What exactly are owls?

When we talk about owls nocturnal birds, most people imagine a round face, huge bright eyes and a soft “hoo-hoo” echoing through a forest at night. That picture is not just movie material. Owls are real, specialized birds of prey adapted to low light, quiet flight and precise listening.

Owls belong to an order called Strigiformes and include both the round-faced “true owls” and the heart-faced barn owls. They are found on almost every continent, from dense forests and farmlands to deserts and cities, quietly sharing space with humans who may not even notice they are there.

Close-up of a barn owl, one of the most widespread owls nocturnal birds. Image source: Wikimedia Commons.

In this guide we focus first on the living animals — their senses, hunting skills and family lives — and then connect those facts to the symbols and stories people created around them.

Main types of owls around the world

There are more than 200 species of owls nocturnal birds spread across the planet. A few especially well-known examples include:

• Barn owl: Recognizable by its pale, heart-shaped face and long legs. Often found around open fields, farms and grasslands.
• Tawny owl: A stocky forest owl common in parts of Europe, with a classic “hoo-hoo” call that people often imagine when they think of owls.
• Great horned owl: A powerful North and South American owl with ear-like tufts and a deep hooting voice.
• Snowy owl: A striking white owl from Arctic regions, sometimes visiting more southern areas in winter.

Each species fits into its preferred habitat and diet. Some live in old trees and feed on small mammals. Others use cliffs or buildings as nesting sites and may take more birds or even insects.

Night vision and hearing: how owls sense the dark

Owls are built for dim light. Their eyes are large compared with their skull, facing forward to give them good depth perception. Inside, a special arrangement of light-sensitive cells helps them see in conditions where humans would struggle.

But sight is only half of their superpowers. Many owls have asymmetrical ear openings: one slightly higher than the other. This helps their brain compare the tiny differences in how sound arrives to each ear, letting them “map” where a rustle or squeak is coming from, even in complete darkness.

Their facial disk — the round or heart-shaped arrangement of feathers around the eyes — also plays a role. It works like a soft satellite dish, channeling sound towards the ears and increasing their sensitivity to small noises under leaves or snow.

Silent flight and hunting strategy

One of the most magical things about owls nocturnal birds is how silently they fly. If you stand in a forest at night, an owl can pass very close and you might not hear anything at all.

This is not an illusion. Owl wing feathers have a special, soft edge and a velvety texture that helps break up air turbulence and reduce noise. That silence keeps prey from hearing them approach, and may also protect the owl’s own hearing from the sound of its wings when it relies on small noises to hunt.

A common hunting pattern looks like this:

• Perch quietly on a branch, post or rock, listening and watching.
• Detect a movement or sound, then launch into a short, silent flight.
• Use strong talons to grab the prey, often small mammals like mice or voles.
• Either swallow the prey whole or carry it back to a safer spot, or to the nest.

Calls, hoots and silent communication

Not all owls say “hoot.” Some screech, some whistle, some bark. Their voices carry over distance and help them mark territory, attract mates or keep in contact with their young.

Different species have different signature calls. A pair may echo one another’s songs, and young owlets have their own begging calls. To human ears, these sounds can feel spooky or beautiful, depending on the moment and the story we attach to them.

Besides vocal sounds, owls also communicate with posture, feather position and eye expression. A puffed body, flattened feathers or narrowed eyes can all be signs of stress, curiosity or defense.

Owls and humans: myths, symbols and conservation

In some cultures, owls are symbols of wisdom, linked to study and libraries. In others, they are associated with death, misfortune or messages from the spirit world. These different meanings say as much about human fears and hopes as they do about the birds.

In reality, owls are part of everyday ecosystems. They help control rodent populations and can thrive where there are enough places to nest and hunt. But they also face threats:

• Loss of old trees and hedges that once provided hollows and perches.
• Collisions with vehicles, especially along roads where they hunt.
• Poisons used against rodents that also affect the owls that eat them.

Conservation efforts may include protecting nesting sites, reducing harmful rodenticides, and leaving or creating safe structures like nest boxes in suitable areas. When owls are doing well, it often means the local landscape is offering them enough food and shelter — a good sign for many other species too.