This is the first time I felt that the title "Everything you need to know about..." actually was correct. I learned something and the text contained everything I ever might ever need to know about windsocks.
Even 360 degrees would be incorrect. That's how you would describe a construction that allows to do one full rotation and then stop. For example, tarsiers or owls can rotate their heads about 360 degrees.
But a windsock needs to be able to rotate over and over and over without bound. That's distinctly different from 360 degrees.
No, some of them can rotate their heads > 200 degrees in either direction. This gives them a full 360 field of view but they cannot rotate their vertebrae all the way round.
That gives them total rotation angle of slightly over 360 degrees.
For a mechanical example, consider a common rc servo. They are specced as 180 degree, but from their normal center they can only rotate 90 degrees in either direction. Doesn't matter, they are still capable of 180 degrees of revolution.
So, your parent comment was correct, owls can rotate their heads through 1 full revolution. If they could rotate their heads one revolution either direction, then they could rotate their heads 720 degrees.
Yes thanks, it makes sense the posted article has an error in that regard and the link you posted is indeed more informative! Though on my search I learned that they probably originated in China or Japan, made of paper, to celebrate the birth of a child.
Is there some reading of this that makes sense with the figure being 180° instead of 360°?