Owls: Masters of the Night Sky

• English
• Primary Education
• Age 10

Owls: Masters of the Night Sky

It is a dark, clear night. Strange sounds come through the trees. "Whooo! Whooo!" A great horned owl is awake. He is perched high above the forest floor. His large round eyes scan the ground. He is looking for something to eat. Suddenly he is in the air. Silently he glides toward his prey. The unaware mouse is busily gathering seeds. In one swift movement, the great owl grabs the rodent with his sharp claws. He carries it back to his perch. There he eats his first meal of the night.

What are Owls?

Owls are birds of prey that are known for their large eyes, sharp talons, and silent flight.

Introduce the topic and give a brief overview of owls.

Types of Owls

There are over 200 species of owls, ranging in size from the tiny Elf Owl to the large Eurasian Eagle Owl.

Explain that there are many types of owls and briefly describe some of the most common species.

There are over 130 different kinds of owls around the world. Eighteen types of owls live in North America. Most owls are gray or brown. Lighter and darker feathers form patterns on each owl. This helps them blend in with their surroundings. Other owls, like the snowy owl, are white. The white coloring helps this owl hide in snowy areas.

Many people have never seen or heard an owl in the wild. This is because most owls are nocturnal, or night animals. They rarely move around during the day. They are at home everywhere but Antarctica. Owls live in forests, deserts, meadows, and even in swamps. Some owls have learned to live with people. They live in such places as barns and old buildings. 

Habitat

Owls can be found all over the world in a variety of habitats, including forests, deserts, and tundras. But you can't find owls in Antarctica.

Discuss where owls can be found and the types of environments they live in.

Nocturnal Creatures

Owls are nocturnal, which means they are most active at night and sleep during the day.

Explain what it means for an animal to be nocturnal and why owls have adapted to this lifestyle.

Diet

Owls are carnivores and feed on a variety of prey, including small mammals, birds, and insects.

Discuss what owls eat and their hunting habits.

Why snowy owls are white?

1. To scare predators
2. To hide in snowy areas
3. To attract prey
4. To impress other owls

What is the main reason most people have never seen or heard an owl in the wild?

1. Owls are too small
2. Owls are nocturnal
3. Owls are too fast
4. Owls are extinct

How many types of owls live in North America?

1. Eighteen
2. Fifty
3. Ten
4. Two

The largest North American owl is the great gray owl. This owl has a big face and fluffy feathers. It stands about 30 inches (76 centimeters) tall. It weighs about 3 pounds (1 1/2 kilograms). When this owl takes flight, its wingspan is almost 5 feet (1 1/2 meters) wide. The great gray owl lives in the northern United States. Spruce and Fir trees are its favorite homes.

The smallest owl is the elf owl. It is only about 6 inches (15 centimeters) tall and weighs less than one ounce (28 grams). Elf owls live in the southwestern United States. They like warm weather. Elf owls make their homes in giant cactus plants. The holes they use were drilled out by woodpeckers.

Many owls have tufts of feathers, sometimes called horns, on the top of their heads. These "horns” look like ears, but they are not. An owl's ears are under the feathers on both sides of its head. An owl's hearing is very keen. Often an owl can find its prey by sound alone.

Owls have more feathers than most birds. Their fluffy feathers make them look larger than they are. When an owl is in danger, it will "puff" up its feathers. Then the owl looks even bigger. It will try to frighten away an enemy in this way.

Owls are predators. They hunt at night for small animals such as rats, mice, and insects. Larger owls eat skunks, rabbits, and sometimes other birds. Farmers like owls because they eat the animals that harm their crops. An owl can eat three or four rodents a night.

Owls have fringed feathers on the edges of their wings. These make the owl's flight silent. A mouse or rabbit won't even know the owl is near until it strikes.

Physical Characteristics

Owls have excellent hearing and eyesight, which allows them to hunt in the dark.

Talk about the physical characteristics that make owls such effective hunters.

Owls are easily recognized by their large yellow or orange eyes. Their eyes help them hunt at night. An owl's eyes point forward the same way ours do. But owls can't move their eyes from side to side. They must turn their heads to see to the side. Some owls can turn their heads almost all the way around.

Owls catch their prey with their powerful talons, or claws. Then the owl will take it to a nearby tree to feed. Owls use their sharp beaks to tear the food. The flesh of the animal is digested. The bones, feathers, and teeth are pressed into a ball called a pellet. This pellet is pushed out of the owl's mouth. It is left somewhere on the forest floor. If you are walking in the woods, you might find owl pellets on the ground. Look around. An owl is nearby.

People have always been fascinated by owls. In stories they are often called "the wise owl." This may be because their large eyes give them a human look. In truth, owls are not the smartest of all birds. But they are very helpful to our environment. Like all birds of prey, owls are protected by law. It is against the law for anyone to harm an owl.

Feathers and Flight

Owls have fringed feathers that allow them to fly silently, making it easier to hunt without being detected.

Discuss the unique feathers that owls have and how they help with hunting.

Activity: Draw an Owl

1.Draw a picture of an owl and label its different body parts. In your own words, describe some features of owls and one thing that you think is interesting about owls.

Have students draw and label an owl to help reinforce what they have learned.

Review

What are some physical characteristics of owls? Why are owls nocturnal? What are some of the conservation efforts being made to protect owls?

Review some of the key points of the lesson and ask students to recall what they have learned.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.