Owls are birds from the order Strigiformes, which includes over 200 species of mostly solitary and nocturnal birds of prey typified by an upright stance, a large, broad head, binocular vision, binaural hearing, sharp talons, and feathers adapted for silent flight
Exceptions include the diurnal Northern Hawk-Owl and the gregarious Burrowing Owl. Owls are divided into two families: the true (or typical) Owl family, Strigidae, and the Barn Owl and Bay Owl family, Tytonidae. Owls hunt mostly small mammals and insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish. They are found in all regions of the Earth except the polar ice caps and some remote islands. A group of Owls is called a “parliament”
