I was not surprised that large owls, such as the Cape Eagle-Owl and the Powerful Owl hunted mammals rather than smaller prey, but I was surprised that a small owl, such as the Northern Pygmy-Owl, was a skilled predator of birds and small mammals.

Did not know some owls ate fish. I have watched vet shows and am amazed at the ratcheting grip of these birds that allow them to hang onto heavy prey.

Yes! I had no idea there were species of owls that specialize in eating fish.

I was not really suprised at owl diets.  I volunteer for a raptor rescue organization.  When we release rehabbed owls we do it at specific times of day.  For instance, Screech Owls are released at dusk near businesses that have large parking lots with lots of lights and with a body of water nearby.  The parking lot lights attract lots of flying insects which the owls love.  We also release Barred Owls at dusk since they are night hunters.  Releasing them at dusk allows them to get familiar with their surroundings.  Our rule of thumb is owls with yellow eyes hunt for food at dawn and dusk (one yellow eye representing sunrise and the other representing sunset).  Owls with dark eyes, like the Barred Owl, hunt in the dark.  It isn't mentioned here specifically but a Barred Owl can hear a human heart beat from 20 feet away.  Pitty the poor menu item moving below that owl's perch. I did not know that Barn Owls are the most common owl across the globe.

yes!! i did NOT know that owls eat opossums! so cool! i also did not know that so many owls ate insects. I hope one day to come and study ornithology at cornell! -Annie 12, Canada

I was surprised to know that a the eagle Owl can catch and eat a Peregirne falcon

The owls' prey items in this section do not really surprise me. I have always known most eat small mammals, fish, insects, rabbits, rodents, etc. Even though I knew of amphibians and reptiles, the owls in my area mainly eat small mammals. I have even witnessed one trying to pick up my friend's dog. Luckily it missed and flew off. I did have another friend who had one pick her weenie dog up in their back yard, taking it pretty high up before dropping it. The talons did do some damage, but not as bad as it could have been.

Cape Eagle Owl... eats... Yellow-spotted Rock Hyrax.  This owl lives in some countries in Africa.  I've never heard of the Rock Hyrax! Cross between a rabbit and a woodchuck.  And,... they make a sound that is more like a bird than a mammal!  Check them out.. they are cute..... https://kidadl.com/animal-facts/rock-hyrax-facts

The fact that owls eat insects surprised me!   I guess some of the insects, specially in the tropical areas can be quite large.

WOW! I had no idea that Snowy Owls include ducks to their diet and some owls eat possums and squirrels. This course provides  in depth information that is fascinating.

I did not know much about owl diets and I am really surprised that some can eat prey that size of rabbits, cats and ducks! Astounds me that they can lift animals of that size.

I didn’t know snowy owls hunted waterfowl in the winter! No wonder they like to hang out where water meets ice.

I was surprised to learn that small owls eat invertebrates such as moths, grasshoppers, scorpions. The owls must  be very adept at taking each one of these prey items. The relationship between each prey and predator is unique and interconnected within the environment. I did some research on my own concerning the Spotted owl, flying squirrels, false morels, and trees such as the Douglas Fir, The more I learn about owls, the more I want to learn about each owl's specific adaptation to its prey animals, not just in North America where I live but owls such as the Austalralasian Grass Owl, the Blakiston's fish owl, the Little Owl, Southern White Faced Owl and the Brown Fish Owl.

The further information about the snowy owl hunting ducks and scoters on the open ocean at night really amazed me! Otherwise, I was not surprised by the all-of-the-above approach including crawfish, insects, voles, etc. with a bit of variation from owl species to owl species.

I am not at all surprised. As I had submitted before I had fostered a spotted owlet chick as it had fallen off from its nest due to storm. A good guy had walked up to me stating If I could help this chick. I fed the chick with fresh meat, guts etc but it would have it only on its own wish. Just the next day a pair of Spotted owlet residing on the old silver oak tree came on my window of the room where I had kept the chick and it started communicating with the chick. I walked in the courtyard and found there was again one of the owl at a hand distance and it looked straight at me it wasn't afraid of me despite day time it kept following me when ever I was out of the house. Rest of the time it would come on the window. It took me two days to realize. when the next day late afternoon  I returned home and found the same owl looking over me from the  window of my room which was open I took a decision to keep the chick in the courtyard near a tree. The moment I did one of the couple owl circled my head and sat beside the chick after communication it flew to a nearby by branch the chick hopped and branched towards it. In next minute the elder owl flew away in about 3-4 minute it brought a freshly hunted sparrow but the chick could not eat despite the owl kept tearing its chunk after a while sun went down and darkness fell the owl couple brought (probably) moths and night insects it kept feeding the chick till it was well fed. They Flew back to the Old Silver Oak tree. The next day I realized and witnessed . The couple had a chick of their own and yet it was adopted the chick and fed both the chicks equally. A sight I cherish to date.

I didn't know that owls eat insects or fish! It is fascinating how much you can learn about their diet based on the size and shape of the feet and talons. But it makes sense considering beaks can be used for other bird species and teeth shape for mammals (more generally).

He knew that owls have well-developed zygodactyl ears, eyes and claws, as well as quiet flight. What I have learned now is that owl claws have adapted to prey, strong and powerful claws capture large mammals and other large prey, small claws capture insects and small vertebrates, the claws bare with spicules capture fish. Owls have adapted to capture a variety of prey that have generated a variety of claws. I was surprised that some owls ate "fishes" Short-eared Owl and your prey (an rodent) in the Sabana de Bogotá, Colombia

I didn't realize that owls eat fish or snails.  I thought that they mostly eat small rodents.

I was surprised that some owls eat fish, and that they can eat so many different things.

I was not aware just how easy it is to learn an owl's diet just by observing their feet! It's baffiling how some of these owls have the precision to catch even the smallest of bugs and critters, and others the ability to catch prey almost as seemingly big as themselves! I wasn't all too surpised by the variety of their diet. From what I've read about, in some instances owls will feed even on roadkill. So they're definitely not picky eaters!

Wow I didn't know so many owls ate insects and smaller creatures!! I already knew Barred Owls ate things like frogs from watching the Barred Owl cam but I didn't expect insects even for the smaller ones.  The Powerful Owl must be really strong to carry a wallaby!! I have always wanted to go to Australia because they have so many unique animals. With the fish owls I would have thought they were hawks at first. Has anyone else read the article about those Barn Owls? It is really fascinating!!

I did not thought owls ate opossums. I once saw an opossum ( in real life) and it was huge. I did not knew it ate insects or snails. Moths are something I did not knew was in an owl´s diet. The scorpions and centipedes are venomous, but they eat it! I have learned a lot, and I am still finding an owl.

That was very eye opening to see the wide variety of prey that different owls eat.   Insects and owls did not go together in my old schema.

I did not realize owls had such a diverse diet.  I was really surprised byt the fish eating owls.