Reproduction
Owls are sexually mature after a range of five months to two years after hatching. Before owls mate, there are many courtship rituals. This varies from species to species, but most often involves calling. Most often within owls, a male will bend over with his tail tucked in, and puff out his chest. He will then give his mating call and a female will come to him, and then call back.
Neither male nor female owls have external reproductive organs. They both have something called a cloaca, which leads into the reproductive system. Male owls do have testes, though. The owls’ chromosome haploid number is 40. The male deposits sperm into the female. The female owl’s reproductive system is fairly similar to that of humans’, yet with many distinctions. The sperm travels to the egg and fertilizes it. Once the egg is fertilized, it gets several coatings of albumen, which will become the egg white. It then gets two coatings of the outer shell.
The egg is hatched within two days of fertilization. The female has an area of skin that is thinner, has less feathers, and has more blood vessels running through it, specifically for incubation.
Once the egg is hatched, using its egg tooth to chip away the outer shell, it is cared for by its parents for approximately two months. They do have very curious minds, though, with wandering habits. The chicks will often ask for food with their voice. The mother won’t leave the nest very often, only to get water and food. After two months is up, the chicks will start their first flight, and start the cycle over again.
Neither male nor female owls have external reproductive organs. They both have something called a cloaca, which leads into the reproductive system. Male owls do have testes, though. The owls’ chromosome haploid number is 40. The male deposits sperm into the female. The female owl’s reproductive system is fairly similar to that of humans’, yet with many distinctions. The sperm travels to the egg and fertilizes it. Once the egg is fertilized, it gets several coatings of albumen, which will become the egg white. It then gets two coatings of the outer shell.
The egg is hatched within two days of fertilization. The female has an area of skin that is thinner, has less feathers, and has more blood vessels running through it, specifically for incubation.
Once the egg is hatched, using its egg tooth to chip away the outer shell, it is cared for by its parents for approximately two months. They do have very curious minds, though, with wandering habits. The chicks will often ask for food with their voice. The mother won’t leave the nest very often, only to get water and food. After two months is up, the chicks will start their first flight, and start the cycle over again.