The Owl is a fascinating nocturnal bird and one of the quietest flying bird species in the world. The Owl’s ability to keep completely silent while in action is based on the Owl’s unique feather design, which is unlike any other bird species.

The Owl has five different types of specially designed feathers that result in the bird’s silent flight. The first type is Contour feathers, which cover the entire body including the tail and wings. The second type is Down feathers, which are soft and velvety. These feathers trap air and create an insulation layer, which provides the Owl with warmth. The third type of feathers is called Semi-plumes and their role is to fill in any space that is left open between the contour and down feathers.

Bristles are the fourth type of feathers and these are found around the eyes and around the base of the bill. Bristles are small, stiff feathers that have barbs near the base of the feather. The last type of feathers that the Owl has is called Filoplumes, which are fine and almost hair like in appearance with barbs at the end. The other feathers cover the short Filoplumes, which act as vibration and pressure receptors. The Owl also has Filoplumes on its bill and feet, which helps the Owl to react when it touches prey or other objects.

These five feather types assist the Owl in many ways, including flight. But there is one more adaptation that the Owl has, which assists in producing silent flight. The primary wing feathers have “fimbriae” or “flutings” – edges which are serrated and look similar to a comb. Other bird species don’t have this adaptation, so when they fly air moves over the wing surface, creating turbulence and a swishing sound heard by most prey. The Owl, on the other hand, lessens the amount of turbulence experienced with its comb-like feathers. The turbulence is broken down into groups of micro-turbulence, which muffles the sound and gives the Owl its silent flight.

The ability of the Owl to fly silently is imperative to its survival and its ability to catch prey during the quiet nights. Its silent flight reduces the noise that the Owl and the prey can hear and allows the Owl to hear and locate its prey and capture it with stealth.

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Although airplane wings may be somewhat modeled after the wings of birds, the mechanics of bird flight are far more complex. A number of forces act on the flexible wings of a bird and are very different from those on the fixed wings of an airplane. Birds are highly specialized creatures and adapted for flight. They dominate the skies and occupy a unique niche in the environment.

One factor which has a great effect on flight is the power to mass ratio. In general a bird’s skeleton has a lower mass than that of the feathers. The bones are light and feature an inner honeycomb type structure.

The wings of each bird are aerodynamically designed for effective flight. Well streamlined, the wings are able to move smoothly through the air. The curve of the wing provides the necessary lift to keep the bird floating through the air. Lift is created when air passing over the front edge of the wing and over the convex top moves faster resulting in a lower pressure than that under the concave lower side of the wing. The wing must be held at the correct angle of attack to prevent turbulence, however, this turbulence is sometimes counteracted by a bastard wing on some birds. Wing size and shape varies according the different roles filled by bird species. Some are ideal for short, quick bursts of flight whilst others are well suited for soaring.

Thrust is also important for bird flight. Power is generated on the downward stroke of the wings. As the wings push down, the tips of the primary feathers (those on the wing tip) are pushed up and pull at an angle, acting almost like a propeller. When the wing moves up again, the primary feathers separate to prevent resistance.

Strong flight muscles are needed to operate the bird’s wings in this fashion. The breast bone is deeply keeled to provide necessary surface area for muscle attachment. White muscle is prevalent in ground birds as it is useful for quick bursts of activity. Red muscle is more common in active fliers and migratory bird species. These muscles are filled with blood vessels to keep them well supplied with nutrients and oxygen.

In addition to the lungs, most bird species have air sacs located in chambers in the body. These provide the muscle tissue with extra oxygen. Interestingly, flight generates much heat in the body of the bird which could lead to death if not regulated. This danger is balanced and offset through a unique respiratory system that keeps birds from overheating.

Indeed, flight is a marvelous ability, carrying these remarkable feathered creatures to wherever they please, even on journeys covering hundreds or thousands of miles. So next time you see a bird in flight, consider the amazing design behind its magnificent maneuvering.

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