjoy these owl facts and go owl-out on our quiz!
Owl Things Big And Small
- The great gray owl is the tallest owl in Wisconsin and North America and has the largest wing span, up to 60 inches.
- The smallest owl is the northern saw-whet, which tips the scales (barely) at 2 to 5 ounces. Saw-whets are most often seen during migration here on their way to their core nesting area in Canada's boreal forests.
- Snowy owls are the heaviest of all North American owls, tipping the scales at 3 to 6 pounds.
Yes, I Do Have Eyes On The Back Of My Head!
- Owls' eyes are fixed in their sockets, so their whole head moves as they shift their gaze. The necks of some species can turn up to 270 degrees.
- Owls' large forward facing eyes give them the best stereoscopic vision of all birds, which is vital for judging distances.
- Owls' ear openings are relatively huge and often asymmetrically positioned, which means sound is slightly delayed in reaching one and thus its source can be pinpointed. Some owls have prominent facial disks that funnel sound into their ears. These adaptations account for their incredible hearing.
I'm Talon Ya, The Guy's A Killer!
- Owls are efficient nighttime hunters that strike from above and use their powerful talons to kill and carry animals several times heavier than themselves. Some owls are crepuscular, meaning they are most active during dawn and dusk.
- Owls swallow their prey whole and later spit up a "pellet," a 1-2 inch hairball with bones and skulls in it which the bird's stomach can't digest.
- Owls are known as stealthy predators. They can fly inches from their prey without being detected. Click on the button below to see a short PBS Nature video on this "superpower."