Owls, aside from their folklore-based wisdom, bear one capacity that we humans can only dream of: viewing what’s behind them without turning around. Their heads can turn 270° from the frontal position, which is really just 90° in the opposite direction.
However, what really warrants this need is 1) their very large, almost motionless eyes, and 2) the arterial organization toward the brain.
In owls, the vertebrae give ample space in certain arteries, which in humans are confined to small spaces. Also, the carotid artery, a “confined” artery, happens to be at the central axis of rotation. And like humans, predatory birds, and animal able to hunt, their vision is binocular and thus with good depth perception.
These details and more, can be seen in the attached YouTube video below, courtesy of the principal source (at the bottom of the page, which you can also visit. By the way, this observation was not primarily studied by ornithologists, but by medical doctors who specialize in vascular issues. Their insight is highly appreciated.
With the eyeful they receive on a daily basis, no wonder they’re considered so “wise.”
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