Watch how these owls find their prey under deep snow. It's unlike anything you've ever seen
The great grey owl has evolved so it can remain as quiet as possible as it listens for food beneath the snow
In a Manitoba forest, a great grey owl sits atop a spindly branch. Then, wings outstretched, it descends from its perch, gliding over the blanket of snow. Specially adapted feathers allow it to do so in dead silence. After all, it wouldn't be good to drown out the noise of your own food.
In this clip from Hunters and Hunted, the first episode of Secret World of Sound, a series from The Nature of Things, we follow the great grey owl as it hunts for food to sustain it through the winter.
The owl's prey, a field vole, is hiding under the deep snow. In burrows beneath the frosty expanse, these voles must feed night and day or else they will freeze to death. As they race through their snowy tunnels, the owl can sense their movement.
The great grey owl is an incredible listener — a large facial ruff of feathers creates a kind of satellite dish, directing sound toward its ears. Its wings and feathers have evolved for near-silent flight. According to experts, owl wings are specially built for low speed but high manoeuvrability when hunting. Large, boxy wings with a velvet-like surface and feather serrations that ensure smooth flight and reduce noise — these elements make the great grey owl a master of stealth.
Although unsuccessful in its first attempt to catch its dinner, the owl persists. The vole's twisting tunnels can make it difficult for this predator to accurately pinpoint its prey's location. To identify exactly where the vole is, the owl must position itself directly above it.
It coasts through the cold air, listening intently. The owl circles momentarily before dropping down. A sharp squeal signals that the owl has seized its meal.
Watch the video above for the full story.
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