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How the Owl Tracks Its Prey: Experiments with trained barn owls reveal how their acute sense of hearing enables them to catch prey in the dark

Konishi, Masakazu (1973) How the Owl Tracks Its Prey: Experiments with trained barn owls reveal how their acute sense of hearing enables them to catch prey in the dark. American Scientist, 61 (4). pp. 414-424. ISSN 0003-0996. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20151130-105615795

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Abstract

Payne and Drury (1958) were the first to demonstrate the ability of the barn owl (Tyto alba) to locate mice acoustically in total darkness. In a series of experiments, I have replicated their observation. A barn owl in pursuit of a mouse in the dark flies about 3.6-4.0 m per sec; it will fly faster if the mouse is visible or more slowly if the identity of the target is uncertain. As the owl comes within a range of about 60 cm from the mouse, it brings its feet forward and spreads the talons in an oval pattern. Just before hitting the mouse, it stretches its legs forward with the face and the wings lagging behind, often closing its eyes during this last phase of the strike.


Item Type:Article
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
http://www.jstor.org/stable/27843880JSTORArticle
http://www.jstor.org/stable/27843979 JSTORErrata
Additional Information:© 1973 Published by: Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society.
Errata:“Correction: How the Owl Tracks Its Prey: Experiments with Trained Barn Owls Reveal How Their Acute Sense of Hearing Enables Them to Catch Prey in the Dark”. “Correction: How the Owl Tracks Its Prey: Experiments with Trained Barn Owls Reveal How Their Acute Sense of Hearing Enables Them to Catch Prey in the Dark”. American Scientist 61.5 (1973): 521–521.
Issue or Number:4
Record Number:CaltechAUTHORS:20151130-105615795
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20151130-105615795
Official Citation:How the Owl Tracks Its Prey: Experiments with trained barn owls reveal how their acute sense of hearing enables them to catch prey in the dark Masakazu Konishi American Scientist Vol. 61, No. 4 (July-August 1973), pp. 414-424 Published by: Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27843880
Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:62444
Collection:CaltechAUTHORS
Deposited By: Ruth Sustaita
Deposited On:03 Dec 2015 04:22
Last Modified:03 Oct 2019 09:19

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