鴞形目 Strigiformes

鴞形目 Strigiformes，來自希臘文的 στρίξ stríx (尖叫者) 和拉丁文的 -fōrmis (形狀)，說明是這些動物都是貓頭鷹，像鳴叫鴞屬，以該目的特徵命名。

Strigiformes, from Greek στρίξ (stríx, “screecher”) and Latin -fōrmis (“-shaped”), in reference to the fact these animals are all owls, just like Megascops spp., the screech owls, that named the order after its characteristic sound.

種的俗名 Common names of members

貓頭鷹。

Owls.

分佈 Distribution

所有大陸，除了南極洲和大多數大洋島嶼。

All continents except Antarctica and on most oceanic islands.

體型 Size

牠們體型是小到中型（13厘米到70厘米長）。

They are small to medium sized (13 to 70 cm in length).

形態 Morphology

牠們有寬而尖的爪子、直立的姿勢，和專為安靜飛行而設計的羽毛。擁有大的而向前的眼睛和耳孔、平坦的臉、鷹狀的喙，並且通常在每隻眼睛周圍有一個突出的羽毛圈，稱為面盤。這些面盤的羽毛可以被操縱，將不同距離的聲音精確地聚焦到貓頭鷹不對稱定位的耳道上。牠們的頭部最多可以旋轉270°左右。

They have broad, pointed talons, an upright stance, and feathers designed for silent flying. They have large, forward-facing eyes and ear holes, a flat face, a hawk-like beak, and typically a prominent feather circle, called a facial disk, surrounding each eye. This disc's feathers can be manipulated to precisely focus sounds at different distances onto the owls' asymmetrically positioned ear canals. They can rotate their head up to around 270°.

生態及棲息地 Ecology & Habitat

在樹上及懸崖上休息。牠們存在於各種環境中，例如沙漠、苔原、林地、紅樹林、雨林、稀樹草原、草原等。

Rest in trees, cliffs. They can be found in every kind of environment, from deserts to tundra, woodlands, mangroves, rainforests, savannas, grasslands, etc.

食性 Diet

牠們是夜行性食肉動物，以昆蟲、蜥蜴、蛇、小型囓齒動物、蝙蝠和兔類動物為食。此外，有些是進化而專門為了捕魚。

Being nocturnal carnivores, they all subsist on insects, lizards, snakes, tiny rodents, bats and lagomorphs. Additionally, some have evolved particularly to hunt fish.

繁殖 Reproduction

大多數物種在樹上或懸崖上的天然洞穴或啄木鳥洞中築巢。有一些較大的物種在地面上築巢。父母會選擇最佳產卵時間，以便有最多的獵物可供幼鳥捕獵。雌性負責孵化卵，而雄性則負責尋找食物。

Mostly nest in natural cavities in trees or cliffs or in woodpecker holes. Some larger species nest on the ground. Parents will choose the best time for egg laying, so that there will be the largest number of prey available for their young to hunt. Females incubate the eggs while males are responsible for finding feed.