Can you hear me, now?
Some owls, e.g. the Great Horned Owl and the Long-eared Owl, have very distinct tufts on their heads that look like ears. According to the "Owls n Stuff" website, "The ear-like feather tufts characteristic of many species of owls are greatly reduced in Snowy Owls and are rarely visible, giving the head a typically rounded outline." Most of my shots of Snowy Owls show them with heads that look round. I was excited to get a shot of Ms. Snowy that showed her ear-tufts.
I went looking for more information about Snowy Owls' ears and learned that owls' ear-tufts are not ears and have nothing to do with hearing! Their real ears are on the sides of their heads and covered by feathers. I also learned that ornithologists have come up with several theories regarding the purpose of owls' ear-tufts, none of them conclusive.
Can you hear me, now?
Some owls, e.g. the Great Horned Owl and the Long-eared Owl, have very distinct tufts on their heads that look like ears. According to the "Owls n Stuff" website, "The ear-like feather tufts characteristic of many species of owls are greatly reduced in Snowy Owls and are rarely visible, giving the head a typically rounded outline." Most of my shots of Snowy Owls show them with heads that look round. I was excited to get a shot of Ms. Snowy that showed her ear-tufts.
I went looking for more information about Snowy Owls' ears and learned that owls' ear-tufts are not ears and have nothing to do with hearing! Their real ears are on the sides of their heads and covered by feathers. I also learned that ornithologists have come up with several theories regarding the purpose of owls' ear-tufts, none of them conclusive.