Nevertheless, owls don't see in the absolute darkness, and in moonless nights they depend, when hunting, on the extremely keen hearing. These birds have a curved beak and sharp claws. But they are not related to the daytime ones, rather to the night-jar and the parrot. Most owl hunt at twilight and by night, when rodents, their main food, are active. Owls can be motionless watching and listening for prey, from time to time flying over the plot.
Most owls have soft plumage and demonstrate noiseless flight.
In lean years owls usually don't breed. Our collection comprises 11 species of owls. Natalia Rudneva , Alexei Grif.