Owls are usually praised for their acute eyesight and remarkable hearing, making them wonderful night hunters. However, there is one question that always comes to mind: Can owls smell? Although owls possess the sense of detecting odors, their sense of smell is less advanced compared to their eyesight and hearing.
Actually, their sense of smell is relatively weak. Owls use more their very acute hearing and great night vision for finding prey, not their sense of smell. Therefore, though they can smell something in exceptional cases, it’s not their primary consideration when hunting or surviving.
Owls Do Have Noses, but They Don’t Smell Like You Think
So, do owls have noses? Yes, they do—but their nostrils are more there to assist with general breathing than to sense odors. Owls don’t rely on their sense of smell in order to find prey; rather, their keen hearing and great nighttime vision are the real heroes of their hunting style.
Although their noses are a part of their anatomy, they don’t figure prominently in their daily lives or survival. So, the next time you see an owl, you can admire its remarkable capacity to hear and see at night—but don’t count on it sniffing out its next meal!
To learn more about this subject, feel free to view the video below