# Night vision of a diurnal birds of prey

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/night-vision-of-a-diurnal-birds-of-prey/261105>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 23, 2004, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/night-vision-of-a-diurnal-birds-of-prey/261105 "2004-08-23T16:57:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![brane\_damaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a587f6/32.png) [@brane\_damaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brane_damaj)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/night-vision-of-a-diurnal-birds-of-prey/261105/1 "2004-08-23T16:57:02Z")

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How well to sharp-eyed diurnal birds of prey like eagles and hawks see at night? Obviously they don’t compare to owls, but does anybody know how their night vision compares with ours?

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**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/night-vision-of-a-diurnal-birds-of-prey/261105/2 "2004-08-23T17:49:35Z")

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In general, night vision for diurnal raptors is probably comparable to ours - see [here](http://www.idahoptv.org/dialogue4kids/birdsofprey/raptors.html), for example:

> [@](#):
>
> Nocturnal raptors, the owls, have an added advantage over other raptors with their remarkable sharp night vision. Owls have a concentration of more rods in their eyes that are essential for seeing under low light conditions. An owl’s eyes are also located in the front of their heads, much like humans. By contrast, the night vision of diurnal raptors is no better than a humans vision at night.

Typically, good color vision and good night vision do not go together well because of competing requirements.