Book 1, Question 37 · Video
Why Can Owls Turn Their Heads So Far?
Owls can look behind them without moving their bodies! Their tube-shaped eyes barely roll in their sockets, so they turn the whole head instead. Owls have extra neck bones, about 1
Read the full answer →What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why can owls turn their heads so far?
The Big Idea
Whoo, whoo! Owls can swivel their heads around, much farther than we can. It looks like magic, but it's nature's amazing design! Let's discover how, in three steps!
Tube-Like Eyes
Step one: tube-like eyes that barely roll! Your eyes are shaped like balls, so they can roll to look sideways. But an owl's eyes are long, like tubes, and fixed in their sockets. So to look around, an owl has to turn its whole head!
Extra Neck Bones
Step two: extra neck bones! Owls have about twice as many neck bones as we do. More bones means more bendy joints, so the neck can twist smoothly. And special blood vessels keep blood flowing to the brain, even while twisting!
About 270 Degrees
Step three: about 270 degrees! That's three quarters of a circle. Owls can't spin their heads all the way around, like in cartoons. But they can turn far enough to look right behind themselves!
A Closer Look
Let's compare an owl and a human. An owl can turn its head about 270 degrees. Most people can turn their heads only about 160 to 180 degrees in all. So an owl can look behind itself, without moving its body! And its fluffy feathers hide a long, bendy neck!
Quick Facts
Quick facts! Many owls have about 14 neck bones. Humans have only 7! Owls can't roll their eyes, but their huge eyes are great at seeing in dim light. Special soft feathers let many owls fly almost silently. And some owls have one ear higher than the other, to pinpoint sounds!
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! Turn your head, only as far as is comfortable. Can you look behind you, without moving your body? What do you notice? How far can you turn, compared to an owl? Be curious. Observe. Discover!
Outro
So owls turn their heads so far, thanks to tube-like eyes and extra neck bones. Science is everywhere! Remember, Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!