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70-550: Beira can refer to: Beira (mythology) , the mother to all the gods and goddesses in the Celtic mythology of Scotland Beira, Azores, a small village on São Jorge Island Beira (Portugal) , the name of a region (and former province) in north-central Portugal; three provinces were later known by the name: Beira Alta Province (extinct) Beira Baixa Province (extinct) Beira Litoral Province (extinct) Beira, Mozambique ,

140-612: A river and then the loch . The overflowing well is a common motif in local Gaelic creation tales - as seen in the goddess Boann 's similar creation of the River Boyne in Ireland. Other connections to the region include her above-mentioned strong ties with the fierce whirlpool in the Gulf of Corryvreckan . She is also associated with other Scottish mountains. Ben Nevis was said to be her "mountain throne". The two mountains on

210-735: A boulder at, pinning him to the floor of the River Funshion . There is a rock on the Beara Peninsula in West Cork at Kilcatherine said to resemble the Cailleach. In mythology she is said to have leapt across the bay from Coulagh to its present location. The megalithic tombs at Loughcrew in County Meath are situated atop Slieve na Calliagh ( Irish : Sliabh na Caillí , meaning 'the hag's mountain') and include

280-399: A facial ruff, which creates an anterior-facing, concave wall that cups the sound into the ear structure. This facial ruff is poorly defined in some species, and prominent, nearly encircling the face, in other species. The facial disk also acts to direct sound into the ears, and a downward-facing, sharply triangular beak minimizes sound reflection away from the face. The shape of the facial disk

350-519: A flat face, and usually a conspicuous circle of feathers, a facial disc , around each eye. The feathers making up this disc can be adjusted to sharply focus sounds from varying distances onto the owls' asymmetrically placed ear cavities. Most birds of prey have eyes on the sides of their heads, but the stereoscopic nature of the owl's forward-facing eyes permits the greater sense of depth perception necessary for low-light hunting. Owls have binocular vision , but they must rotate their entire heads to change

420-522: A kerbstone known as "the hag's chair". Cairn T on Slieve na Calliagh is a classic passage tomb , in which the rays of the equinox sunrise shine down the passageway and illuminate an inner chamber filled with megalithic stone carvings. The summit of Slieve Gullion in County Armagh features a passage tomb known locally as the 'Calliagh Beara's House'. There is also a lake, where the Calliagh

490-621: A male's sexual advances, smaller male owls that have the ability to escape unreceptive females are more likely to have been selected. If the character is stable, there can be different optimums for both sexes. Selection operates on both sexes at the same time; therefore it is necessary to explain not only why one of the sexes is relatively bigger, but also why the other sex is smaller. If owls are still evolving toward smaller bodies and longer wing chords, according to V. Geodakyan's Evolutionary Theory of Sex, males should be more advanced on these characters. Males are viewed as an evolutionary vanguard of

560-558: A population, and sexual dimorphism on the character, as an evolutionary "distance" between the sexes. "Phylogenetic rule of sexual dimorphism" states that if there exists a sexual dimorphism on any character, then the evolution of this trait goes from the female form toward the male one. All owls are carnivorous birds of prey and live on diets of insects, small rodents and lagomorphs. Some owls are also specifically adapted to hunt fish. They are very adept in hunting in their respective environments. Since owls can be found in nearly all parts of

630-744: A port city in Mozambique Port of Beira , a Mozambican port Beira Railroad Corporation , operating in Mozambique Prince of Beira , a title within the Portuguese royal house Beira (antelope) (scientific name Dorcatragus megalotis ), a species of antelope 1474 Beira , an asteroid Beira Lake , a lake in Colombo, Sri Lanka Beira's Place , domestic violence service, based in Edinburgh, UK Topics referred to by

700-527: A relatively small skull is that the eye of the owl has become tubular in shape. This shape is found in other so-called nocturnal eyes, such as the eyes of strepsirrhine primates and bathypelagic fishes . Since the eyes are fixed into these sclerotic tubes, they are unable to move the eyes in any direction. Instead of moving their eyes, owls swivel their heads to view their surroundings. Owls' heads are capable of swiveling through an angle of roughly 270°, easily enabling them to see behind them without relocating

770-413: A strong advantage over prey alert to the slightest sound in the night. A silent, slow flight is not as necessary for diurnal and crepuscular owls given that prey can usually see an owl approaching. Owls' feathers are generally larger than the average birds' feathers, have fewer radiates, longer pennulum, and achieve smooth edges with different rachis structures. Serrated edges along the owl's remiges bring

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840-521: A very different way (such as the terrestrial Sophiornithidae ). The Paleocene genera Berruornis and Ogygoptynx show that owls were already present as a distinct lineage some 60–57 million years ago (Mya), hence, possibly also some 5 million years earlier, at the extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs . This makes them one of the oldest known groups of non- Galloanserae landbirds. The supposed " Cretaceous owls" Bradycneme and Heptasteornis are apparently non- avialan maniraptors . During

910-414: Is a physical difference between males and females of a species. Female owls are typically larger than the males. The degree of size dimorphism varies across multiple populations and species, and is measured through various traits, such as wing span and body mass. One theory suggests that selection has led males to be smaller because it allows them to be efficient foragers . The ability to obtain more food

980-480: Is a small shieling in the Glen, known as either Tigh nan Cailleach (Scottish Gaelic for house of the old women ) or Tigh nam Bodach, (Scottish Gaelic for house of the old men ), which houses a number of heavy water-worn stones, resembling miniature human beings. Roughly rectangular, the building originally measured 2m by 1.3m by 0.4m high with a stone roof. A replacement roof of a wooden pallet having collapsed and

1050-446: Is able to determine the direction from which the sound is coming by the minute difference in time that it takes for the sound waves to penetrate the left and right ears. The owl turns its head until the sound reaches both ears at the same time, at which point it is directly facing the source of the sound. This time difference between ears is about 30 microseconds. Behind the ear openings are modified, dense feathers, densely packed to form

1120-399: Is adjustable at will to focus sounds more effectively. The prominences above a great horned owl's head are commonly mistaken as its ears. This is not the case; they are merely feather tufts. The ears are on the sides of the head in the usual location (in two different locations as described above). While the auditory and visual capabilities of the owl allow it to locate and pursue its prey,

1190-495: Is advantageous during breeding season. In some species, female owls stay at their nest with their eggs while it is the responsibility of the male to bring back food to the nest. If food is scarce, the male first feeds himself before feeding the female. Small birds, which are agile, are an important source of food for owls. Male burrowing owls have been observed to have longer wing chords than females, despite being smaller than females. Furthermore, owls have been observed to be roughly

1260-480: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Beira (mythology) Cailleach ('old woman' or 'hag' in modern Irish and Scottish Gaelic ) comes from the Old Irish Caillech ('veiled one'), an adjectival form of caille ('veil'), an early loan from Latin pallium , 'woollen cloak'. The Cailleach is often referred to as

1330-493: Is finished, her plaid is pure white and snow covers the land. In Scotland and Ireland, the first farmer to finish the grain harvest made a corn dolly , representing the Cailleach (also called "the Carlin or Carline" ), from the last sheaf of the crop. The figure would then be tossed into the field of a neighbor who had not yet finished bringing in their grain. The last farmer to finish had the responsibility to take in and care for

1400-653: Is found as a component in terms like the Gaelic cailleach-dhubh ('nun') and cailleach-oidhche (' owl '), as well as the Irish cailleach feasa ('wise woman, fortune-teller') and cailleach phiseogach ('sorceress, charm-worker'). Related words include the Gaelic caileag and the Irish cailín ('young woman, girl, colleen'), the diminutive of caile 'woman', and the Lowland Scots carline/ carlin ('old woman, witch'). A more obscure word that

1470-609: Is said to have played a trick on the mythical warrior, Fionn mac Cumhaill , when he took on the physical appearance of an old man after diving into the lake to retrieve a ring that the Calliagh fooled him into thinking was lost. Aillenacally ( Aill na Caillí , "Hag Cliff") is a cliff in County Galway . The Carrowmore passage tombs on the Cúil Iorra Peninsula in County Sligo , are associated with

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1540-419: Is sometimes interpreted as 'hag' is the Irish síle , which has led some to speculate on a connection between the Cailleach and the stone carvings of Sheela na Gigs . In Scotland , where she is also known as Beira, Queen of Winter (a name given by 20th-century folklorist Donald Alexander Mackenzie ), she is credited with making numerous mountains and large hills, which are said to have been formed when she

1610-528: Is the more common number. In at least one species, female owls do not mate with the same male for a lifetime. Female burrowing owls commonly travel and find other mates, while the male stays in his territory and mates with other females. Recent phylogenetic studies place owls within the clade Telluraves , most closely related to the Accipitrimorphae and the Coraciimorphae , although

1680-427: Is used to tear the tissue and kill. The sharp lower edge of the upper bill works in coordination with the sharp upper edge of the lower bill to deliver this motion. The downward-facing beak allows the owl's field of vision to be clear, as well as directing sound into the ears without deflecting sound waves away from the face. The coloration of the owl's plumage plays a key role in its ability to sit still and blend into

1750-586: The Cailleach Bhéara in Irish and Cailleach Bheurra in Scottish Gaelic. Gearóid Ó Crualaoich believes this comes from a word meaning 'sharp, shrill, inimical' – bior or beur – and refers to the Cailleach's association with winter and wilderness, as well as her association with horned beasts or cattle. The 8th- to 9th-century Irish poem The Lament of the Old Woman says that

1820-576: The Isle of Skye named Beinn na Caillich ( western and eastern ) after her, from which fierce storms of sleet and rain descend, wreaking havoc and destruction upon the lands below. There is a Gleann Cailliche in Glen Lyon in Perthshire with a stream named Allt Cailliche which runs into Loch Lyon . This area is famous for a pagan ritual which according to legend is associated to the Cailleach. There

1890-608: The Paleogene , the Strigiformes radiated into ecological niches now mostly filled by other groups of birds. The owls as known today, though, evolved their characteristic morphology and adaptations during that time, too. By the early Neogene , the other lineages had been displaced by other bird orders, leaving only barn owls and typical owls. The latter at that time was usually a fairly generic type of (probably earless) owl similar to today's North American spotted owl or

1960-441: The order Strigiformes ( / ˈ s t r ɪ dʒ ə f ɔːr m iː z / ), 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 :

2030-470: The true (or typical) owl family, Strigidae, and the barn owl family, Tytonidae. Owls hunt mostly small mammals , 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". Owls possess large, forward-facing eyes and ear-holes, a hawk -like beak ,

2100-656: The uropygial gland , informally the "preen" or "oil" gland, as most birds do, to spread oils across their plumage through preening. This makes them highly vulnerable to heavy rain when they are unable to hunt. Historically, they would switch to hunting indoors in wet weather, using barns and other agricultural buildings, but the decline in the numbers of these structures in the 20th and 21st centuries has reduced such opportunities. The lack of waterproofing means that barn owls are also susceptible to drowning, in drinking troughs and other structures with smooth sides. The Barn Owl Trust provides advice on how this can be mitigated, by

2170-465: The Cailleach and Brìghde as two faces of the same goddess, while others describe the Cailleach as turning to stone on Bealltainn and reverting to humanoid form on Samhainn in time to rule over the winter months. Depending on local climate, the transfer of power between the winter goddess and the summer goddess is celebrated any time between Là Fhèill Brìghde ( Imbolc , 1 February) at the earliest, Latha na Cailliche (25 March), or Bealltainn (1 May) at

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2240-584: The Cailleach is associated with craggy, prominent mountains and outcroppings, such as Hag's Head ( Irish : Ceann Caillí , meaning 'hag's head') the southernmost tip of the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare . Labbacallee wedge tomb ( Irish : Leaba Chaillí , meaning 'the hag's bed') is located near Glanworth , County Cork and is, according to folklore, the Cailleach's grave and former dwelling where she lived with her husband, Mogh Ruith , who she threw

2310-661: The Cailleach's name is Digdi or Digde. In The Hunt of Slieve Cuilinn she is called Milucra, sister of Áine . In the tale of the Glas Gaibhnenn , she is called Biróg. Elsewhere, she is called Bui or Bua[ch]. In Manx Gaelic she is known as the Caillagh . The plural of cailleach is cailleacha ( pronounced [kɪˈl̠ʲaxə, ˈkal̠ʲəxə] ) in Irish, cailleachan ( pronounced [ˈkʰaʎəxən] ) in Scottish Gaelic, and caillaghyn in Manx. The word

2380-604: The Cailleach. One is called the Cailleach a Bhéara's House. William Butler Yeats refers to the Sligo Cailleach as the 'Clooth na Bare'. In County Sligo she is also called the Garavogue Cailleach. The Cailleach is prominent in the landscape of Argyll and Bute , Scotland. In later tales she is known as the Cailleach nan Cruachan ("the witch of Ben Cruachan "). Ben Cruachan is the tallest mountain in

2450-562: The European tawny owl ; the diversity in size and ecology found in typical owls today developed only subsequently. Around the Paleogene-Neogene boundary (some 25 Mya), barn owls were the dominant group of owls in southern Europe and adjacent Asia at least; the distribution of fossil and present-day owl lineages indicates that their decline is contemporary with the evolution of the different major lineages of true owls, which for

2520-409: The brain . Specifically, the foramina in their vertebrae through which the vertebral arteries pass are about 10 times the diameter of the artery, instead of about the same size as the artery, as is the case in humans; the vertebral arteries enter the cervical vertebrae higher than in other birds, giving the vessels some slack, and the carotid arteries unite in a very large anastomosis or junction,

2590-482: The coming months. As a result, people are generally relieved if Là Fhèill Brìghde is a day of foul weather, as it means the Cailleach is asleep, will soon run out of firewood, and therefore winter is almost over. On the Isle of Man, where She is known as Caillagh ny Groamagh , the Cailleach is said to have been seen on St. Bride's day in the form of a gigantic bird, carrying sticks in her beak. According to Mackenzie,

2660-642: The corn dolly for the next year, with the implication they'd have to feed and house the hag all winter. Competition was fierce to avoid having to take in the Old Woman. Some scholars believe the Old Irish poem " The Lament of the Old Woman of Beara " is about the Cailleach; Kuno Meyer states, "she had fifty foster-children in Beare. She had seven periods of youth one after another, so that every man who had lived with her came to die of old age, and her grandsons and great-grandsons were tribes and races." In Ireland,

2730-450: The deciduous woodland it prefers for its habitat. Likewise, the mottled wood owl ( Strix ocellata ) displays shades of brown, tan, and black, making the owl nearly invisible in the surrounding trees, especially from behind. Usually, the only tell-tale sign of a perched owl is its vocalizations or its vividly colored eyes. Most owls are nocturnal , actively hunting their prey in darkness. Several types of owls are crepuscular —active during

2800-423: The environment, making it nearly invisible to prey. Owls tend to mimic the coloration and sometimes the texture patterns of their surroundings, the barn owl being an exception. The snowy owl ( Bubo scandiacus ) appears nearly bleach-white in color with a few flecks of black, mimicking their snowy surroundings perfectly, while the speckled brown plumage of the tawny owl ( Strix aluco ) allows it to lie in wait among

2870-1164: The exact placement within Telluraves is disputed. See below cladogram : Cathartiformes (New World vultures) [REDACTED] Accipitriformes ( hawks and relatives) [REDACTED] Strigiformes (owls) [REDACTED] Coliiformes (mouse birds) Leptosomiformes (cuckoo roller) Trogoniformes (trogons and quetzals) [REDACTED] Bucerotiformes ( hornbills and relatives) Coraciiformes ( kingfishers and relatives) [REDACTED] Piciformes ( woodpeckers and relatives) Cariamiformes (seriemas) [REDACTED] Falconiformes (falcons) [REDACTED] Psittaciformes (parrots) [REDACTED] Passeriformes (passerines) [REDACTED] Cladogram of Telluraves relationships based on Braun & Kimball (2021) Some 220 to 225 extant species of owls are known, subdivided into two families: 1. true owls or typical owls family ( Strigidae ) and 2. barn-owls family ( Tytonidae ). Some entirely extinct families have also been erected based on fossil remains; these differ much from modern owls in being less specialized or specialized in

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2940-400: The family Strigidae has an inner toe that is distinctly shorter than the central one. These different morphologies allow efficiency in capturing prey specific to the different environments they inhabit. The beak of the owl is short, curved, and downward-facing, and typically hooked at the tip for gripping and tearing its prey. Once prey is captured, the scissor motion of the top and lower bill

3010-417: The flapping of the wing down to a nearly silent mechanism. The serrations are more likely reducing aerodynamic disturbances, rather than simply reducing noise. The surface of the flight feathers is covered with a velvety structure that absorbs the sound of the wing moving. These unique structures reduce noise frequencies above 2 kHz, making the sound level emitted drop below the typical hearing spectrum of

3080-606: The focus of their view because, like most birds, their eyes are fixed in their sockets. Owls are farsighted and cannot clearly see anything nearer than a few centimetres of their eyes. Caught prey can be felt by owls with the use of filoplumes —hairlike feathers on the beak and feet that act as "feelers". Their far vision, particularly in low light, is exceptionally good. Owls can rotate their heads and necks as much as 270°. Owls have 14 neck vertebrae — humans have only seven — and their vertebral circulatory systems are adapted to allow them to rotate their heads without cutting off blood to

3150-597: The glen was always fertile and prosperous. When they left they gave the stones to the locals with the promise that as long as the stones were put out to look over the glen at Bealltainn and put back into the shelter and made secure for the winter at Samhain then the glen would continue to be fertile. This ritual is still carried out to this day. Owl Strigidae Tytonidae Ogygoptyngidae ( fossil ) Palaeoglaucidae ( fossil ) Protostrigidae ( fossil ) Sophiornithidae ( fossil ) Strigidae sensu Sibley & Ahlquist Owls are birds from

3220-445: The indigestible parts of their prey (such as bones, scales, and fur) in the form of pellets . These "owl pellets" are plentiful and easy to interpret, and are often sold by companies to schools for dissection by students as a lesson in biology and ecology. Owl eggs typically have a white color and an almost spherical shape, and range in number from a few to a dozen, depending on species and the particular season; for most, three or four

3290-416: The installation of floats. Eyesight is a particular characteristic of the owl that aids in nocturnal prey capture. Owls are part of a small group of birds that live nocturnally, but do not use echolocation to guide them in flight in low-light situations. Owls are known for their disproportionally large eyes in comparison to their skulls. An apparent consequence of the evolution of an absolutely large eye in

3360-471: The large-sized retinal image. Thus, the primary nocturnal function in the vision of the owl is due to its large posterior nodal distance; retinal image brightness is only maximized to the owl within secondary neural functions. These attributes of the owl cause its nocturnal eyesight to be far superior to that of its average prey. Owls exhibit specialized hearing functions and ear shapes that also aid in hunting. They are noted for asymmetrical ear placements on

3430-442: The largest of any bird's, preventing blood supply from being cut off while they rotate their necks. Other anastomoses between the carotid and vertebral arteries support this effect. The smallest owl—weighing as little as 31 g ( 1 + 3 ⁄ 32  oz) and measuring some 13.5 cm ( 5 + 1 ⁄ 4  in)—is the elf owl ( Micrathene whitneyi ). Around the same diminutive length, although slightly heavier, are

3500-533: The largest owls, the great horned owl ( Bubo virginianus ), needs a force over 130 N to release prey in its talons. An owl's talons, like those of most birds of prey, can seem massive in comparison to the body size outside of flight. The Tasmanian masked owl has some of the proportionally longest talons of any bird of prey; they appear enormous in comparison to the body when fully extended to grasp prey. An owl's claws are sharp and curved. The family Tytonidae has inner and central toes of about equal length, while

3570-444: The latest, and the local festivals marking the arrival of the first signs of spring may be named after either the Cailleach or Brìghde. Là Fhèill Brìghde is also the day the Cailleach gathers her firewood for the rest of the winter. Legend has it that if she intends to make the winter last a good while longer, she will make sure the weather on 1 February is bright and sunny, so she can gather plenty of firewood to keep herself warm in

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3640-413: The leading edge of owls' remiges muffle an owl's wing beats, allowing an owl's flight to be practically silent. Some fish-eating owls, for which silence has no evolutionary advantage, lack this adaptation. An owl's sharp beak and powerful talons allow it to kill its prey before swallowing it whole (if it is not too big). Scientists studying the diets of owls are helped by their habit of regurgitating

3710-801: The lesser known long-whiskered owlet ( Xenoglaux loweryi ) and Tamaulipas pygmy owl ( Glaucidium sanchezi ). The largest owls are two similarly sized eagle owls ; the Eurasian eagle-owl ( Bubo bubo ) and Blakiston's fish owl ( Bubo blakistoni ). The largest females of these species are 71 cm (28 in) long, have a 190 cm (75 in) wing span, and weigh 4.2 kg ( 9 + 1 ⁄ 4  lb). Different species of owls produce different sounds; this distribution of calls aids owls in finding mates or announcing their presence to potential competitors, and also aids ornithologists and birders in locating these birds and distinguishing species. As noted above, their facial discs help owls to funnel

3780-591: The longest night of the year marked the end of her reign as Queen of Winter, at which time she visited the Well of Youth and, after drinking its magic water, grew younger day by day. In Scotland, the Cailleachan (lit. 'old women') are also known as the Storm Hags, and seen as personifications of the elemental powers of nature, especially in a destructive aspect. They are said to be particularly active in raising

3850-932: The most part seems to have taken place in Eurasia. In the Americas, rather, an expansion of immigrant lineages of ancestral typical owls occurred. The supposed fossil herons "Ardea" perplexa (Middle Miocene of Sansan, France) and "Ardea" lignitum (Late Pliocene of Germany) were more probably owls; the latter was apparently close to the modern genus Bubo . Judging from this, the Late Miocene remains from France described as "Ardea" aureliensis should also be restudied. The Messelasturidae , some of which were initially believed to be basal Strigiformes, are now generally accepted to be diurnal birds of prey showing some convergent evolution toward owls. The taxa often united under Strigogyps were formerly placed in part with

3920-486: The nest. Therefore, females may have a larger mass to allow them to go for a longer period of time without starving. For example, one hypothesized sexual role is that larger females are more capable of dismembering prey and feeding it to their young, hence female owls are larger than their male counterparts. A different theory suggests that the size difference between male and females is due to sexual selection: since large females can choose their mate and may violently reject

3990-457: The owl's usual prey and also within the owl's own best hearing range. This optimizes the owl's ability to silently fly to capture prey without the prey hearing the owl first as it flies, and to hear any noise the prey makes. It also allows the owl to monitor the sound output from its flight pattern. The disadvantage of such feather adaptations for barn owls is that their feathers are not waterproof. The adaptations mean that barn owls do not use

4060-428: The personification of winter: she herds deer , she fights spring, and her staff freezes the ground. In partnership with the goddess Brìghde , the Cailleach is seen as a seasonal deity or spirit, ruling the winter months between Samhainn (5 November or first day of Samhain) and Bealltainn (1 May or first day of summer), while Brìghde rules the summer months between Bealltainn and Samhainn. Some interpretations have

4130-478: The region. Tea-towels and postcards of her are sold in the visitor shop for the Hollow Mountain , which also features a mural depicting her accidental creation of Loch Awe . Legend has it that the Cailleach was tired from a long day herding deer. Atop Ben Cruachan she fell asleep on her watch and a well she was tending overflowed, running down from the highlands and flooding the valleys below, forming first

4200-428: The same size as their prey. This has also been observed in other predatory birds, which suggests that owls with smaller bodies and long wing chords have been selected for because of the increased agility and speed that allows them to catch their prey. Another popular theory suggests that females have not been selected to be smaller like male owls because of their sexual roles. In many species, female owls may not leave

4270-446: The same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Beira . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Beira&oldid=1181821335 " Categories : Disambiguation pages Place name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description

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4340-441: The skull in some genera. Owls can have either internal or external ears, both of which are asymmetrical. Asymmetry has not been reported to extend to the middle or internal ear of the owl. Asymmetrical ear placement on the skull allows the owl to pinpoint the location of its prey. This is especially true for strictly nocturnal species such as the barn owls Tyto or Tengmalm's owl. With ears set at different places on its skull, an owl

4410-464: The sound of prey to their ears. In many species, these discs are placed asymmetrically, for better directional location. Owl plumage is generally cryptic , although several species have facial and head markings, including face masks, ear tufts , and brightly colored irises . These markings are generally more common in species inhabiting open habitats, and are thought to be used in signaling with other owls in low-light conditions. Sexual dimorphism

4480-447: The talons and beak of the owl do the final work. The owl kills its prey using these talons to crush the skull and knead the body. The crushing power of an owl's talons varies according to prey size and type, and by the size of the owl. The burrowing owl ( Athene cunicularia ), a small, partly insectivorous owl, has a release force of only 5 N. The larger barn owl ( Tyto alba ) needs a force of 30 N to release its prey, and one of

4550-421: The torso. This ability keeps bodily movement at a minimum, thus reduces the amount of sound the owl makes as it waits for its prey. Owls are regarded as having the most frontally placed eyes among all avian groups, which gives them some of the largest binocular fields of vision. Owls are farsighted and cannot focus on objects within a few centimetres of their eyes. These mechanisms are only able to function due to

4620-503: The twilight hours of dawn and dusk; one example is the pygmy owl ( Glaucidium ). A few owls are active during the day, also; examples are the burrowing owl ( Speotyto cunicularia ) and the short-eared owl ( Asio flammeus ). Much of the owls' hunting strategy depends on stealth and surprise. Owls have at least two adaptations that aid them in achieving stealth. First, the dull coloration of their feathers can render them almost invisible under certain conditions. Secondly, serrated edges on

4690-533: The whole building having become somewhat ruinous it was rebuilt by a local dyker in 2011. According to local legend the stones represent the Cailleach, her husband the Bodach, and their children and the site may represent the only surviving shrine of its kind in Great Britain. The local legend suggests that the Cailleach and her family were given shelter in the glen by the locals and while they stayed there

4760-440: The windstorms of spring, during the period known as A' Chailleach . On the west coast of Scotland, the Cailleach ushers in winter by washing her great plaid ( Gaelic : féileadh mòr ) in the Gulf of Corryvreckan ( Gaelic : Coire Bhreacain - 'whirlpool/cauldron of the plaid'). This process is said to take three days, during which the roar of the coming tempest is heard as far away as twenty miles (32 km) inland. When she

4830-406: The world and across a multitude of ecosystems, their hunting skills and characteristics vary slightly from species to species, though most characteristics are shared among all species. Most owls share an innate ability to fly almost silently and also more slowly in comparison to other birds of prey. Most owls live a mainly nocturnal lifestyle and being able to fly without making any noise gives them

4900-475: Was striding across the land and accidentally dropped rocks from her creel or wicker basket. In other cases she is said to have built the mountains intentionally, to serve as her stepping stones. She carries a hammer for shaping the hills and valleys, and is said to be the mother of all the goddesses and gods. According to Mackenzie, Beira was a one-eyed giantess with white hair, dark blue skin, and rust-colored teeth. The Cailleach displays several traits befitting

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