Recently, many internet users have discovered a fascinating fact about owls: they have surprisingly long legs compared to other animals.

In fact, the legs of an owl make up almost half of its body length. The mystery behind these long legs lies in the thick layer of feathers covering them. Reportedly, around 90% of an owl's body is covered in feathers, leaving only 10% as actual flesh.

Owls are known for their wide distribution and can be found in various locations worldwide, excluding Antarctica. The name "owl" is derived from the facial features and eyes, which resemble those of a cat.

The size of owls varies, with larger ones reaching up to one meter, while smaller species may be as short as 20 centimeters.

These remarkable creatures possess a myriad of unique features. Firstly, owls are not your typical nighttime sleepers. Their feathers are uniform in color, extremely soft, and provide a sound-muffling effect. As a result, many owls are not agile during the daytime.

Secondly, the eyes of owls are not conventional "eyeballs"; instead, they are tubular and lack the ability to rotate. Most owls are farsighted and struggle to see objects up close. Their eyes are equipped with three eyelids—the upper one lowers when they blink, the lower one covers when they sleep, and the middle one moves to cleanse the eye's surface. However, owls do not excel at distinguishing colors.

One of their extraordinary abilities is the power to turn their heads up to 270 degrees, aiding in targeting prey effectively. Combined with their unique eyes, owls achieve a remarkable 360-degree field of view without physically turning around.

Furthermore, an owl's two ears are not symmetrical, and flipping them over reveals the eyes. During nighttime hunting, owls rely on their hearing, not by turning their heads sideways, but by gauging the time it takes for sound waves to reach their left and right ears. Once the time difference reaches 30 microseconds, they accurately pinpoint the location of the sound source.

Typically, owls' diet consists of insects, earthworms, frogs, lizards, and small birds, which they swallow whole and later regurgitate undigested fur and bones. Despite their predatory nature, owls exhibit a softer side by occasionally warning smaller birds of impending danger before a larger eagle approaches.

These fascinating birds often venture into human-inhabited areas, such as fields, to catch mice for sustenance, providing opportunities for people to encounter them in their daily lives.

In Western culture, owls symbolize philosophy and wisdom, adding an endearing charm to their image. While many may find them adorable and contemplate keeping one as a pet, it's important to note that owls are large carnivorous raptors, making them challenging to domesticate.