Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 28, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Field Notes • Bird

Owl

Owls are a group of birds of prey in the order Strigiformes, with most species adapted for hunting at night.

Updated July 28, 20261 min readCited sources

Owls are a group of carnivorous birds of prey in the order Strigiformes, mostly adapted for hunting at night. They are found worldwide in many habitats and feed mainly on small animals, especially rodents.

What it is

Owls belong to the order Strigiformes and are divided into two families: Tytonidae (barn owls and bay owls) and Strigidae (all other owls). About 250 species are recognised, occurring on most continents in a wide range of habitats. In Canada, native species include the snowy owl, great horned owl, and barn owl.

Key details

Most owls are nocturnal and use specialised hearing and vision to hunt in low light. Their silent flight and ability to rotate their heads about 270 degrees help them locate prey efficiently. A group of owls is called a parliament.

Diet and hunting

Owls are carnivorous predators that eat small mammals such as mice, rats, and voles, though many also take birds, insects, fish, reptiles, and amphibians depending on species and habitat. They hunt mainly at night, using stealth and acute senses.

In short

  • Owls are carnivorous birds of prey, mostly nocturnal.
  • About 250 species exist, divided into two families.
  • They eat small mammals, birds, insects, and more.
  • A group of owls is called a parliament.
Canadian angle

Owls are familiar to Canadian readers through native species such as the snowy owl, great horned owl, and barn owl, which occur across many parts of Canada.

Quick questions

What do owls eat?
Owls eat meat, mainly small mammals such as mice, rats, and voles, but also birds, insects, fish, reptiles, and amphibians depending on the species.
How long do owls live?
In the wild, owls have an average lifespan of about 5 to 12 years, though this varies by species and conditions.
Can owls turn their heads all the way around?
No. Owls cannot turn their heads fully around, but they can rotate them a large amount—about 270 degrees—because of specialised neck anatomy.

Sources

  1. World of Owls — https://worldofowls.com/food-and-hunting/
    Supports: Owls are birds of prey and their diet includes invertebrates, fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and small mammals.
  2. National Geographic — https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/facts/owls
    Supports: Owl classification, diet, lifespan, habitat, and that there are roughly 250 species.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owl
    Supports: Most owls are nocturnal; owls are divided into two families; group name parliament; head rotation about 270 degrees.
  4. A-Z Animals — https://www.a-z-animals.com/animals/owls/what-do-owls-eat/
    Supports: General owl diet and cultural symbolism of owls.