Animal Facts
Owl Facts & Trivia: Fascinating Things to Know
There are roughly 205 owl species worldwide, and nearly all of them hunt at night. Since their eyes are fixed in their sockets, an owl swivels its whole head to look around, and specialized wing feathers let many species glide almost silently. Owls have shown up in human art for millennia — they appear in French cave paintings dating back some 20,000 years.
Few birds feel as mysterious as the owl, gliding through the dark on wings you never hear coming. People have been fascinated by owls for tens of thousands of years, giving them a permanent spot in our books, films, and songs.
Fascinating Owl Facts
Owls come in far more varieties than most people realize, and their bodies carry some clever adaptations for a life spent mostly in darkness.
- Scientists recognize roughly 205 distinct owl species around the world.
- The vast majority of owls are nocturnal, hunting mostly after dark.
- An owl's eyes are fixed in their sockets, so instead of shifting its gaze, it swivels its entire head to look in a new direction.
- Many species have specialized wing feathers that break up airflow, letting them glide almost silently as they hunt.
- Owls have shown up in human art for a very long time — they appear in cave paintings in France dating back some 20,000 years.
Owls in Movies & Music
Owls have swooped into the spotlight on screen more than once. The 2013 documentary Owl's Odyssey captured these birds up close in the wild, while the 2010 animated feature Legends of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole cast them as legendary warriors.
Wildlife fans may also recall owls turning up in the 2009 documentary Wildlife of East Africa and the 2017 nature special Owls and Other Raptors.
On the music side, the band Funeral for a Friend recorded a track titled "Owls (Are Watching)," and the Finnish rock group Nightwish wrote "The Crow, the Owl, and the Dove."
Famous Owls
A handful of fictional owls have become household names in their own right.
- Errol and Hedwig — the letter-carrying owls from the Harry Potter books and movies.
- Owl — the well-meaning, long-winded friend from the Winnie the Pooh stories.
- Hoots the Owl — a familiar face from Sesame Street.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many species of owls are there?
Around 205 species of owls have been identified across the world.
Why do owls turn their heads so far around?
An owl's eyes don't move within their sockets, so rotating its whole head is the only way it can look in a different direction.
How do owls manage to fly so quietly?
Many owl species have specially structured wing feathers that break up turbulence and muffle the sound of their wingbeats, so they can fly almost silently.