There are 234 species of owls all over the world. From tropical forests to deserts, even in the frigid Arctic, owls rule the night with specialized adaptations that make them keen hunters.
Their sight, hearing, and even the way they fly are specially tuned for their nocturnal lifestyle. Large, broad wings let them stay aloft at a slower, and therefore quieter, pace. Specialized feathers take soundproofing a step further. Comb like serrations on the leading edge of wing feathers and fringes on trailing edges reduce air turbulence and the noise they make as they fly.
There are so many amazing owls around the globe. Which is the most widespread? The largest? The smallest? How do they do the things they do?
You can learn more about the world of owls with beautiful illustrations by Liz Wahid in a downloadable poster you can print at home from the Cornell Ornithology Lab.
You can learn about the owls of New York State here.
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