Strigidae, the true or typical owls, is one of two owl families alongside the barn owls of Tytonidae, placed in the order Strigiformes. The family contains roughly 230 living or recently extinct species in 23 genera and has a cosmopolitan distribution found on every continent except Antarctica. True owls have large heads, short tails, cryptic plumage and round facial discs, with large broad wings adapted for silent flight, highly sensitive asymmetrical hearing, large eyes and the ability to rotate their heads up to 270 degrees; females are typically larger than males in many species. The family was formally established by William Elford Leach in 1819.
Facts
Taxonomic Rank Sources
1. Wikipedia: Strigidae
WikipediaIntroductionQuote, Introduction
The true owls or typical owls (family Strigidae) are one of the two generally accepted families of owls, the other being the barn owls and bay owls (Tytonidae).
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