An owl's flight is nearly silent because of the soft edges on its feathers.

The longer version

Wing noise comes mostly from air rushing over hard surfaces. Owl flight feathers carry a comb of fine stiff filaments along the leading edge, a soft velvety pile across the surface, and a ragged fringe on the trailing edge. Together they break the airflow into many small swirls instead of one large noisy one.

The result is that the rush of air is spread out and pushed toward frequencies a rodent's ear handles poorly, while the owl's own hearing stays sharp. The same features lower drag slightly. Owl feather structure has been copied in tests of quieter fan and turbine blades, with mixed but real results.

Where this entry sits

Here you will find feathered trivia about flight, migration, nests, eggs, and the songs birds sing. Expect short surprising facts on penguins, owls, hummingbirds, and other familiar birds from gardens, forests, wetlands, and distant coastlines. The full list sits on the Birds page, where every entry is listed in order.