Beak
All Owls have a short, curved, downward-facing beak that is hooked at the end.
It is designed specifically for gripping and tearing prey. The crushing power
of the bill is usually used to kill prey once captured.
The upper edge of the lower bill and the lower edge of the upper bill taper
to a sharp edge, and overlap in a scissor-like fashion, enabling it to cut through
the tissue of the prey.
Cross-section of an Owl's bill
The bill is curved downwards in order to keep the Owl's field of vision clear. The nostrils are positioned towards the base of the beak, in a region called the cere. Most Owls have a very poor sense of smell.
The exposed tips of the bill have a hard, horny surface for protection. The lower bill is hinged and does most of the work, although the back of the upper bill (where it joins the skull) has a narrow strip of flexible tissue that acts as a hinge, allowing the beak to swivel slightly upwards. Other birds also possess this, and it is possible that its purpose is some kind of visual communication.
Some species of Owls are able to reduce their body temperature in hot weather by "panting" through partially opened bills.