Comment by KineticLensman
4 hours ago
What isn't mentioned is that owl feathers are generally less oily than many other birds. This makes them softer and thus quieter, but the penalty is that that they get water-logged faster. As a result, owls find it harder to hunt in wet weather, and extended rainy periods can cause real problems, especially in the breeding season, when youngsters need continual feeding.
(source: I used to volunteer at a Raptor conservancy).
Adding to this, I highly recommend looking up images of wet owls. They look hilarious.
Yes. Especially for owls like the Great Grey, it shows how small the bird is inside all of those feathers.