Can owls see in total darkness?

Owls cannot see in complete darkness, but their eyes are highly adapted to extremely low light. They rely on sharp night vision and exceptional hearing to locate prey in near-darkness.

Why can owls turn their heads so far?

Owls can rotate their heads up to 270 degrees thanks to extra neck vertebrae and a specialized blood-pooling system that maintains oxygen flow to the brain and eyes. Humans do not have this adaptation.

Do owls make good pets?

No. Owls are illegal to keep as pets in most countries, and they are very difficult to train. Keeping wild owls harms both the birds and their populations.

Owl are carnivorous hunters. Their diet typically includes mice, small mammals, birds, and insects. Some barn owls can eat over 1,000 mice per year.

Are owls dangerous to humans?

Generally, no. Owls avoid humans and will only defend themselves or their nests if threatened.

Hooting is used for communication, especially to mark territory or attract mates. Many owl species also screech, whistle, bark, or hiss.

How many species of owls are there?

There are approximately 220 species of owls worldwide, ranging from tiny elf owls to massive great gray owls.

Which is the largest owl species?

The great gray owl is the largest by length and has the largest facial disc of any raptor, while the heaviest owl species is the Eurasian eagle-owl.

Do all owls hunt at night?

No. Most owls are nocturnal, but some species, like the northern hawk owl, great gray owl, and northern pygmy owl, are active during the day.

Why are female owls bigger than males?

Females are generally larger to help protect nests and young, while males’ smaller size allows for faster and more efficient hunting.

Can owls hear prey under snow or vegetation?

Yes. Certain species, such as barn owls, can locate prey moving beneath snow or dense vegetation using only sound. Their asymmetrical ears and facial discs allow precise detection.

Are owls related to hawks or eagles?

Despite being birds of prey, owls are not closely related to hawks or eagles. Their closest relatives include kingfishers, hummingbirds, and nightjars, meaning their hunting traits evolved independently.

47 Fascinating Owl Facts You’ll Want to Know

By Karin Lehnardt, Senior Writer—Reviewed for accuracy by the FactRetriever editorial team

Published May 12, 2018Updated February 21, 2025

Owls are mysterious, highly specialized birds known for their silent flight, nighttime activity, and powerful hunting abilities. Found on nearly every continent, owls have inspired myths, fear, and fascination across cultures. Below are essential owl facts that explain how owls see, hear, hunt, and interact with the world around them.

Owl Vision and Hearing

Owls have extraordinary night vision
Owl eyes contain far more light-detecting rods than color-detecting cones. This allows owls to see in extremely low light, though it also means they perceive little color and rely heavily on contrast and motion at night._[4]
An owl’s eyes are fixed in place
Their eyes are tubes, not balls, so they must turn their heads to see around them. Combined with a 270-degree neck rotation, this gives them a near-complete view of their surroundings._[6]

Forward-facing eyes provided superior depth perception for spotting and capturing prey. Owls are also generally far-sighted, which allows them to spot prey from a distance.

Owl eyes make up a large portion of their body weight
In some species, an owl’s eyes account for up to 5 percent of its total body weight. This large eye size allows owls to see exceptionally well in low-light conditions._[6]
An owl’s flattened face acts like a sound funnel
An owl’s flat, disc-shaped face channels sound directly toward its ears. This natural “sound funnel” helps owls detect even the faintest movements made by prey in the dark._[13]
Some owls can hear prey under the snow
Certain owl species can detect prey moving beneath thick layers of snow or vegetation. They use sound alone to locate and strike prey they cannot see._[13]
Owl Hunting and Feeding

Owls are highly specialized hunters
Owls rely more on sensory precision than problem-solving. Their hunting success comes from exceptional hearing, vision, and stealth rather than complex social intelligence. While not "dumb," owls don't show the same curiosity or problem-solving skills as other birds._[11]
Barn owls eat more than 1,000 mice each year
A single barn owl can consume over 1,000 mice annually. Owls swallow their prey whole (fur, bones, and all) and later regurgitate indigestible parts as pellets._[13]

When the owl sings, the night is silent. (Quand le hibou chante, La nuit est silence).

- Charles de Leusse

Some owls hunt during the day
While most owls are nocturnal, species like the great gray owl, northern hawk owl, and northern pygmy owl are active in daylight._[4]
Owl Biology and Physical Traits

Owls can turn their heads up to 270 degrees
Owls cannot move their eyes within their sockets, so they rely on neck flexibility to scan their surroundings. They can rotate their heads about 135 degrees in either direction without cutting off blood flow to the brain._[13]
Owls have three eyelids
Owls use one eyelid to blink, one to sleep, and a third transparent eyelid to keep the eyes clean and protected._[13]
Owls have extra neck vertebrae
Owls have 14 neck vertebrae, compared to the seven found in most birds. These extra vertebrae allow owls to rotate their heads without injury._[8]

If humans turned their heads as far as owls, they would cut off the bloody supply to their brains

Humans cannot rotate their heads like owls can
If a human attempted to rotate their head as far as an owl, it would severely damage arteries and interrupt blood flow to the brain. Owls avoid this because of specialized vertebrae and blood vessels that humans do not have._[13]
Owls have asymmetrical ears
Owls’ ears are positioned at different heights on their heads. This asymmetry allows them to detect sound timing differences and pinpoint prey with extreme accuracy, even in complete darkness._[13]
Owl Sounds and Night Behavior

Most owls are nocturnal
Most owl species are active at night, when they hunt, communicate, and defend territory. Darkness helps owls avoid predators and surprise prey._[4]
Owl calls sound louder at night
Cool nighttime air and reduced background noise allow sound to travel farther. As a result, owl calls can seem closer or louder than they actually are._[7]
Not all owls hoot
While hooting is the most recognizable owl sound, many species screech, whistle, bark, or hiss. The classic “hoo hoo” sound is most commonly associated with the great horned owl._[15]
Owls are difficult to train
While owls are depicted as extremely intelligent, they are notoriously difficult to train. Birds as diverse as parrots, hawks, and even pigeons can be taught more easily than owls._[13]
Owls And Humans

Owls live on nearly every continent
Owls are found everywhere except Antarctica. They thrive in forests, grasslands, deserts, and even suburban areas._[13]
Owls are not dangerous to humans
Owls generally avoid people and rarely attack. Most defensive behavior occurs only if an owl feels its nest or young are threatened._[1]
Owls often live close to people
Many owls nest in tree cavities or abandoned nests left by other birds. Some species adapt well to human-modified environments._[9]
It is illegal to keep owls as pets
While owls are cute, it is illegal in the United States and most other countries for private individuals to keep owls as pets. These protections help preserve wild populations._[12]
Owl Symbolism, Myths, and Cultural Meaning

Owls symbolized wisdom in ancient Greece
Owls were associated with Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and knowledge. This connection helped shape the modern idea of owls as wise animals._[14]
Owls appear in creation myths
In Australia, the Wardaman tribe believes that Gordol the owl created the world. Owls often appear in Indigenous stories as powerful spiritual beings connected to night, wisdom, and the unseen._[4]
Romans feared owls as bad omens
In Roman culture, owl calls were believed to predict death or disaster. This belief contributed to the owl’s darker reputation in Europe._[10]
Owls symbolized death in some ancient cultures
The Aztecs, Mayans, and other ancient civilizations feared and hated the owl and believed the wide-eyed birds were symbols of death and destruction._[14]
Owls are revered in Indigenous Japanese culture
The Ainu people of northeastern Japan have traditionally revered the Blakiston’s fish owl as the “Emperor of the Night” or the “God that Protects the Village.” In Ainu belief, the owl is seen as a guardian spirit that watches over communities and warns of danger._[4]
Some cultures revered owls as protectors
In ancient Egypt and parts of Asia and Australia, owls were viewed as guardians or spiritual beings rather than omens of misfortune._[14]
Owls have appeared in human art for over 30,000 years
One of the earliest known depictions of an owl is a long-eared owl etched into a cave wall in France more than 30,000 years ago. This ancient artwork shows that humans have been fascinated by owls since prehistoric times._[3]
Owls appear in ancient religious texts and folklore
The Hebrew Bible includes the word lilith, which is sometimes translated as “screech owl” or “night creature.” In later Jewish folklore, Lilith became a legendary figure associated with the night and independence, eventually evolving into stories that portrayed her as Adam’s first wife—an interpretation not found in the biblical text itself._[3]
Multiple owls portrayed Hedwig in the Harry Potter films
Seven different owls were used to portray Hedwig in the Harry Potter movies, including Gizmo, Kasper, Oops, Swoops, Oh Oh, Elmo, and Bandit. Multiple birds were needed to handle different scenes, lighting conditions, and behaviors safely._[2]
Owls appeared in ancient Mesopotamian mythology
In ancient Mesopotamian art dating back to around 2300 BC, a figure known as Lilitu was depicted as a winged female with bird-like features, often associated with owls or night birds. Her name is derived from ancient words meaning “night” or “wind,” and she was linked to the dangers of the night rather than a single, clearly defined goddess role._[3]
Fun and Surprising Owl Facts

There are 220 species of owls in the world.
Owls range widely in size, behavior, and habitat, from tiny elf owls to massive great gray owls._[13]
The smallest owl in the world is the elf owl
Elf owls measure just 5–6 inches tall and weigh about 1.5 ounces, making them the smallest owl species in the world._[13]
The great gray owl is the largest by length
Although not the heaviest, the great gray owl is the longest owl species and has the largest facial disc of any raptor._[13]

Owl associated with Athena in Greek mythology

In Greek mythology, the owl is the symbol for Athena, the goddess of wisdom

A group of owls has many names
Groups of owls may be called a parliament, wisdom, bazaar, or study. Baby owls are known as owlets._[13]
Female owls are larger than males
Unlike many animals, female owls are typically bigger than males. This size difference may help females protect young, while males’ smaller size allows for faster, more efficient hunting._[13]
Owls are one of the most ancient bird groups
Owl-like birds, like Berruornis and Ogygoptynx, lived 60 million years ago. Owls are one of the most ancient types of bird, along with chickens, turkeys, and pheasants._[13]
The great gray owl has the largest facial disc of any raptor.
The great gray owl’s facial disc is the biggest among all raptors. This large, concave shape funnels sound to the ears, giving the owl exceptional hearing that helps it locate prey even under snow or dense vegetation._[4]
In some cultures, owls hold spiritual significance
In Kazakhstan, there is a tribe where only female shamans attempt to connect with the spirit of the owl. Owls are seen as powerful spiritual beings, and this practice highlights the bird’s symbolic importance in certain communities._[4]
Owls are linked to witchcraft in South Africa
In South Africa, owls are traditionally associated with witchcraft and bad luck. Calling someone an “owl” is considered the highest insult, reflecting the bird’s fearsome reputation in local folklore._[4]
Owls belong to two main families
All owls are classified into two families: Tytonidae, which includes heart-faced barn owls, and Strigidae, the typical round-faced owls. This division highlights differences in facial structure, hunting styles, and behaviors among owl species._[4]
Owls have powerful zygodactyl feet
This means that owls have two toes that point forward and two that point backward. This toe arrangement gives owls a strong, vice-like grip that helps them seize and crush prey securely with their talons._[4]

Owls use their talons to crush and knead their prey

Many owl species are at risk of extinction
Approximately one-third of the world’s owl species are currently classified as endangered or at risk. Habitat loss, climate change, pesticide use, and declining prey populations are the primary threats affecting owl survival worldwide._[4]
The largest owl ever lived was a giant, extinct species
The largest owl on record was Cuba’s extinct giant owl, which stood about 3.6 feet tall. If it had been capable of sustained flight, it would have ranked among the largest flying birds in the world._[4]
Owls often use nests built by other birds
Most owls don’t build their own nests. Instead, they take over abandoned nests or tree cavities created by birds like woodpeckers or northern flickers. Even burrowing owls don’t dig their own burrows; they repurpose existing holes in the ground._[4]
Owls are not closely related to hawks or eagles
Although owls are birds of prey, their closest relatives are actually kingfishers, hummingbirds, and songbirds. This surprising evolutionary relationship shows that owls’ hunting traits evolved independently rather than from raptor ancestors._[4]

Owls are also closely related to nightjars

An owl’s eyes take up most of the space in its skull
An owl’s eyes are so large that they occupy much of the space inside its skull, leaving relatively little room for the brain. This unusual anatomy reflects how heavily owls rely on vision for hunting in low-light conditions._[3]