Fun Tidbits: Did You Know

1. Can you name two species of nocturnal birds (non-raptors) that are not owls?
   Poorwill, Nighthawk
   
   
2. What bird species are nocturnal, at least part of the year, because of human activity?
   Waterfowl
   
   
3. Owls have a reversible toe. What diurnal raptor also has this trait? Osprey
   
   
4. What is the largest nesting owl of the Snake River Plain?
   Great horned owl
   
   
5. The largest owl in North America is a rare winter visitor to Idaho, which owl is it? Snowy owl
   
   
6. What is the largest owl in the world? Eagle owl
   
   
7. What is the smallest nesting owl of the Snake River Plain? Northern saw-whet owl
   
   
8. Can you name the smallest owl of Idaho? Flammulated owl
   
   
9. What North American owl ranks among the smallest owls in the world? Elf owl
   
   
10. What owl species live in underground burrows? Burrowing owls
    
    
11. Why do small cavity nesting owls in Idaho have a better survival rate than similar owls in other parts of the country? Idaho has no tree climbing snakes
    
    
12. Can you name the two owl species that nest in a colony or semi-colony? Burrowing and Long-eared owls
    
    
13. Can you name the dark eyed owl species of Idaho? Flammulated, Barred, and Barn owls
    
    
14. Why must owls turn their heads so far to see what is around them? Their eyes are fixed in the sockets
    
    
15. Do you know the function of the facial disks on owls? Helps to direct sound to their ears and light to their eyes
    
    
16. Why do owls have large ear holes? To better hear prey and predators
    
    
17. Why are the ears of owls asymmetrical in shape and location? Assist in locating prey and predators
    
    
18. What continent has NO owls? Antarctica
    
    
19. Why do some owls have ear tufts (or feathers)? Simply for camouflage
    
    Miscellaneous Tidbits:
    
    
20. There is all but one bird of prey in Idaho that does not catch its food, who is it? Turkey vulture
    
    
21. Do you know which bird of prey is the smallest in the world?
    Bornean falconet (weighs 1 oz. and > 6" wingspan)
    
    
22. Do you know which bird of prey is the largest in the world?
    Andean condor (weighs 30 lbs. and a 10' wingspan)
    
    
23. What is our National bird, is it a bird of prey?
    Yes, bald eagle
    
    
24. Do you know what two traits birds share with humans?
    Warm-blooded and 4-chambered heart
    
    
25. What value are raptors to the environment?
    Environmental barometers, control animals that destroy crops, and clean countryside of dead and dying animals
    
    
26. When hunting, who are raptors likely to catch first?
    Young, old, sick, and diseased
    
    
27. How many eyelids dose a raptor have?
    Three - upper, lower, and nictitating membrane
    
    
28. How large and powerful are the talons of a harpy eagle?
    Talons are the size of a small grizzly bear and powerful enough to catch monkeys
    
    
29. Who is usually larger, the male or female raptor?
    Usually the female; she lays and incubates the eggs
    
    
30. Of the American Kestrel, who is usually more colorful, the male or the female raptor?
    The male kestrel is more colorful, so as to attract the mate.
    
    
31. How many eggs might a raptor lay?
    Depends on species, but most will lay one to four eggs; larger raptors may only lay one to two eggs
    
    
32. Just how far can an owl turn its head?
    ONLY about 270E°
    
    
33. What is special about an owls neck to allow it to turn its head so far? 14 bones in the neck; imagine humans having 14 bones instead of only 7!
    
    
34. Why do owls have silent flight?
    So their prey cannot hear them coming
    
    
35. How good is the hearing of an owl?
    So good, it can hear a mouse stepping on a twig 75' away
    
    
36. Can owls see during the day?
    Yes, owls can see perfectly well during the day, and even better at night