Owls are a group of birds that are members of the Strigiformes order. And this bird belongs to a class of wild birds (carnivores, meat eaters) and is nocturnal. In total, there are about 222 known species, which spread throughout the world except Antarctica, and most of Greenland, and some remote islands.
In the western world, this animal is considered a symbol of wisdom, but in some places, especially in Indonesia, it is considered a precursor of death, hence the name Owl. Even so, not all places in the archipelago are called owls. But in Java for example, the name of this bird is darès or manuk darès which has no connotation with death or ghosts. In North Sulawesi, owls are known as Manguni. and
Owls are known for their large eyes and facing forward, unlike most other types of birds whose eyes are facing sideways. And with a sharply bent beak like the eagle's beak and a feather arrangement on the head that forms the face circle, the appearance of the owl's "face" is so impressive and sometimes creepy. And moreover this bird's neck is so flexible that its face can rotate 180 degrees backwards.
Generally, hairy owls are dotted, brown or gray with black and white patches. Combined with behavior that is often sculpted and does not move much, making this bird not easily visible; and even so when sleeping during the day under the protection of the leaves.
The owl's tail is generally short, but its wings are large and wide. And the wingspan reaches about three times its body length
Unique Facts about Owls
- Owls are one of the most loyal animals because only one marriage.
- Owls are found on all continents except Antarctica.
- Female owls are heavier and larger than males of their kind.
- Most can rotate his head three-quarters of a circle without having to move his body.
- His eyes do not move when he sees despite having binocular vision like humans.
- Can not blink and glance when looking at prey. but move his neck (head).
- Has 3 eyelids: 1 to blur if there is a disturbance, 1 to sleep and 1 to clean the eyes.
- Their faces are flat like discs and hairy, it is useful to collect and focus sound waves so that prey cannot escape.
- Some owls have different sizes of different earlobe.
- Active at night (nocturnal), except for some types of snow-white owls like the owl hedwig belonging to the harry potter that is akif during the day.
- The fur is specially designed to reduce sound to be able to focus on prey.
- Owls are predators and are very helpful for humans in eradicating rodent pests such as rats.
- Only white male owls are perfect like Hedwig. Even though the hedwig character is female, in reality he is a male owl.
- In ancient Greece owls were a symbol of wisdom.