Buzz
The great grey owl (Strix nebulosa), recognized as the longest owl species globally, is a majestic sight. Image credit: Jim Cumming/Getty Images.Essential Insights
- Owls possess remarkable traits such as noiseless flight, extraordinary night vision, and acute hearing, which make them skilled hunters of the night.
- Their forward-facing eyes grant them binocular vision, and their head rotation compensates for their fixed eye position, expanding their visual range.
- Owls hold deep cultural significance, often symbolizing wisdom, mysticism, and prophetic signs in various traditions worldwide.
Across numerous cultures, owls are seen as a bridge to the spiritual realm, likely due to their nocturnal nature, unlike other birds of prey. However, interpretations of owl encounters as good or bad omens vary depending on cultural beliefs.
For some, owls embody wisdom, strength, and spiritual enlightenment, while others view them as harbingers of misfortune. The owl omen is prevalent wherever the barn owl (Tyto alba) resides, which is nearly worldwide, excluding Antarctica and Micronesia.
What Makes Owls So Unique?
Owls are undeniably majestic. With their silent, feather-fringed wings, they expertly hunt small nocturnal creatures under the cover of darkness, occasionally communicating with hoots or screeches. At dawn, they retreat to their roosts, leaving daytime hunting to other raptors.
"Owls are arguably among the most universally recognized animal groups," states Denver Holt, founder and lead researcher at the Owl Research Institute in Charlo, Montana.
Even the Chauvet cave in France, home to Pleistocene art dating back approximately 30,000 years, features an
Owls Excel at Camouflage
Owls are experts at blending into their surroundings. During daylight hours, these nocturnal birds use their feathers to merge seamlessly with their environment, avoiding predators. The snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus), also known as the white owl, has white plumage to match its tundra habitat. In Hindu mythology, Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, is depicted riding a white owl, and many consider white owls to be symbols of good fortune.
In contrast, the tawny or brown owl (Strix aluco) has feathers that mimic the tree trunks of the European woodlands it inhabits.
Owls Possess Unique Eyes
Owls are equipped with binocular vision. Their forward-facing eyes, similar to humans (and unlike most birds), enable them to interpret intricate visual details [source: Klein]. This human-like trait might also explain why people feel a special connection to these remarkable birds.
Like many nocturnal creatures, owls have large eyes designed to capture more light, enhancing their ability to see in the dark. However, unlike spherical eyeballs, their eyes are cylindrical, extending deep into their skulls. In fact, parts of their eyes can even be seen through their ear openings!
Since their eyes aren’t spherical, they can’t move within their sockets. This means an owl’s head must rotate to compensate. Their ability to turn their heads almost completely around adds to their mysterious and otherworldly charm.
Owls Have Exceptional Hearing
While owls don’t possess supernatural abilities, it’s understandable why ancient civilizations might have thought otherwise. Without daylight to spot their prey, owls depend heavily on their acute hearing to locate and catch their meals.
Their ears are sizable openings positioned asymmetrically on their heads — one higher than the other. This arrangement allows them to triangulate sound, detecting the direction of a noise by the slight delay between when it reaches each ear.
To further enhance their hearing, an owl’s facial structure functions like a sound-catching satellite dish. Their small beaks minimize interference, and the circular ridges around their large eyes amplify their ability to detect faint sounds, such as a mouse rustling under snow, much like a catcher’s mitt.
Owl Myths and Superstitions
Given their remarkable physical traits, nocturnal behavior, and striking human-like features, it’s no wonder owls feature prominently in the myths and superstitions of countless cultures worldwide.
For some, dreaming of owls is interpreted as a visit from a spiritual animal guide. Others, however, view daytime owl sightings or nighttime hoots as ominous signs.
Owl Symbolism in African Cultures
Among the Luhya, Luo, and Kalenjin communities in Kenya, spotting an owl is considered a harbinger of misfortune. Conversely, the Tsonga people of South Africa associate owls with magic and wisdom, which can be either beneficial or malevolent [source: Mandillah & Ekosse].
South African folklore warns that witnessing an owl perched on your roof foretells a tragic event for your family [source: Chauke].
The Owl as a Totem Animal in China
In ancient China, the owl was among several totem animals, with its significance tracing back at least 6,000 years to the Yangshao culture [source: Zhaoyuan et al]. According to Chinese tradition, the owl’s nocturnal behavior symbolized its ability to bridge the gap between the living and the spirit world, overseeing the transition between these realms.
Historians suggest that owls were revered in China from prehistoric times through the Shang dynasty (1600-1046 B.C.). The xuan bird, thought to represent an owl, served as the Shang dynasty’s totem animal. However, when the Zhou dynasty (1046 B.C.E.-256 B.C.E.) rose to power, they replaced the owl with the phoenix, a purely mythical creature [source: Zhaoyuan et al].
Owl Symbolism in Native American Cultures
Many Native American tribes attribute spiritual significance to owls. For the Catawba, the call of a Great Horned Owl is seen as a positive sign, whereas the Puyallup-Nisqually view a daytime encounter with a screech owl as a potential harbinger of death [source: Wilson].
In a Lenape legend, the hoot of an owl signals good fortune for a warrior embarking on a hunt. Because of their association with night and dreams, owls were seen as powerful allies by the Teton Sioux, Kiowa, Clayoquot, and Chippewa, who believed they could tap into their strength through owl dreams or by adorning themselves with owl feathers [source: Wilson].
Owl Symbolism in Celtic Culture
In Welsh Celtic mythology, the hero Gwydion transforms Blodeuedd into one of the most renowned owls in British folklore as retribution for her attempt to kill her husband, Lleu [source: Parker]. The Mabinogi explains that owls are nocturnal because they are shunned by other animals. Gwydion declares to Blodeuedd:
However, the owl is not always a negative symbol. For instance, a Celtic owl tattoo can symbolize wisdom or serve as a protective emblem [source: Heinz].
Owls in Greek Mythology
In ancient Greek and Roman lore, owls were believed to be witches in disguise, capable of draining the blood of infants. Pliny the Elder, in 77 C.E., described an owl sighting as a dire omen, especially if seen in the city or during daylight.
Despite these superstitions, owls were also revered as symbols of Athena, the goddess of wisdom. Athena’s predecessor, the Sumerian goddess Lilith, was often depicted with owls and talons, as seen in a 4,300-year-old Sumerian tablet.
The Owl Spirit Animal
If you resonate with the concept of spirit animals and feel a deep connection to owls, you might be drawn to their wisdom, mystery, and independence. While various cultures have unique methods for identifying spirit animals, embracing the qualities of owls can provide comfort and inspiration.
While many owls are known for their hooting, species like the barn owl produce eerie shrieks and hisses that could easily fit into a horror film. Meanwhile, the call of a screech owl resembles the mournful, desperate howl of a lonely dog.
