How do owls see so well in the dark?

Owls have exceptional night vision, allowing them to hunt in low-light conditions. Their eyes are large relative to their head size, maximizing the amount of light they can capture. Owls also have a high density of rod cells in their retinas, which are specialized for detecting light in dim conditions. In addition to their excellent vision, owls have a special reflective layer behind their retinas called the tapetum lucidum, which enhances low-light vision by reflecting light back through the retina. These adaptations allow owls to hunt effectively at night.