Filin - description, habitat, interesting facts

To date, there are quite a few representatives of the owl family, the owl is included in this list. There are many birds that are similar in appearance, behavior and lifestyle. But today we will look at the eagle owl, which by its nature is a predator. We will not rush ahead, disclosing cards so that after the received information you make your own opinion.

Description

1. Under the eagle-trees is an ardent representative of the owl family, which is distinguished by its overall characteristics. Of the entire category, these individuals are the largest and strongest. On the hull the birds grow up to 75 cm with a weight of 4 kg. Guinean is considered to be the smallest owl, it grows in size to a maximum of 44 cm with a mass of 0.8 kg. Among the birds of the group under discussion, differences in gender are well developed; females are always more than males.
2. The distinctive characteristic of these individuals is considered to be a downed body in the shape of a barrel. Owls are rather stocky, their ruffled plumage adds even more volume. Chunky physique is accompanied by short and strong legs, the fingers are strong and clawed, pigmented with light or black. Due to the claws, the bird can catch prey or hold on to branches. There are feathers in the area of ​​the fingers, but not always.
3. The wings are very powerful in their structure, elongated, and quite impressive in scope. For large specimens, the range reaches two meters. As for the tail, it is medium in length, rounded at the end. The head is rounded, wide, covered with a handful of feathers. These birds are characterized by so-called owl ears, which are located on the sides of the head. This feature is distinctive for birds of this kind. Ears can be wide or close, small or large.
4. The beak is short, not flattened on the sides, powerful, pigmented by black. At the end, it bends downward, so that birds can snap their mouths. The small eagle owl of the Guinean breed is famous not for the dark, but for the gray-blue beak.The area of ​​the nostrils is covered with short plumage, which is similar to the bristles.
5. Birds have fluffy and compacted plumage. In color they are brown-red, gray with smoke, there are vertical stripes that are located vertically. Piedkras cover the back, head and shoulder joints. The rib cage and the neck area are not so pronounced; there is plumage in the form of horizontal rippled stripes.
6. The eyes are large, rounded, can be orange or yellowish. Also there are representatives of the family with red eyes. Some types of owl have brownish irises. The eyes are directed to the front, look straight. Birds can watch on what is happening, while not moving the body at all.
7. The feathered tribe does not see the color picture, the owls are all black and white. Individuals of this group see everything perfectly in the daytime, but for some reason most people believe that in the light of the day these individuals are blind. On the contrary, they can see prey even at a great distance. The pupils of the feathered friend are supersensitive, they may narrow-expand when the bird breathes in and out.
8. The birds can boast excellent eyesight at night and twilight, as well as similar members of the family. Eyes of a telescopic format represent a camera lens (conditionally). Thanks to this, even the most insignificant light flashes are involved; birds turn them into full-fledged light. But during a night hunt, the owls focus more on sound than on sight.

Habitat

1. These birds are by nature considered predators, they are common in African, European, and South American countries. There are also individuals in Eurasia, North America, and the United States. Does not do without dwelling on open spaces of our homeland.
2. There are many owls in Latin America, India, China, Pakistan, Japan, Thailand, Korea, Japan. These birds live throughout the territory of the Russian Federation, they are found in Siberia, in the European part, Primorsky Krai and the Amur region.
3. Among the common areas where these birds live, there are urban parks, desert and forest tracts, as well as mountainous areas and the area near agricultural land.

Nutrition

1. According to their eating habits, all the owls are almost the same, the only exception is the owl fish. It feeds, as can be understood from the name, by floating inhabitants. As for the West African bird, it has small claws, the individual is forced to eat cockroaches, beetles, and other insects.
2. Other representatives of the species make up their diet more diverse. It may include the most unpredictable creatures. Owls prey on reptiles, so they eat snakes, turtles and lizards. They can pamper themselves with rodents, including hamsters with mice, as well as voles, gophers, hares, nutria, etc.
3. Of the birds, the owls hunt for mallards, geese, pheasants, hazel grouses, herons, forty, partridges, etc. The menu of the represented feathered tribe includes other mammals. Among them are deer, roe deer, mongooses, hedgehogs, goats, badgers, bats.
4. Earlier it was already mentioned that certain members of this family consume in food aquatic inhabitants. These include toads, frogs, crustaceans, fish, etc.
5. The basis of feeding these feathered friends includes the remains that birds find from their fellows.They also take out the bait from the trap, can adjust the diet depending on the area of ​​habitat.

Hunting

1. It is worth noting that, unlike owls, owls lead an active lifestyle regardless of the time of day. The individuals in question can hunt continuously. As for daytime activity, they prefer cloudy days more. Owls and owls have almost the same way of hunting. The differences are only in the fish owl and the polar owl.
2. If we consider the polar owls, we can see that such predators during hunting begin to look out for the victim from the ground. Such an individual will sit on a small hill motionless. As soon as dusk sets in, the owl changes its hunting method. She begins to pursue the victim, driving her.
3. In addition, the polar predator can catch prey right on the fly. Before that, the bird hovers over the victim, begins to tremble and grabs it. As for fish owls, they often hunt from steep banks that are bent over various water bodies. Also, birds can hunt from branches of trees that stand in shallow water.
4. That fish owls more than all their relatives walk on the ground.Often in their habitats you can even see characteristic trails. Often they are trodden along the coast near the reservoirs. All other species of such predators hunt differently. They make short flights over water or land. This is followed by a little rest on the hill.
5. During the holidays, the owl tries to look out for the next victims. As soon as the predator notices the potential prey, he rapidly rushes after her. As soon as the owl catches up with the victim, he immediately pierces it with his claws. It is worth noting that the birds in question are excellent fish hunters. They are very cleverly diving after her in the water.
6. If the opportunity arises, then the eagle-owl can feast on various small animal food, which they swallow right away. It has often been observed that even when an owl caught a hedgehog, he did not always take off his skin with needles. The predator simply swallowed it whole.

Differences owl from owl

1. Such individuals as owls and owls are very common. As for the differences, they relate to external signs and habits. It is worth noting that the owl has a much larger size and weight.Their weight can easily be more than 4 kg. Owls in this case, the food weighs 2 kg.
2. In addition, owls can be distinguished from owls by the fact that the first on the head grow interesting beams of feathers. They are often called feather ears. As for the owls, they have an absolutely flat top. Only some subspecies can boast of this (striped and eared owls).
3. In addition, the individuals in question have a weakly pronounced facial disc. In owls on the contrary, one can observe a more pronounced face mask of a light or dark color. Owls have a completely different diet. Often, their menu includes small rodents. Due to their size, owls can hunt deer and goats.
4. At the eagle owl at the tips of the feathers one can notice the pointed form. Owls on the contrary, they are rounded. During the flight, owls almost soar silently. When the owl flies, you can hear it by a characteristic whistle.

Interesting Facts

1. Owls are excellent hunters. Thanks to keen vision, an individual even at night leaves no chance for its victim. In addition, they move quite quietly and have camouflage color.
2. The eagle owl is very strong and at the time of the hunt it can even lift a fox into the air.Separately, it is worth mentioning that in the individuals in question the head can rotate 360 ​​degrees.
3. Presented predators are unique in nature, they can reproduce in almost any natural conditions. Owls survive without problems in mountainous terrain, forest, steppe and even desert.

Do not forget that the owl is a predator, so he can not get along with their own individuals. As for breeding, in such birds it begins in early spring. The female can lay up to 4 eggs. The incubation period does not exceed 35 days. All this time, the male feeds and protects the female housing.

Video: owl (Bubo bubo)