The ear tufts of some species disrupt the round identifiable shape of an owl head, so it blends better with its woody surroundings.
The quiet flight of owls is an act of biomechanical stealth that still challenges science.
I once experienced the stealth of a great gray owl up close.
I could barely make him out against the tree bark, and even in this enclosed space, his partner was invisible.
Google “owl silent flight,” and you’ll find a dramatic video of an experiment by BBC Earth some years ago comparing the flight noise of a pigeon, a peregrine falcon and a barn owl.
Persons:
Percy, soundlessly
Organizations:
grays, Google, BBC
Locations:
Skansen, Stockholm