Adorable Photos Of Owls Sleeping With Their Faces Down
Owls already look like tiny, serious philosophers, but their sleeping habits make them even more endearing. A set of photos showing owls dozing face down has been making the rounds online, and the images are as strange as they are cute.
The story started after journalist Mark Rees shared a picture of an owl napping in that exact position, and the post quickly took off with thousands of likes. From there, more people began posting their own owl photos, turning one sleepy moment into a full-on internet obsession.
It turns out these little birds have a very specific way of resting, and the pictures only get better from here.
1.
2.
3.
4.
There is no evidence to support Rees's explanation that the little owls sleep this way because their heads are too heavy, but there is also no evidence against it. One thing is certain, they really do sleep like this. The National Audubon Society, a non-profit ecological organization, published a touching story about two Barred Owlets that fell from their nest. After the poor owls were returned to the tree, their rescuers observed how they were recuperating.
"Keeping their talons tightly gripped on a branch, the owlets lay down on their stomachs, turned their heads to the side, and fell asleep. Their naps are short, and when they are asleep, they do not like to be awakened, even to be fed," the article stated.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Interestingly, baby owls do not fall out of the tree while they sleep because they hold onto the branches with their back toe, known as the hallux. "The hallux will not open or let go until the bird bends its leg."
Unfortunately, before they can fly, many owls, due to their desire to explore the world, simply drop to the ground.
This is similar to the tiny elf owl, the predator that looks like a tennis ball.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
After the Barred Owlets fell from their nest, see the sisters cuddling in a tree.
Share this article:
