Did you know that owls have unusual features? These nocturnal birds have unusually placed ears. Human fingers are likely to be placed at the same height as an owl's, but their talons are placed higher on their heads. Because of this unusual positioning, sounds are transmitted to both ears at different times. That way, an owl can quickly catch prey without being hurt by the sound. Owls are nocturnal birds, and their habitats vary by species. While they live on every continent except Antarctica, owls also live on many remote island groups. Their habitats vary greatly, including arctic tundra, marshes, deciduous and conifer forests, and deserts. They are nocturnal, hunting only at night and are invisible to their prey. They have very sensitive hearing, and their eyesight is incredible. A small amount of food goes to waste each night. Owls don't eat their food in pieces, but instead regurgitate the non-digestible parts of their prey. Because they lack a small sac at the back of their throat, they can fly much faster than other birds. This allows owls to catch much larger prey. During the course of their lifespan, owls can eat as many as twelve mice per night. Another interesting fact about owls is that they lack a sense of smell. They can hear small movements of animals in grass, and rely on their acoustics to pinpoint their prey. These characteristics are also responsible for the owl's unique ability to pinpoint its prey. It uses its ears and facial disk to process the sound, and then changes direction based on this information. Owls have ears, but their medullas are much bigger than the crow's.