Face veil (bird)
The face veil is an essential distinguishing feature of owls and some other birds. The face veil is the ring-shaped border of the front head with stiff, specially shaped feathers . They amplify and direct the sound waves towards the ears. The inner veil covers the ear entrance and lies over the outer veil, which is a second and larger spring wreath. It forms the back edge of the head and can be deformed differently than the inner face veil.
Together with the feather ears , which have no influence on the owls' hearing performance, the face veil plays a special role in social and enemy behavior, as the owl can use it to signal its mood.
In many owl species, the veil is contrasted with the rest of the plumage. He gave the barn owl its name. In other owl species, such as the eagle owl , it is not so visually distinct.
Face veils are also found in other bird species. For example, consecrations or the New Zealand kakapo , which is threatened with extinction, also have a striking facial feathering, which has been referred to as a face veil. It has not yet been adequately investigated whether this also serves to enhance hearing performance in the Kakapo.
literature
- Theodor Mebs , Wolfgang Scherzinger : The owls of Europe - biology, characteristics, stocks. Kosmos Verlag, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN 3-440-07069-7 . (The book by Mebs and Scherzinger comprehensively reproduces the way of life of the thirteen owls represented in Europe; no aspect of the life of the owls is left out)
- Wolfgang Epple; Owls - The mysterious birds of the night. Gräfe and Unzer Verlag, 1994, ISBN 3-7742-1790-4 . (Compared to the book by Mebs and Scherzinger, this is more the book for "owl beginners" - it is deliberately written so simply that it is also suitable for children and young people)