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Collection  >  Order (Birds)  >  Order Information (Strigiformes)

Strigiformes

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.

Owls.

Photos

DISTRIBUTION

All continents except Antarctica and on most oceanic islands.

SIZE

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

MORPHOLOGY

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°.

ECOLOGY & HABITAT

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

DIET

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

REPRODUCTION

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.

REFERENCES

del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D. A. (2010). Handbook of the Birds of the World Series. Lynx Edicions.

Lovette, I. J., Fitzpatrick, J. W. (2016). Handbook of Bird Biology. Wiley-Blackwell.

Gill, F. B., Prum, R. O. (2019). Ornithology. W.H. Freeman & Co. Ltd.

Total species known

247

Species in the collection

7

Species in Hong Kong

14

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