The cute "Hedwig" is actually a bird of prey?

Audit expert: Wang Lei

National Parks and Conservation Areas Researcher, PhD in Ecology

Recently, the entire Harry Potter film series was re-screened. While revisiting the classic story, everyone was once again moved by the cuteness and loyalty of the owl "Hedwig". Online and offline, "Hedwig" peripherals also became popular.

Even though they have the cutest appearance, why are owls considered birds of prey?

01 Why are owls so cute?

Owls are a general term for birds of the order Strigiformes. Owls have large eyes that face forward, which is a feature that distinguishes them from other birds. The feathers on the front of their heads are arranged in a facial disc, and some species have ear-shaped feathers. Owls are named because their heads are large and wide, and they look very similar to cats.

The picture shows Strigiformes with different facial disc shapes. Image source: Beijing Natural History Museum

Of all the features of an owl, perhaps the most striking are its eyes. They are large and forward-facing, and may account for between one and five percent of the owl's body weight, depending on the species.

The owl's feathers are mostly brown, dotted with small light-colored spots. The feathers are dense, fluffy and soft. The feathers around the eyes are radiating, and the fine feathers between the eyes protrude to the forehead in a diamond shape. Some species have ear-shaped feathers. The beak is short with a small downward-curved hook at the front end. There is no wax film at the base of the beak, but it is mostly covered by harder feathers.

Big eyes and fluffy feathers make owls look very cute, but did you know that these structures are also their "weapons" for hunting?

The forward-facing part of the eye gives the owl its cute and adorable appearance, and also gives it extensive "binocular" vision (seeing objects with both eyes at the same time). This means that owls can see objects in 3 dimensions (height, width and depth) and can judge distances like humans. Excellent depth perception helps owls catch prey at night.

An owl's large eyes are fixed in their sockets and cannot move at all, so the owl has to constantly turn its head. An owl's head is able to rotate about 270 degrees, allowing them to easily see behind them without having to turn their body again. This ability keeps body movement to a minimum, thereby reducing the noise an owl makes when waiting for prey.

Many of an owl's feathers are specially designed - there are stiff disc feathers or ruffs around the face, crest feathers, ear flap feathers, and setae around the beak. There are feathers on the feet and beak that act a bit like feelers, helping owls respond to objects they touch, such as prey.

Owl feathers are soft, dense, and loose. A thick layer of down provides insulation for owls living in the north. Most species have a small hair on the upper surface of their flight feathers, making flight completely noiseless and enabling the owl to hear its prey without being disturbed by the sound of its flight.

Many owls have a tuft of upright feathers ("ears" or "horns") above their eyes. The tufts break up the rounded outline of the head and add to the concealment of color and pattern.

02 Owls are birds of prey

No matter which species of owl, they share two distinctive features of birds of prey: sharp talons and a hooked beak.

An owl's short beak is curved and pointed downwards, often hooked at the tip, and is specially designed for grabbing and tearing prey apart. The crushing force of the beak is often used to kill captured prey. An owl's feet have four toes. Owls' talons are very powerful because they can be used to catch prey. The bone structure of an owl's foot is shorter and stronger than the equivalent bones in other birds. This is to withstand the force of impact with prey. The powerful owl's talons are open when attacking prey to increase the chances of a successful attack.

All owls are carnivorous birds of prey. Owls eat a wide variety of prey, from small mammals to birds, lizards and insects, with rodents being the most common prey. Owls are well-known for catching voles.

Owls are one of the most widely distributed birds in the world. Owls can be found all over the world except the Arctic. Common species in China include eagle owls, little owls, owls, long-eared owls and short-eared owls.

03 "Hedwig" is a snowy owl

Hedwig, the owl in Harry Potter, is a snowy owl.

The picture shows a snowy owl. Image source: Baidu Encyclopedia

The snowy owl is a bird of the genus Snowy Owl, family Strigiformes, also known as the white owl or white owl. The snowy owl has a small round head, particularly large eye sockets, and a snow-white body. Females and juveniles have more spots, while the male's feathers become whiter as they age.

Snowy owls are distributed in the Arctic tundra and Arctic islands, the Caucasus, Turkey, North Korea, Japan, and the United States. In China, they are mainly distributed in Northeast China, Hebei, and Xinjiang. Snowy owls are famous hunters in the polar regions, and their food is mainly lemmings and snow hares, and they occasionally prey on other rodents and birds.

The Snowy Owl is a world-famous rare ornamental bird, not suitable for family breeding. Some zoos and bird parks have them for breeding and exhibition. Although the wild population is large, the number has declined due to human activities. It is a Class II protected wild animal in China and is listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.

You should know that wild animals belong to nature. For the sake of the ecological environment and your health, please refuse to buy or raise wild animals!

Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia - Owl