Sewell (Washington Township), New Jersey

Fun Facts About Owls

General Information  

  • The feathers of all owls are especially soft and muffle wind noise. Many owls also have special comb-like fringes on the leading edge of their wings to help channel air over the wing, thereby reducing noise. These adaptations for silent flight allow the owl to make a soundless approach towards its prey.
  • Many owls can turn their head around over 270º F, allowing them to look almost directly behind themselves. This adaptation has developed to compensate for the fact that their eyes are fixed into a boney socket in the skull and are virtually unable to move.
  • Owl’s eyes are unique among birds as they are located on the front of the head, instead of on the side. This not only gives them a very human appearance but also enables them to match our level of depth perception that is created by the overlapping vision from each eye.
  • The ears of most owls are located asymmetrically on their head, with the right ear being higher than the left ear. Each ear hears the same sound with a slight difference, thus creating a form of audible “depth perception” which can be used to track the location and movements of their prey.

  • When fully spread out, the talon of a Great Horned Owl can span up to eight inches wide.

Feeding Habits

  • Owls can fly and hunt during the daytime as well as at night. However most of them are best adapted for nocturnal hunting.
  • Most owls rely as much or more on their hearing as they do their sight to locate, track and capture prey.
  • Great Horned Owls will prey on both skunks and porcupines.

  • After digesting their most recent meal, owls will form a pellet of the undigested remains of their prey and regurgitate it. Made up primarily of fur, feathers and bones, it is egested approximately 13-16 hours after eating.

Nesting Habits

  • The Great Horned Owl nests earlier than any other bird of prey in North America.
  • When listening to the calls of Great Horned Owls you can distinguish the male from the female by his lower pitch and slightly slower call.

  • Mortality rates for first year Great Horned Owls can range from 30-60% depending on local food conditions.

Other Fun Facts About Owls

  • The Great Horned Owl is probably the longest-lived owl in North America. Banding records confirm numerous owls living into their twenties, with the record lifespan being more than 27 years.
  • The adaptive Great Horned Owl can be found virtually anywhere in North America.  Its habitat ranges from forest, field, tundra and desert and includes highly developed suburban areas as well.
  • Great Horned Owls weigh from two to four pounds with birds in the north weighing up to two pounds more than their southern counterparts.
  • An old southern legend states that if you hear a Great Horned Owl's call coming from your left side it is forecasting bad luck for you.

Out of the 19 species of owls in North America, eight of them make their home in New Jersey either all year round or only in the winter.  We are going to focus on 3 of New Jersey's owls as our "birds of the month" in the store - the Great Horned Owl, Eastern Screech Owl and the Barn Owl.  The Great Horned and Screech owls are our most common species.  However, Barn owls are declining in number statewide.  And FYI, for your in-store purchase over $50, you will receive a free enamel lapel pin of one of these owls (while supplies last) - see the Monthly News & Store Special Tab for more info.  For more information about owls click here and search for owls.  The search will take you to a variety of owls that you can read more about.