There are no fossils records yet found that solve the riddle of the relationship between owls and other bird families. It’s possible they are most closely related to the nightjars, and even more distantly to raptors of various kinds. (By the way a have finally added an elegant 14k gold eagle charm to my gold avian charm collection.)

What I find interesting and almost unbelievable is that new species of owls are still being found! One source tells me that on average one new species every decade is discovered. I suppose that isn’t really so unusual when you realize that we as a group are diurnal and the owls primarily nocturnal, so don’t run into each other all that much.

The general body shape of the owl is fairly universal. The stance is upright, the tail is short and the head is large with so many feathers that they don’t appear to have much of a neck. Their eyes are huge, usually orange or yellow. (Day hunting owls have somewhat smaller eyes.)

My little gold owl has the ear tufts typical of many species. Apparently the tufts have no relationship to hearing, but have a visual importance to the owls. Maybe they just recognize each other by those tufts.

And so I have tried  my best to honor the night owl with a gold owl charm, gold jewelry for the woman who appreciates a very interesting bird.