Long-eared owl
Silent flight allows owls to catch prey without detection.
As well as possessing night vision and radar-like hearing, owls are renowned for being the stealthiest birds in the animal kingdom. These nocturnal predators are capable of silent flight – their specially adapted feathers convert mechanical energy into heat, preventing noise from escaping their wings and allowing them to swoop in on prey unheard.
During a study comparing pigeon, eagle and long-eared owl feathers, researchers found that despite the similar wingbeats of all three birds, the owl’s feather structure allows it to suppress acoustic noise caused by vibrations that occur during flight. The discovery is inspiring engineers to develop similarly structured noise-reduction devices for loud- but-useful products, such as wind turbines,
