A lion, rabbit, hawk, all gather around the tree for a meeting held by the owl.

Animals Gathering

A lion, rabbit, hawk, all gather around the tree for a meeting held by the owl.

Goddess of Wisdom

Athene

Goddess of Wisdom

Goddess of Wisdom

Athene

Goddess of Wisdom

Goddess of Wisdom

Athene

Goddess of Wisdom

Athene maculta, which derive their name from the Greek goddess of wisdom, supposedly for their meditative air and mysterious habits. They are found throughout the world.

Athene Maculta

Athene maculta, which derive their name from the Greek goddess of wisdom, supposedly for their meditative…

Goddess of Wisdom

Athene Parthenos

Goddess of Wisdom

"Coin of Athens." — Smith, 1882

Coin of Athens

"Coin of Athens." — Smith, 1882

A frame with many different species of birds.

Bird Frame

A frame with many different species of birds.

Athene conneviens, which derive their name from the Greek goddess of wisdom, supposedly for their meditative air and mysterious habits. They are found throughout the world.

Athene conneviens

Athene conneviens, which derive their name from the Greek goddess of wisdom, supposedly for their meditative…

Head of the goat-sucker. It bears some resemblence to an owl, with a large head and eyes, as well as mottled plumage and nocturnal habits.

Head of a Goat-Sucker

Head of the goat-sucker. It bears some resemblence to an owl, with a large head and eyes, as well as…

Hunter with an owl

Hunter

Hunter with an owl

The great ibijau is approximately the size of a barn owl, and inhabits hollow trees.

Great Ibijau

The great ibijau is approximately the size of a barn owl, and inhabits hollow trees.

"It is of thick, massive form, and often weighs as much as six or seven pounds; it is of a purplish-black color, variegated with red and brown above; the belly is crimson; the flesh soft and insipid." — Goodrich, 1859

Lumpfish

"It is of thick, massive form, and often weighs as much as six or seven pounds; it is of a purplish-black…

"The owl is one of the soberest -looking of animals", (Hooker, 1886).

Owl

"The owl is one of the soberest -looking of animals", (Hooker, 1886).

Owl, head only.

Owl

Owl, head only.

Owls are found on nearly every continent.

Owl

Owls are found on nearly every continent.

An owl, perched.

Owl

An owl, perched.

Owls can be found in all parts of the world, some as short as five inches long while others are as large as two feet.

Owl

Owls can be found in all parts of the world, some as short as five inches long while others are as large…

A large group of birds of prey, including fully 150 species, about forty of which inhabit America. They are distinguished chiefly on account of their nocturnl habits. The different species have a short head, a circular or triangular facial disc, large eyes and ears, the outer toe reversible, aand, owing to the soft plumage, a noiseless flight.

Owl

A large group of birds of prey, including fully 150 species, about forty of which inhabit America. They…

A large group of birds of prey, including fully 150 species, about forty of which inhabit America. They are distinguished chiefly on account of their nocturnl habits. The different species have a short head, a circular or triangular facial disc, large eyes and ears, the outer toe reversible, aand, owing to the soft plumage, a noiseless flight.

Owl

A large group of birds of prey, including fully 150 species, about forty of which inhabit America. They…

An illustration of an owl.

Owl

An illustration of an owl.

A barn owl, Strix flammea.

Owl

A barn owl, Strix flammea.

A blue jay mocks and laughs at the owl.

Owl and Blue Jay

A blue jay mocks and laughs at the owl.

An owl perched on a book, with a branch in the background.

Owl and Book

An owl perched on a book, with a branch in the background.

An illustration of an owl guarding her eggs from a wolf.

Owl and Wolf

An illustration of an owl guarding her eggs from a wolf.

"Fig. 47. - Raptorial foot of an owl, The raptorial is another modification of the insessorial foot. It is advantageous to a bird of pray to be able to spread the toes as widely as possible, that the talons may seize pray like a set of grappling irons; and accordingly the toes are widely divergent from each other, the outer one in the owls and a few hawks being quite versatile. In a raptorial character, the toes are cleft profoundly, or, if united at base, it is by movable webbing; the claws are immensely developed and the under-surfaces of the toes are scabrous or bulbous for greater security of the object grasped." Elliot Coues, 1884

The Raptorial Foot of an Owl

"Fig. 47. - Raptorial foot of an owl, The raptorial is another modification of the insessorial foot.…

"But some fairies heard him scold,And here you may behold..."-University Society, 1920

Owl Wish 3

"But some fairies heard him scold, And here you may behold..." -University Society, 1920

"How they made that awful wish come true!"-University Society, 1920

Owl Wish 4

"How they made that awful wish come true!" -University Society, 1920

A pair of American barn-owls, one of which is grasping a small rodent in its claws.

American Barn Owl

A pair of American barn-owls, one of which is grasping a small rodent in its claws.

The barn owl is known to destroy rats and mice on farms,(Figuier, 1869).

Barn Owl

The barn owl is known to destroy rats and mice on farms,(Figuier, 1869).

"Speotyto cunicularia, the Burrowing Owl, a comparatively long-legged and short -winged bird with incomplete facial discs and unfeathered toes, is umber-brown varied with yellowish and white, the lower parts becoming lighter." A. H. Evans

Two Burrowing Owls by the Mountains

"Speotyto cunicularia, the Burrowing Owl, a comparatively long-legged and short -winged bird with incomplete…

The Canada owl, also known as the day or hawk owl. It feeds primarily on small birds.

Canada Owl

The Canada owl, also known as the day or hawk owl. It feeds primarily on small birds.

Eagle or great-horned owl, found in Europe and northern asia. It feeds on hares, rabbits, moles, mice, rats, partridges, and reptiles.

Eagle Owl

Eagle or great-horned owl, found in Europe and northern asia. It feeds on hares, rabbits, moles, mice,…

Foot of the eagle owl, with sharp talons for grasping prey.

Foot of the Eagle Owl

Foot of the eagle owl, with sharp talons for grasping prey.

Head of an eagle owl. It has large eyes for seeing at night, and a hooked beak for snaring its prey.

Head of an Eagle Owl

Head of an eagle owl. It has large eyes for seeing at night, and a hooked beak for snaring its prey.

Horned owls are distinguished by two tufts or horns of feathers placed on each side of their head.

Great Horned Owl

Horned owls are distinguished by two tufts or horns of feathers placed on each side of their head.

Genus <em>ascalaphia</em>, a large owl, native to southern Europe and northern parts of Egypt.

Great Short-Eared Owl

Genus ascalaphia, a large owl, native to southern Europe and northern parts of Egypt.

"The owl is a popular name for any nocturnal, raptorial bird, of which about 200 species are known. Their classification is in a very unsettled state. Willoughby's division into two sections&ndash; one having 'ears' or 'horns,' as the tufts of feathers on their heads were called, the other destitute of such appendages&ndash; was shown to be unnatural by Geoffroy St. Hilaire. The prevailing color of the plumage is brown, with a tinge of rusty-red, and it is exceedingly loose and soft, so that their flight (even in the larger species) is almost noiseless, enabling them to swoop upon their prey, which they hunt in the twilight. All owls cast up in the form of pellets the indigestible parts of the food swallowed. These castings may be seen under any owl-roost, and show plainly the great service these birds render to man in destroying rats and mice. They range over the whole globe."&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Great Snow Owl

"The owl is a popular name for any nocturnal, raptorial bird, of which about 200 species are known.…

The Hawk owl is about 15 inches long and feeds on rabbits, rats, mice, reptiles and birds, (Figuier, 1869).

Hawk Owl

The Hawk owl is about 15 inches long and feeds on rabbits, rats, mice, reptiles and birds, (Figuier,…

A pair of great American horned owls, sitting on the ground.

Great American Horned Owls

A pair of great American horned owls, sitting on the ground.

"The owl is a popular name for any nocturnal, raptorial bird, of which about 200 species are known. Their classification is in a very unsettled state. Willoughby's division into two sections&ndash; one having 'ears' or 'horns,' as the tufts of feathers on their heads were called, the other destitute of such appendages&ndash; was shown to be unnatural by Geoffroy St. Hilaire. The prevailing color of the plumage is brown, with a tinge of rusty-red, and it is exceedingly loose and soft, so that their flight (even in the larger species) is almost noiseless, enabling them to swoop upon their prey, which they hunt in the twilight. All owls cast up in the form of pellets the indigestible parts of the food swallowed. These castings may be seen under any owl-roost, and show plainly the great service these birds render to man in destroying rats and mice. They range over the whole globe."&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Rock Owl

"The owl is a popular name for any nocturnal, raptorial bird, of which about 200 species are known.…

The scops-eared owl is diminutive in size, not exceeding that of the thrush, (Figuier, 1869).

Scops-Eared Owl

The scops-eared owl is diminutive in size, not exceeding that of the thrush, (Figuier, 1869).

The scops-eared owl is diminutive in size, not exceeding that of the thrush, (Figuier, 1869).

Scops-Eared Owl

The scops-eared owl is diminutive in size, not exceeding that of the thrush, (Figuier, 1869).

A scops-eared owl feeding on a small rodent. It is common in Central and Southern Europe.

Scops-Eared Owl

A scops-eared owl feeding on a small rodent. It is common in Central and Southern Europe.

Strix flammea, the nocturnal White Screech-, or Barn Owl, is orange-buff above, with brown, grey and white markings, but is white below and on the complete facial discs. The dark grey phase has white parts tinged with orange and a few distinct blackish spots beneath. The legs are entirely, and the toes partially, covered with bristly feathers." A. H. Evens, 1900

Screech Owl

Strix flammea, the nocturnal White Screech-, or Barn Owl, is orange-buff above, with brown, grey and…

<i>Nyctea scandiaca</i>." The great white or snowy owl, <i>Strix nyctea</i> or <i>Nyctea scandiaca</i>, inhabiting arctic and northerly regions of both hemispheres, and having the plumage more or less white." &mdash;Whitney, 1889

Snow Owl

Nyctea scandiaca." The great white or snowy owl, Strix nyctea or Nyctea scandiaca, inhabiting arctic…

The white owl (also known as the snowy or ermine owl), found in the colder latitudes of the world. Its heavy coating of feathers is well-suited to arctic climes.

White Owl

The white owl (also known as the snowy or ermine owl), found in the colder latitudes of the world. Its…

A young barn-owl.

Young Barn Owl

A young barn-owl.

Fool and owl

Pictorial banner

Fool and owl