Owls have long fascinated people with their distinctive appearance and mysterious habits. These nocturnal birds possess large, round eyes and a flat facial disc. Their feathers come in shades of brown, gray, or white, helping them blend easily into the darkness.
The most remarkable trait of owls is that they can turn their heads without damaging blood vessels. Contrary to popular belief, they can only rotate their heads up to 270 degrees, not 360 degrees. Owls have 14 cervical vertebrae, which is twice as many as humans. This special physical structure compensates for their inability to move their eyes within their sockets. The flexibility of their neck also allows them to scan their surroundings without moving their bodies.
Perfectly adapted for night life, owls rely on their exceptional night vision. Their enormous eyes contain a high number of light-sensitive cells, allowing them to detect the slightest movement of prey. Even more impressive is owls’ ability to fly in complete silence. Thanks to specialized feathers that minimize noise caused by air friction, owls can sneak up on their prey.
Photo: Freepik / 照片：Freepik
Owls carry profound symbolic meaning in many cultures. In Greek mythology, they are associated with Athena, the goddess of wisdom, which contributed to the expression “as wise as an owl.” In Japan, owls are often viewed as symbols of good fortune and protection, partly because the Japanese word for owl, fukuro, sounds similar to phrases meaning “no hardship” or “luck on the way.”
Owls appear in many books and films; one noted example is Hedwig from the Harry Potter series. If you ever encounter one, take a moment to appreciate this extraordinary creature.
貓頭鷹長久以來以其獨特的外表和神秘的習性吸引著人們。這些夜行性鳥類擁有大而圓的眼睛和扁平的臉盤。牠們的羽毛呈現棕色、灰色或白色的色調，幫助牠們輕易融入黑暗中。
貓頭鷹最顯著的特徵是牠們可以轉動頭部而不傷及血管。與普遍的認知不同，牠們最多只能將頭部旋轉270 度，而非 360 度。貓頭鷹有 14 節頸椎，是人類的兩倍。這種特殊的身體構造補償了牠們眼球無法在眼窩內轉動的能力。頸部的靈活度也讓牠們能夠在不移動身體的情況下掃視周圍環境。
完美適應夜生活的貓頭鷹依靠牠們卓越的夜視能力。牠們巨大的眼睛含有大量感光細胞，讓牠們能夠偵測到獵物最細微的動作。更令人印象深刻的是，貓頭鷹能在完全無聲的情況下飛行。由於特殊的羽毛能將空氣摩擦造成的噪音降到最低，貓頭鷹可以悄悄接近牠們的獵物。
貓頭鷹在許多文化中具有深刻的象徵意義。在希臘神話中，牠們與智慧女神雅典娜有關，這造就了「像貓頭鷹一樣睿智」的說法。在日本，貓頭鷹常被視為好運和保護的象徵，部分原因是日文中貓頭鷹的單字 fukuro 聽起來類似「不苦勞」或「福來郎」的詞語。
貓頭鷹出現在許多書籍和電影中；一個著名例子是《哈利波特》系列裡的嘿美。如果你遇到一隻貓頭鷹，花一點時間欣賞這隻非凡的生物。
MORE INFORMATION
nocturnal adj. 夜間活動的
rotate v. 旋轉；轉動
cervical vertebrae n. 頸椎
inability n. 不能；無法
socket n. (人體的)窩；槽；臼
friction n. 摩擦；摩擦力
Greek mythology 希臘神話
partly adv. 部分地；不完全地
KEY VOCABULARY
1. mysterious adj. 神祕的；不可思議的
Scientists are still trying to understand the mysterious behavior of deep-sea creatures.
科學家仍在努力研究深海生物的神祕行為。
2. facial adj. 臉的；面部的
Gina’s facial expression changed instantly when she heard the unexpected news.
當吉娜聽到那則意外的消息時，臉部表情立刻變了。
3. vessel n. 血管
Narrowed blood vessels might lead to serious health issues, such as strokes or heart attacks.
血管狹窄可能導致中風或心臟病等嚴重的健康問題。
4. contrary adj. 相反的；對立的
Carol’s calm attitude was contrary to the panic shown by the rest of the group.
卡蘿冷靜的態度與團體中其他人的驚慌失措形成對比。
5. flexibility n. 靈活性
The flexibility of online learning makes it easier for students to study at their own pace.
線上學習的靈活性讓學生能依自己的步調進行學習。
6. slight adj. 輕微的；微小的
Even a slight misunderstanding can lead to conflict if not addressed properly.
即使是輕微的誤會，若處理不當也可能引發衝突。
7. sneak vi. 偷偷地走；潛行 sneak up on 悄悄接近
The photographer tried to sneak up on the wild deer to get a close-up shot.
攝影師試圖悄悄接近野鹿以拍下特寫鏡頭。
8. be associated with 和……有關聯
This symbol is commonly associated with peace and unity in many cultures.
這個符號在許多文化中通常與和平和團結有關。
9. series n. 系列（節目）
Jeff recently started watching a crime drama series that has really interesting plot twists. 傑夫最近開始追一部犯罪影集，劇情轉折非常精彩。
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