Why do owls bob their heads?

Answer from the National Audubon Society

Edited by Morris Dean

[Link to audobon.org corrected.]

Ever wonder why owls bob their heads? Here’s a short video of an owl in action:
   


Audubon.org reveals the secret behind the bobbing phenomenon. Excerpt:

If you were to stand face to face with an owl, after a while it would start to move its head, bobbing rhythmically from side to side, then forward, then back. Or almost completely upside down. All while still looking at you, with its body still facing the front.
    Is the owl trying to communicate something? Is this, perhaps, some kind of dance?
    All these varied head movements help the owl.... [read more]

    Wikipedia has an article about the National Audubon Society.

Copyright © 2016 by Morris Dean