More Facts about Owls Trivia Quiz

Some questions about some very cool birds.

A multiple-choice quiz by austinnene. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
austinnene

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
276,489

Updated
Dec 07 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1482

Awards
Top 10% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 173 (6/10), Guest 174 (7/10), wellenbrecher (10/10).

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. A number of owl species have a feature known as a facial disk. What is this, and what is its function? Hint

It's the round concave shape of the owl's face. It picks up sound to help the owl locate prey.

Actually there are two facial disks. It's the term used to identify the owl's eye sockets.

It refers to the round shape of the owl's face. It serves to intimidate prey and potential predators, giving the owl a formidable appearance.

It's a bony plate that surrounds the beak. It protects the nerves and muscles the owl uses to kill from movements made by struggling prey.

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2. Female owls develop something called a "brood patch". What is it? Hint

An area on the belly that has fewer feathers and more blood vessels than other parts of her body.

A spot of color on her throat that enables her young to identify her easily.

An area surrounding the nest that is off limits to other animals while her owlets are maturing.

A temporary membrane that grows over the point of her beak, preventing injury to her young when she grooms them.

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3. The largest owl, the Eurasian eagle owl, is known to feed on which of these animals? Hint

squirrel

deer

fox

any animal, including pets

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4. Owls can be developed into good pets under what conditions? Hint

Actually, most owls can be tamed if you routinely feed the owl and spend lots of time near its nest.

You have to acquire the owl as soon as it can leave the nest and keep it with you nearly all the time to acclimate it to being with a human.

Owls don't usually make great pets.

Much time has to go into training the owl when you first bring it home. Owls relax once they "get" the rules.

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5. Barn owls have soft feathers all over their bodies, especially on their wings. Why? Hint

To repel water.

Their circulatory systems are not as robust as other types of birds, and they need they extra covering for warmth.

This enables them to fly silently, making it easier to hunt prey.

It's a characteristic that is no longer needed by the species. which is disappearing through the process of natural selection.

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6. Which of these describes the habitat of the greater sooty owl? Hint

North America

Australia and New Guinea

Europe

Africa

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7. Owls are usually thought of as nocturnal hunters, but a number of owls are diurnal (active during the day.) Which of these is exclusively diurnal? Hint

Barn owl

Northern saw-whet owl

Spotted owl

Northern hawk owl

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8. One of these owls is only found on the continent of Africa. Which? Hint

Ashy-faced owl

Rufous fishing owl

Striated scops owl

Black-and-white owl

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9. Owls eat other animals but they also subsist on vegetables and plants.

True

False

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10. What is an "egg tooth"? Hint

A feature unique to owls that enables them to eat the eggs of other birds efficiently.

It's not a real "tooth"; it's a term for a structure on the owl's beak that enables them to kill more efficiently than other predatory birds.

A term for a weak spot inside an owl's egg that breaks open most easily.

Something common to all bird species--a structure on the beak of a hatching bird that enables it to peck its way out of the egg.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. A number of owl species have a feature known as a facial disk. What is this, and what is its function?

Answer: It's the round concave shape of the owl's face. It picks up sound to help the owl locate prey.

The disk functions something like a satellite dish. It collects and magnifies sounds made by animals so the owl can locate them accurately.

2. Female owls develop something called a "brood patch". What is it?

Answer: An area on the belly that has fewer feathers and more blood vessels than other parts of her body.

The absence of feathers combined with the extra blood flow keeps her eggs warm during incubation.

3. The largest owl, the Eurasian eagle owl, is known to feed on which of these animals?

Answer: any animal, including pets

There are documented cases of these owls preying on deer! They will eat almost any animal they can kill. These owls are not a favorite of pet lovers. Their scientific name is Bubo bubo.

4. Owls can be developed into good pets under what conditions?

Answer: Owls don't usually make great pets.

Owls are predatory hunters. Usually, they don't make great companions. You can train an owl to come to you, but it does so only for food rewards, not because you have a Lassie-Timmy thing going.

5. Barn owls have soft feathers all over their bodies, especially on their wings. Why?

Answer: This enables them to fly silently, making it easier to hunt prey.

It's critical to hunting success that the owl be able to approach prey without being detected. The extra feathers absorb the sounds made by the owl's flight.

6. Which of these describes the habitat of the greater sooty owl?

Answer: Australia and New Guinea

This owl, which lives in rainforests, nests in humid areas but hunts in locations that are more arid than its home.

7. Owls are usually thought of as nocturnal hunters, but a number of owls are diurnal (active during the day.) Which of these is exclusively diurnal?

Answer: Northern hawk owl

"Diurnal" hunting habits include hunting at dawn and dusk as opposed to hunting in the dark. Many owls are diurnal in their hunting habits.

8. One of these owls is only found on the continent of Africa. Which?

Answer: Rufous fishing owl

The rufous fishing owl is endangered due to habitat loss. It is indigenous to West Central Africa just north of the equator, with territory in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast and Guinea.

9. Owls eat other animals but they also subsist on vegetables and plants.

Answer: False

Owls are strictly carnivorous.

10. What is an "egg tooth"?

Answer: Something common to all bird species--a structure on the beak of a hatching bird that enables it to peck its way out of the egg.

The "tooth" drops off after a few weeks. Birds aren't the only animals to have them--so do reptiles. If you're trapped inside an eggshell, you need a way to get out.

Source: Author austinnene

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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Mar 21 2023 : Guest 173: 6/10
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