The appearance of certain species of owl, with no apparently visible ears, has given rise to the notion that they cannot hear at all.
Can this really be true? Are owls deaf?
No, not at all! Quite the opposite, actually.
In fact, owls have extraordinary hearing. It has been observed that they can hear the rustling of a mouse from up to half a mile away. This incredible hearing makes it possible for owls to hunt in near complete darkness, using only their ears to locate prey.
It is akin to the advanced sense of smell that entertain other animals possess, which also allows them to detect predators or prey at great distances.
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