Birds are a wonderful animal species that wildly vary in looks, personality, diet, and longevity. Of all the different types of birds, are there any that are more interesting than the owl? Owls are mysterious creatures that have captivated people from all over the world for centuries. Depending on who you ask, their presence can be comforting or creepy! With over 200 different types of owls spread across the world, Wall26 thinks it’s important that you know a little more about them! Read below for some interesting owl wall art facts.
Head Turner
One of the most well-known facts about owls is that they can turn their heads around to look behind. Many people believe that owls have the ability to turn their heads a full 360 degrees. Did you know that “well-known” fact is actually untrue? It’s a common misconception often purported in the media! Owls can actually turn their heads 135 degrees, in either direction. This gives their heads a total of 270 degrees of movement. Owls are able to do this because their bones and blood vessels are specially adapted to be as flexible as the cartilage in their necks is. Read below for more owl wall art facts!
Hearing
Although many owls may not have visible ears, they definitely have them! Owls arguably have the most sophisticated sense of hearing among the entire bird population. When hunting, Owls are actually capable of hearing their prey under leaves, plants, dirt and even snow! As good as owls may be at hearing things, there are small differences between owl types. Some breeds of owls have ears that stick up, similar to a German shepherd’s. Owls with ears placed higher atop of their heads are able to hear things at high altitudes that may be imperceptible to owls with ears that are placed lower. Read below for more owl wall art facts!
Eating
Even though owls are relatively harmless to humans, we still understand why people fear them! There are some things about owls that can send a chill down your spine; one thing being how they eat. Being killed by an owl, from the vantage point of prey, is absolutely terrifying! Owls first grab their prey, then crush it with their extremely powerful talons. Depending on the size of the prey, the owl either rips it apart with their talons or swallows it whole! An owl’s digestive tract absorbs all of the necessary nutrients from prey, but condenses things like fur and bones into a strange looking, stone-like pellet. The owl than regurgitates this pellet at a later point. Read below for more owl wall art facts.
Burrow
Did you know that some owls live on the ground instead of in trees? The burrowing owl, native to North and South America, is one of those species. Burrowing owls either invade underground nests that belong to animals like prairie dogs, or dig their own holes if they can’t find suitable ones. After their homes have been created, they often cover the entrances with dung. The owls then wait at the entrance, consuming dung beetles that are attracted the smell of their homes. Read below for more owl wall art facts.
Symbol
The long history of the owl means that they have been studied and adored by people from many cultures across the centuries. In some cultures, owls represent wisdom. They’re considered to be wise creatures with immense knowledge. In other cultures, they are bad omens of things yet to come. Did you know that in ancient Greece, the owl also had specific meaning? The owl was considered the companion to the goddess Athena. If Greek soldiers saw an owl flying overhead before or during a battle, they often took it as a sign of an upcoming victory! Did you enjoy these owl wall art facts?
Conclusion
You’re now knowledgeable on the physical, dietary and symbolic aspects of the owl! Have any of these new facts resonated with you? Do you feel the same way about owls as you did before? Do you find them even wiser? Or do you find them much creepier! We understand your viewpoint either way! We hope you enjoyed reading these owl wall art facts!