Pronunciation: [ˈa͡ʊlz] (IPA) 
The word "owls" spelled in IPA phonetics is /aʊlz/. This word is composed of the two sounds /aʊ/ and /lz/. The first sound /aʊ/ is a diphthong that can be found in other words such as "ouch" and "out". It is a combination of the vowel sounds /a/ and /ʊ/. The second sound /lz/ is a simple sequence of the consonant sound /l/ and the plural marker /z/. Together they form the plural form of the word "owl".
Owls are nocturnal birds of prey belonging to the order Strigiformes. They are characterized by their round faces, large forward-facing eyes, sharp beaks, and strong talons. Owls are found in various habitats worldwide, except Antarctica, and are known for their exceptional hunting abilities and silent flight.
These birds have adapted to be predominantly nocturnal hunters, which means they are most active during the night. Their eyes are large and forward-facing, giving them excellent binocular vision and allowing them to accurately locate and target their prey, mainly small mammals, insects, and other birds. Their feathers have specialized fringes and soft edges that minimize sound, enabling them to fly silently and surprise their prey. This stealthy approach is further enhanced by the owl's ability to rotate its head almost 270 degrees, granting it exceptional flexibility and a wide field of vision.
Owls' distinctive facial discs, a ring of feathers around their eyes, help funnel sound to their ears and enhance their hearing. Their hearing is highly sensitive, allowing them to locate prey even in complete darkness. Additionally, owls have a keen sense of hearing that enables them to detect the movement of prey hidden under vegetation or snow.
Moreover, owls exhibit various species-specific traits and adaptations, such as camouflage coloration, specialized flight patterns, and different sizes ranging from the tiny Elf Owl to the large Eurasian Eagle Owl.
In many cultures, owls are associated with wisdom, mystery, and magic. They are often featured in folklore, literature, and art, captivating human fascination for centuries.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "owls" comes from the Old English word "ūle" which is derived from the West Germanic "ūwilon" and ultimately from the Proto-Germanic word "ūl̥ǭ". This Proto-Germanic root is believed to be derived from the Proto-Indo-European base *h₂uHleh₂-, which imitates the sound of an owl's hoot. Variations of the word can be found in other Germanic languages, such as Dutch "uil", German "Eule", and Old Norse "úlfr".
