12 amazing owl facts

It’s owl time, gang! These incredible raptors have some fascinating features, from rotating heads to silent wings and even hidden ears. Let’s fly through twelve fabulous facts about owls…

Owl facts

1. There are over 250 owl species

Owls are found all over the world in almost every kind of habitat, from icy Arctic tundra to hot deserts, dense forests and open grasslands.

2. All owls hunt and eat other animals

Most owl species eat small rodents like mice, shrews and voles. But some also prey on insects, frogs, fish and smaller birds. Larger owls may even hunt rabbits, hares, young foxes and possums!

After gobbling down their prey whole, owls digest the meat in their stomachs. Then they cough up pellets containing indigestible parts like fur, bones, teeth and feathers.

3. The smallest owl is just 14cm long!

That’s smaller than a tin of beans! About the size of a house sparrow, the tiny elf owl lives in the deserts of Mexico and southwest USA. It spends the day hidden in a hole in a cactus or tree, before emerging at dusk to pounce on moths, crickets, scorpions and beetles.

WEIRD BUT TRUE!

The European eagle owl is one of the world’s largest owls. It can weigh up to 4kg and has a wingspan of over 1.5m. That’s longer than an average 10-year-old is tall!

4. Most owls are nocturnal and hunt at night

Many species, like barn owls, can sneak up on prey thanks to their ability to swoop silently through the air. When in flight, a soft fringe along the outside of these owls’ feathers helps keep them silent by soaking up any sound. Cool!

5. Male snowy owls get whiter as they age!

Snowy owls mainly live in open, treeless areas of the Arctic tundra, where their striking plumage helps them blend into the landscape.

Unlike females, who keep their dark markings all their life, male snowy owls get whiter every year as they moult and regrow their feathers. Eventually they become almost pure white!

6. Owl eyes are shaped like tubes

Instead of the round eyeballs humans have, owl eyes are held in long, rigid cylinders. This means they can’t move their eyes very much – they wouldn’t be able to roll them! The unusual shape helps them maximise the size and brightness of the images they see – which boosts their night vision for hunting.

7. Some large owls live for over 20 years

In the wild, most owls live for about 4-12 years. But the largest, like eagle owls, can live as long as 30 years – or up to 60 in captivity!

8. Their ears are hidden!

Some owl species have tufts of feathers on their heads, which look a bit like ears – but these are just decorative! Owl ears are actually on the side of their facial disc, hidden beneath feathers.

Many owls have wonky ears too, with one placed slightly higher than the other. This helps with their excellent hearing. 

9. Owls can turn their heads up to 270°

You might’ve heard that owls can turn their heads all the way around, but that’s not quite true! Instead, they can make it about three quarters of the way – 270° – thanks to their long, flexible necks. This helps them move their eyes around to keep a close watch on everything around them.

10. One owl species lives below the soil…

Burrowing owls live and nest underground! Unlike other owls, who nest in trees, these little birds dig their own burrows or use abandoned ones left by other animals like prairie dogs, tortoises and armadillos.

WEIRD BUT TRUE!

Burrowing owls hunt insects, scorpions, rodents and reptiles during the day. They live in grasslands, prairies and deserts in North, Central and South America.

11. Some cultures see owls as wise protectors… but others fear them

Owls are found in folklore and superstitions worldwide. The Ancient Greeks associated owls with their goddess of wisdom, Athena, and the birds are associated with guidance and protection in many other cultures, too. In Japan, they’re even considered lucky symbols.

But owls are also often associated with witchcraft and death, and many cultures believe that seeing or hearing one is a bad omen. Unfortunately, this has led to some owls being hunted by people. But conservationists are on the case, working to challenge negative perceptions and protect the birds.

12. Barn owls live on every continent except Antarctica

That makes them one of the most widespread land birds in the world! Look out for them swooping low over farmland and open, grassy areas at dawn and dusk, or perched on fence posts.

Do you know any other owl facts? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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