二年8班 刘心程 Owls

Cynthia

Class 8 Grade 2

No.21

                                                             Owls

    Owls are raptors, because they hunt food using their feet. Most owls have ear tufts, which look like ears but are not. They also have a facial disc. Facial discs make the owls head look heart-shaped. Their strong wings help them to swoop down from a tress and catch their prey without difficulty. Their head can turn all the way around. The owls’ curved beak can get their prey and eat them easily as the fly. Their toes are useful too, for they can take the owls’ prey back to their perch and tear them to pieces. The eyes of the owls can see clearly in the darkness, though they only see blue objects.

    Owls love mice and are brilliant at catching them. Some of them also like sneaking on insects. They often prey on snakes and lizards too. Smaller prey are eaten shortly after they see them. Larger ones are carried back to the perch. Mother owls are very protective of their babies. They refuse to leave their nest even if they are threatened. Male owls seldom return to the perch because they have to hunt enough food before they give them to their mates.

   There are many types of owls in the world. Such as screech owls and barn owls. Screech owls, as their name suggests, screech when they are in danger. Barn owls are one of my favorite owls because they have a heart-shaped facial disc and are extremely beautiful. Great horned owls get their name from their large ear tufts. They are amazing as they can carry prey three times heavier than themselves.

   Owls are fierce predators for mice. When they see their prey, they will quickly swoop down and land beside them soundly. After the owls land, they will suddenly catch the prey with their pointed claws. As they reached their prey, the owls will immediately grab them on their vital part and take them back to the perch. So the next time if you are lucky enough to see an owl, maybe you will see it tearing and swallowing a poor animal.