Q 01/05

What is unusual about how an owl's eyes sit in its skull?

A) They cannot move at all.

B) They swivel independently.

C) They face opposite sides.

D) They retract when blinking.

Answer · why

A) They cannot move at all.

They cannot move at all: bony sclerotic rings hold each eye rigid in the skull, so an owl has to swing its whole head just to glance sideways.

Q 02/05

Owls are nocturnal yet do NOT rely on which low-light navigation method?

A) Magnetic sensing

B) Ultraviolet vision

C) Echolocation

D) Infrared detection

Answer · why

C) Echolocation

Instead of sonar they lean on enormous forward-facing eyes and precise directional hearing, which is why they can hunt in near-total darkness.

Q 03/05

Which large tufted owl with orange eyes has a wingspan that can reach about 1.8 metres?

A) Great Horned Owl

B) Eurasian Eagle-Owl

C) Snowy Owl

D) Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

Answer · why

B) Eurasian Eagle-Owl

The Eurasian Eagle-Owl is strong enough to kill foxes and deer fawns, though voles, rats and other small mammals make up most of what it eats.

Q 04/05

What are the compact masses of indigestible prey remains that owls expel called?

A) Scat

B) Pellets

C) Cuds

D) Boluses

Answer · why

B) Pellets

Because owls swallow prey whole when they can, the bones, fur and scales come back up compacted, which is why researchers pick pellets apart to study ...

Q 05/05

What collective noun is commonly used to refer to a group of owls?

A) A parliament

B) A convocation

C) A muster

D) A flock

Answer · why

A) A parliament

A parliament is the collective noun, though you would struggle to convene one: most owls are solitary birds that roost and hunt alone.