Thus an owl turns its head, sometimes as much as 270 degrees, rather than its eyes, to follow a moving object. The facial feathers help to amplify and channel sounds to their ears. Generally one ear is larger than the other and slightly above or below, so the owl can pinpoint the location of a sound. The owl's feathers are silent in flight. The wings have downy fringes along the stiff flight feathers which muffle sound as the owl approaches its prey.
Owls swallow their prey whole.
Screech Owls None of the species of owl in North America is a nest builder. The Eastern and Western Screech Owls, among others, nest in cavities and take readily to a birdhouse. The Eastern Screech Owl lives generally in wooded areas east of the Rockies, while its Western cousin lives to the west of them. Most are a gray-brown color with whitish spots and stripes throughout. They have sharp, hooked beaks and powerful feet.