Sight and Sound Most birds have relatively large eyes, especially birds that are active in the dim light of dawn and dusk or in deep forests. An owl's eyes are located at the front of its head, but they cannot move in their sockets to look from side to side. Therefore, owls must turn their faces toward an object to see it. Though it is often thought that owls can see in total darkness, they actually need a little light to be able to see. Those species of owl that hunt prey in near or total darkness, such as in a cave or building, use their hearing rather than sight.
Hearing is important to most birds.
Birds communicate among themselves by song in many ways, often recognizing their mates or young by sound rather than sight. Hearing also is important for hunting, allowing a bird to locate its prey in low light. The barn owl is the most accurate bird at locating prey by sound. Birds of Prey Raptor is another name for a bird of prey , which includes hawks, falcons, owls, vultures, eagles, ospreys, condors and kites. Adaptations such as long talons on the end of each toe make this method of hunting possible.