Give it Words to See

Despite certain similarities, owls do vary considerably in morphology, behaviour and habitat. Some may grow quite large, like the Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo), with a wings that span two meters when fully extended. On the other hand, the tiny Elf Owl (Micrathene whitrnyi), has a wingspan of under 30 cm. Owls are some of the most widely distributed order of birds on the planet. The nocturnal Barn Owl (Tylo alba), for instance, is found in every habitat except the driest desert and polar regions. Conversely, the crepuscular and diurnal activities of the small Forest Owlet (Heteroglaux blewitti) are restricted to a few isolated pockets in Western and Central India. It is not only the rarity of this bird that has drawn the attention of naturalists, but the perplexing disappearing act that it seems to have performed for much of the 20th century. The story of the Forest Owlet is as telling of biology as it is of language.