Ghosts in the Night: How Owls Fly Silently

Do you know the phrase ‘silent hunters of the night’?

The flight of owls is almost completely silent! This comes in useful for surprising their prey under the cover of darkness, but how do owls fly silently? Here’s Deep Look to explain more.

Why It Matters

So the velvety feathers of owls dampen the noise while their wingspan ensures that they do not have to flap their wings as often. This makes them the silent and sneaky bird we know.

As we saw in the video, both the falcon and the owl were incredible hunters, each with their own strategy for capturing prey. Just because something can be accomplished one way, it doesn’t mean there isn’t a different but equally effective way to reach the same goal! Look to nature for inspiration; separate species have evolved in totally different ways to find shelter, eat, and survive in their environments.

Let's Talk About It

  1. How do the owl and falcon differ from each other and how do their wings reflect that?
  2. What are some other animals that have unique adaptations for hunting their prey; or avoiding their predators?
  3. Name two animals that do the same thing (e.g. blending in with their surroundings, building a home) in very different ways.

DEEP LOOK is a science video series that explores big science by going very, very small, from KQED and PBS Digital Studios.

Using macro photography and microscopy they are looking at the world up close.

Thank You

Thanks to EWCed writer Erin Murphy from Trinity College for this contribution to EWCed’s touchstones and for her work with EWCed!

Citations

“What Makes Owls So Quiet and So Deadly? | Deep Look.” YouTube. Deep Look, 27 Oct. 2015. Web. 01 Nov. 2016. < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a68fIQzaDBY >.