The Owl Files
Owls - 24 field notes
Barn owls, great horneds, barred owls, saw-whets - natural history, behaviour, anatomy, and state-by-state guides to every owl you might find in North America.
Owls by state
Barn owl
- Barn Owl Nesting: Box Specs, Sites, and What Actually Works Barn Owls don't build nests - they lay eggs on a layer of regurgitated pellets inside a dark cavity.…
- How Barn Owls Hunt Barn owls, often cloaked in moonlit hues, are among nature's most proficient nocturnal hunters. Thei…
- Barn Owl Symbolism Across Cultures IWith their heart-shaped faces, silent flight, and mysterious nocturnal habits, barn owls have long …
- Barn Owls: Habits and Identification Barn owls, often referred to as the "ghosts of the night," are mysterious and captivating creatures.…
- Predators and Threats Facing Barn Owls Barn owls, with their iconic heart-shaped faces and ghostly calls, are revered hunters of the night …
Owl anatomy & behaviour
- Owl Eyes: Anatomy of the Best Night Vision in the Bird World Owl eyes are tubes, not spheres. They can't move. The bird turns its whole head instead. A naturalis…
- Differences Between Male and Female Owls Owls, those enigmatic creatures of the night, have always been objects of fascination and curiosity.…
- Digestion in Owls: From Swallowed Mouse to Bone Pellet An owl swallows prey whole and ejects the indigestible parts as a pellet 6-10 hours later. A natural…
- Owl Beak: Anatomy and How Owls Use It Owls are typically recognized for their large, penetrating eyes and their impressive wingspan. Howev…
- Owl Behavior: Hunting, Calls, and Courtship Owls, those silent sentinels of the night, have fascinated us for generations with their distinctive…
- Owl Feathers: The Secret to Silent Flight Owls are not just known for their keen eyesight and nocturnal habits; they're also renowned for thei…
- Owl Feet and Talons: The Anatomy of Silent Killers A naturalist's read on owl foot anatomy - the zygodactyl grip, the locking tendon, the talon-strengt…
- Owl Mating: Courtship, Pair Bonds, and Breeding Season A naturalist's read on how owls actually pair, court, and breed - the calls, the food gifts, the ear…
More owl notes
- The Old Decoy: Why Vintage Waterfowl Style Endures The working decoy became America's accidental folk art and the Duck Stamp turned art into wetlands, …
- Are Owls Dangerous to Humans? The Honest Answer Owls almost never attack humans, but when they do it's almost always nest defence by Great Horned, B…
- When to Put Up an Owl Box: Timing for North American Owls A naturalist's guide to the right time to install an owl nest box - late autumn for most species, be…
- How to Keep Squirrels Out of an Owl Nest Box The five things that actually keep squirrels out of an owl nest box - pole choice, baffle type, heig…
- How To Build A Barred Owl Nesting Box If you're interested in providing a safe haven for Barred Owls to nest and raise their young, you've…
- Baby Owls: How Owlets Grow Up Soft, fluffy, and with eyes filled with wonder, baby owls — or owlets — are a heartwarming sight. Wh…
- Do Owls Blink? How Owl Eyes Work IOwls, with their vast, enigmatic eyes, often seem to gaze with unbroken intensity. This leads many …
- How Owls Interact with Other Species At night, when the world seems calm, and most creatures are nestled in slumber, the forest is alive …
- Do Owls Have Ears? One of the most distinctive features of owls is their eyes, which are large and round, giving them e…
- Why Are Hawks Afraid of Owls? Hawks are predators, and they have many enemies. One of their most feared predators is the owl. Owls…