Why is the owl feather softer than the eagle feather?
Look at the Bald Eagle feather. Notice how the feather is strong and lightweight. Feathers must be strong to give the bird lift, and they must be lightweight so the bird can actually get off the ground! Because hawks and owls eat the same prey they must hunt at different times during the day to avoid competing with each other. When do hawks normally hunt? (day) When do owls normally hunt? (night). Owls, such as the Great Grey Owl, hunt at night. In the dark an owl cannot see very well. For this reason owls rely on their sense of hearing, rather than their sense of sight to hunt. In order to hear a mouse in the dark, it is important that the owl can fly silently. Compare the softness of the Owl feather compared to the Eagle feather. Owls have very soft feathers, which makes their flight silent. Silent flying allows owls to hunt in the dark and in the winter by listening for their prey. Hollow Bone Activity: Look at the hollow bone. Why would birds want hollow bones? Most birds, and all
