Ornithology

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ORDER STRIGIFORMES

You must know the order, family, common name, habitat, and habits and be able to identify by sight each species. There are 4 species on the list.  In addition, you will be expected to learn the vocalization for any species labeled with a  symbol. You can get extra credit for learning the vocalizations of any species labeled .

Birds on this list: 4
Order Strigiformes  Owls
Characteristics of the order:
mostly nocturnal birds of prey; small heavily decurved bills strong feet with long sharp claws; zygodactyl toes large heads and eyes with facial disks that concentrate sound and increase hearing sensitivity asymmetrical ear openings in some -- improves localization ability specialized telescopic vision often feathered legs and toes; outer toe can be reversed soft specialized plumage -- muffles sound; cryptically colored eyes fixed -- turn head from side to side (up to 270 degrees) worldwide regurgitate pellets female often larger than male
Family Tytonidae         Barn-Owls
Characteristics of the family:
Facial disk heart-shaped Legs longer than tail / tarsus feathered, toes bare
	Barn Owl	Tyto alba
Family Strigidae Owls
Characteristics of the family:
Facial disk rounded Legs shorter than tail / tarsus feathered, toes feathered in some species
	Screech-Owl [vocalization]	Otus asio
	Great Horned Owl[vocalization]	Bubo virginianus
	Barred Owl[vocalization]	Strix varia