Why Do Owls Fly So Quietly? | Easy English Reading

An owl can fly through the evening sky with very little sound. Read about its special feathers, learn new words, and answer the questions below.

Reading Level: A2-B1 · Word Count: 186 words in the reading passage.

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Tap a marked word to find its meaning in the vocabulary table.

Reading Passage

Imagine a barn owl flying over a field at dusk. A small mouse moves through the grass below. The owl glides toward it, but its wings make very little sound. How can such a large bird fly so quietly?

The answer is partly in its feathers. Some feathers at the front of an owl's wing have tiny edges that look like the teeth of a comb. These edges help change the way air moves over the wing.

The back edge of the wing has a soft fringe. The soft surface of the feathers also helps reduce the sound of moving air. Together, these features make the owl's flight quieter.

Quiet flight can help an owl while it hunts. A mouse may be less likely to hear the owl coming. With less wing noise, the owl can also listen for sounds made by its prey.

An owl does not need to flap constantly. Its broad wings help it glide as it searches a field. Owls are not always silent, though. They can call to other owls, and different species do not all fly in the same way.

Key Vocabulary

Word	Meaning
feathers	the light, soft parts that cover a bird
fringe	a line of thin, soft pieces along an edge
prey	an animal that another animal hunts for food
glide	move through the air without flapping

Reading Questions

1. Where is the mouse in the opening scene?
2. What do the tiny edges on some owl feathers look like?
3. Where is the soft fringe on an owl's wing?
4. How can quiet flight help an owl approach prey?
5. What can the owl hear more easily when its wings make less noise?
6. What does it mean to glide?
7. True or false: All owls are silent all the time.

Answers

1. It is moving through the grass in a field.
2. They look like the teeth of a comb.
3. It is on the back edge of the wing.
4. The prey may be less likely to hear the owl coming.
5. Sounds made by its prey.
6. To move through the air without flapping.
7. False. Owls can make calls, and species differ.

Short Summary

Special feather edges and soft surfaces help owls fly quietly. Less wing noise can help an owl approach and listen for prey.

More Easy Readings

• How Do Bats Find Food in the Dark?
• Why Do Owls Sleep During the Day?

Science Sources

• Pennsylvania Game Commission: Barn Owl
• National Geographic Education: Quiet as an Owl

The images are educational illustrations.