Final answer:
Owls do not have large external pinnae/ears; instead, they have feather tufts that may play a role in camouflage or communication. Their ears are located on the sides of their head, and they have excellent hearing capabilities which, along with their silent flight and powerful vision, make them skilled nocturnal hunters.
Step-by-step explanation:
Owls are known for their distinctive features and adaptations that allow them to be efficient nocturnal predators. One of the questions often asked about these birds is related to their ears. While owls do not have large external pinnae/ears, they instead have feather tufts that can resemble ears.
The feather tufts that some owl species, such as the Great Horned Owl, exhibit are often mistaken for ears, but they are not related to the owl's hearing capacity. Instead, these feather tufts may play a role in camouflage or communication. Owls have excellent hearing, helped by the shape of their face, which acts as a 'sound dish,' directing sounds toward their ears. Their ears are located on the sides of their head and are often asymmetric, which aids in pinpointing the location of sounds when hunting at night.
Unlike mammals which have a stapes bone in the middle ear, birds have only a single bone called the columella to aid in hearing. Owls' powerful auditory abilities are also complemented by their large, forward-facing eyes and silent flight, enabled by fringed feathers. Their amazing adaptations, including the combination of silent flight, excellent hearing, and powerful vision, make owls formidable nocturnal hunters.