All owls are predators. They catch, kill and eat other animals to survive. Owls seize small animals such as mice and kill them with their powerful feet. Some small animals are swallowed whole. Other animals must be torn apart by the owl s strong, hooked beak.
Most owls are nocturnal and hunt for food at night.
They use their excellent eyesight at night for this purpose. Owls are able to sneak up on their prey at night because of their lightweight bodies, wide wings and unusually soft, fluffy feathers allow them to fly silently. There are eighteen species or different kinds of owls in North America.