Owls, unlike other raptors, do not have which of the following?

Owls, unlike other raptors, do not have a crop. A crop is a specialized part of the digestive system found in many birds, particularly those that consume large quantities of food at once. It is an expandable pouch that allows for the storage of food before it is broken down in the stomach. While many diurnal raptors have this feature to help manage their hunting and feeding patterns, owls have a different feeding strategy and anatomy that does not include a crop.

Owls primarily rely on their ability to hunt and consume a variety of prey, which they usually swallow whole. Their digestive systems are adapted to process whole animals, and the absence of a crop allows the food to move directly to the stomach for digestion. This adaptation helps them efficiently digest their prey and expel indigestible parts, such as bones and fur, in the form of pellets, a behavior that is characteristic of owls. Understanding this key difference highlights the unique physiology and ecological roles of owls compared to other raptors.