OWLS are famed for their ability to fly silently. They manage this by having soft feathers which break up the airflow over their bodies. These soft feathers go all the way down their toes so that, even as they swing their legs forward to strike, no warning sound is given.
They are also able to turn their outer toes to the rear so that they have two opposing pairs. This means that when they catch their prey, they can hold it in a vice-like grip. Size for size, owls have the strongest grip of any raptor!