As a nocturnal animal, most owls are active at night, with peak activity occurring at dusk and dawn. Compared to other birds, owls have a common and distinctive feature of having a large head with both eyes facing forward. The feathers on the front of the head are arranged in a face plate, and some species have ear-shaped feathers. The distribution of binoculars, facial features, and ear feathers make the head of an owl extremely similar to that of a cat, hence it is commonly known as an owl