Cute Owls with Pictures
“Look at him; he’s so cute!” is not something anyone is likely to comment regarding birds of prey… except owls. There’s something about owls that fascinates people, and there is something about some owl species that makes people forget that they are efficient murder machines.
Don’t let those cute cartoon owls or cute owl stock photos fool you – “cute little owls” can be ruthless killers.
Owls can see, hear, and sense prey from far away, buried under dirt or snow, and some (the Snowy Owl) detect the vibrations of small rodents and mammals burrowing in sand or snow with their feet.
Owls are members of the Raptor family, along with hawks, eagles, kites, falcons, and vultures. Have you ever heard anyone say, “Look at that cute hawk ripping apart that rabbit”? I haven’t either, but I have overheard “Oh look! Aren’t those such cute little owls!”
What makes a “cute owl”?
For one, cute owls tend to be the smaller owl species. They have large eyes and heads that may be a bit small for those big eyes. Those same heads tend to be either rounded or squared. So, big eyes, small size, and round or square heads. And maybe a fluffy, cute appearance.
Size alone disqualifies Great Gray, Barred, and Great Horned Owls from this listing, and although I’ve listed it among the cute owls because of its heart-shaped face, the spectral Barn Owl can be scary. I will put it out there that a juvenile of the three large species, in their “branchling” stage, may qualify as a cute bird. They are fuzzy, with big eyes, sitting on large branches close to the nest because their flight feathers are not fully formed. Others will disagree with me on this, as these young birds can look like ghosts in ghillie suits staring down at you from the trees. They may be funny owls, but they’re not quite “cute”.
But Northern Saw-whet Owls are cute. They are tiny and have huge eyes and squarish heads which seem overly large for their small bodies. Cute owls!
While this list is by all means not a complete one (I am covering owls here in North America), hopefully, you will enjoy this collection of “Cute Owls” (and maybe even learn something fun about them).
A quick note on Owls, and Raptors in General
While most of the raptors in the US are diurnal, meaning that they hunt during the day, owls are primarily nocturnal and hunt mainly at night.
These are birds that you may be more likely to hear than see, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t find them hanging out in trees, in the nest, or even on the ground during the daytime. Some of the “cute owls” operate in daylight, so are more easily seen.
Birding hint – Learn the calls of those owls most likely to be in your area. Sound helps you zero in on where they are, and knowing what you’re looking for is helpful too.
When identifying raptors, keep in mind that females are much larger than males. While this may make identification problematic with hawks, it’s not as much of an issue for owls.
Owls are silent fliers. Their rounded wings have fringed tips which muffle sound as they fly. Their wings are broad but their bodies are light, making them a sort of avian stealth jet while stalking prey.
Cute Owls of The United States
1. Boreal Owl
- Scientific Name: Aegolius funereus
- Size: 8.3 to 11 inches
- Wingspan: 21.6 to 24.4 inches
Large bright eyes and a square head mark the Boreal Owl. This owl has a whitish-gray facial disk outlined with black or dark gray, and a streaked brown body with white spots (small spots on the top of the head and larger ones on the back). Juveniles have none of the streaking and spots.
A nocturnal hunter, the small Boreal Owl comes alive with the darkness, making them difficult to observe and keep track of. This may be the main reason that the actual numbers of these birds in the states where they reside are problematic – a small raptor, hard to see, active only at night, and living in the boreal forests.
The Boreal Owl inhabits the northern parts of the United States and most of sub-arctic Canada. It may be the most elusive and mysterious of the cute owls, hidden among the montane forest during the day and hunting for prey on silent wings at night.
Boreal Owls are ambush predators, waiting patiently on a branch until prey comes by and then swoops down to grab it with their strong talons.
Facts & Tips
The average life span of a Boreal Owl is about 7 to 8 years.
Boreal Owls have been known to store prey away in cold weather and then sit on it to thaw it before consuming it.
Call
2. Burrowing Owl
- Scientific Name: Athenecunicularia
- Size: 7.5 to 9.8 inches
- Wingspan: 21.6 inches
A long-legged, underground-dwelling owl more at home in abandoned prairie dog and tortoise tunnels than trees.
Burrowing Owls are another of those “cute owls”, with their bright yellow eyes in little rounded heads. Adults are mottled brown with lighter spots on their heads and backs and a barred chest and belly. In addition to their yellow eyes, Burrowing Owls have white eyebrows and throats.
The main locations for Burrowing Owls are grasslands: golf courses, prairies, agricultural fields, culverts, roadside embankments, airport runways/taxiways, and vacant lots.
These owls are more likely to hop than fly. Burrowing Owls stay close to the ground, hunting insects, small rodents, birds, amphibians, and snakes. They are active both day and night, so it is possible to see them in broad daylight.
Facts & Tips
Habitat loss is the main reason for the decline in Burrowing Owls. The loss of prairie dogs, ground squirrels, and tortoises means fewer underground tunnels for Burrowing Owls to live in.
Did you know that Burrowing Owls have a clever nesting strategy? They make use of abandoned PVC pipes to build their nests. It’s amazing how they adapt to their environment to ensure their survival.
Call
3. Elf Owl
- Scientific name: Micrathene whitneyi
- Size: 4.7 to 5.5 inches
- Wingspan: 13 inches
The Elf Owl is the world’s smallest owl, and its smallest raptor too. With a large head, short tail, and bright yellow eyes, this diminutive bird is one of the cutest owls but is also a fierce predator.
This is a tiny owl without ear tufts. Elf Owls are a mottled combination of gray, brown, white, and rufous, with white “eyebrows” over their large eyes. Their faces are usually a warm brown. Parts of their upper feathers are white, making two visible stripes on their sides.
These little raptors are summer visitors to the American Southwest. Your ears are the best tool for finding them – they yap like little puppies, so follow the sound. During daylight hours, look for them in holes in mature saguaro cacti or sycamore trees.
Instead of building their own home, the Elf Owl prefers an already-established hole to nest in. Abandoned woodpecker excavations are always available and easy to re-occupy.
These strictly nocturnal owls are primarily insect eaters but will take small prey too. They forage at night for their food, both in the air and on the ground.
Facts & Tips
While many owls see snakes as prey, Elf Owls will bring thread snakes back to their nests alive, so the snakes can eat any parasites that have infested the nest or the nestlings.
Call
4. Northern Saw-whet Owl
- Scientific Name: Aegolius acadicus
- Size: 7.t to 8.3 inches
- Wingspan: 16.5 to 18.9 inches
Northern Saw-whet owls are “cute owls”. Their name comes from the sound they make, similar to a saw being sharpened across a whetstone.
Northern Saw-whet Owls have large round heads, catlike faces, and pale facial discs. They have big and bright yellow eyes and lack ear tufts. They are mottled brown with white streaking and a white “V” between their eyes. Juveniles have a different look – cinnamon bodies, dark backs, and a prominent “V” between their eyes.
These owls are primarily found in heavy woods but are found in urban areas too. A nocturnal hunter, the Northern Saw-whet Owl’s primary food is mice. During migration, small songbirds can be on the menu.
The smaller Saw-whet is often prey for their Strigiform cousins, including Screech and Great Horned Owls. Other potential predators are Accipiters such as Cooper’s, Broad-winged Hawks, and Peregrine falcons.
Nocturnal birds, Saw-whet Owls spend daylight hours roosting in coniferous forests, perching around 10 feet off the ground and surrounded by camouflaging foliage. They are sometimes found by flocks of small songbirds; if you are walking a trail and notice Chickadees making a fuss, there could be a Saw-whet Owl above you in the trees.
Facts & Tips
These tiny owls are hard to see, so learning their call will help you locate them. They are most likely to call between January and May during mating season.
Northern Saw-whet Owls can fly long distances over water – one landed on a fishing vessel 70 miles off the coast from Montauk Point, NY.
A Northern Saw-whet Owl found itself in Rockefeller Center during the holidays by accident. It was nesting in the Christmas Tree that stands in the Big Apple landmark. The tree was cut down in Oneonta and transported 170 miles to New York City with the owl snug inside its branches for the whole ride. Read our article for more owls in New York.
Call
5. Barn Owl
- Scientific Name: Tyto alba
- Size: 13 to 16 inches
- Wingspan: 31 to 37 inches
Slim, pale medium-sized owls whose white heart-shaped facial discs give them an eerie look, especially at night. A strictly nocturnal hunter whose call is a blood-curdling shriek instead of the more familiar hoot. This and their spectral appearance is why they are also called “Ghost Owls”.
The ghostly Barn Owl is gray and brown on top and mostly white underneath. Males tend to be paler all over than females.
These are owls with exceptional hearing and keen night vision. They prowl the nocturnal fields in search of mice and small rodents. Their heart-shaped face and asymmetrical ears enable them to hone in on a vole rustling through the grass.
A Barn Owl swallows their prey whole. What they can’t digest becomes part of the owl pellets found on the ground near the roost.
Facts & Tips
Barn Owls have dark brown eyes instead of the golden yellow orbs of most other owl species.
Barns and trees are not the only places Barn Owls are found. A Barn Owl nest was located in New York City’s Yankee Stadium.
Barn Owls are one of the owl species prone to being hit by cars. Their low flights over fields make them susceptible to vehicles. Like most owls, their eyes only look straight ahead. When honed in on their prey, unless they turn their heads, they never see cars coming until they make contact with them.
Call
6. Eastern Screech Owl
- Scientific Name: Megascops (Otus) asio
- Size: 6.3 to 9.8 inches
- Wingspan: 18.9 to 24 inches
A small, well-camouflaged owl, most likely to be heard at night rather than seen. In daylight, these raptors’ ability to blend in against a tree is uncanny (especially the gray morph). They are perfectly patterned to disappear against the tree bark and into tree cavities and recesses, becoming invisible.
Eastern Screeches are small owls with short ear tufts and dark beaks. The gray morph has dark vertical streaking, the red morph is reddish brown with brownish streaking and some white underneath, and the brown morph is a dark grayish brown with dark brown streaking and some white underneath. All morphs have yellow eyes.
Gray and red are the most common colors, with red occurring about one-third of the time. Brown is the least found of the three-color morphs in the eastern United States. The gray morph is like playing “Where’s Waldo”, they can blend into a tree cavity so well that they can be impossible to find.
This is another of the “No Hoot” owls. Eastern Screech-owls whinny like horses. They call starting at dusk, and you are more likely to locate a Screech Owl by its call rather than by sight.
Screech Owls are cavity nesters but do use nest boxes, so having a box on your property may convince them to set up a house in your yard.
Facts & Tips
Screech owls like south or east-facing cavities in hollow trees, using the morning sun to warm them up.
Young Screech Owls are fierce competitors for food. They will toss the smallest owlet out of the nest to get more food from their parents.
Birders who are good at making bird calls use the Screech Owl whinny to stir up small birds like Wrens and Chickadees in s thickets. The little birds come out to see where the “dangerous owl” is.
Call
7. Western Screech Owl
- Scientific Name: Megascops kennicotti
- Size: 7.5 to 9.8 inches
- Wingspan: 21.6 to 24.4 inches
A small, well-camouflaged owl, most likely to be heard at night rather than seen. In daylight, these raptors’ ability to blend in against a tree is uncanny (especially the gray morph). They are perfectly patterned to disappear against the tree bark and into tree cavities and recesses, becoming invisible.
Western Screeches are small owls with short ear tufts and dark beaks. The gray morph has dark vertical streaking, and the brown morph is a dark grayish brown with dark brown streaking and some white underneath. The red morph is reddish brown with brownish streaking and some white underneath (this rufous version is mostly found in the Pacific Northwest). All morphs have yellow eyes.
In Arizona and the rest of the southwestern United States, the gray morph is a paler gray than in other parts of the country.
Gray and brown are the most common colors, with red occurring about one-third of the time. Red is the least found of the three-color morphs in the western United States. The gray morph is like playing “Where’s Waldo”, they can blend into a tree cavity so well that they can be impossible to find.
They call starting at dusk, and you are more likely to locate a Screech Owl by its call rather than by sight.
Screech Owls are cavity nesters (including holes in cacti) but do use nest boxes, so having a box on your property may convince them to set up a house in your yard.
Facts & Tips
Screech owls like south or east-facing cavities in hollow trees, using the morning sun to warm them up. They have a habit of pressing their heads and bodies close against the tree to further camouflage themselves, making them difficult to see even in broad daylight.
Young Screech Owls are fierce competitors for food. They will toss the smallest owlet out of the nest to get more food from their parents.
If you hear a commotion from small birds like Wrens and Chickadees, there may be a Screech Owl nearby.
Call
8. Whiskered Screech Owl
- Scientific Name: Megascops trichopsis
- Size: 6.3 to 7.9 inches
- Wingspan: 17.3 inches
This little owl is found in Southern Arizona, Southwestern New Mexico, and Mexico and is found at higher elevations than the Western Screech Owl. They look like Western Screech Owls, with their gray, black, and white plumage. The difference is in the hearing – both birds do not sound alike.
They are hard to tell apart from the Western Screech Owl where their range overlaps, in the lower canyons where the desert becomes treed. The Whiskered Screech Owls are smaller and sound completely different from the Western Screech Owls, so the best way to tell them apart is by sound.
Facts & Tips
The ranges of the Whiskered and Eastern Screech Owls do not overlap at all. In western North America, where the Whiskered Screech’s range does overlap with the Western Screech, they inhabit different habitats and altitudes.
Call
9. Flammulated Owl
- Scientific name: Psiloscops flammeolus
- Size: 5.9 to 6.7 inches
- Wingspan: 15.9 to 16.1inches
Flammulated means flame-shaped markings. This bird’s plumage looks like the remains of a forest fire, with its blended grays and blacks. They would blend right in if they were sitting next to a charred tree trunk.
They are a combination of gray, brown, rust, and white plumage. Like Screech Owls, there is a gray morph that has a lighter body and some brown feathers around its eyes, and a red morph with rufous plumage among the gray. There is also an intermediate plumage variant.
They have a very Screech Owl-like appearance, with short ear tufts (which are often held flat), but are smaller than the Western Screech Owl. Flammulated Owls have dark vertical stripes down their chests and always have dark eyes. Because their ear tufts normally lay back, it gives them the appearance of having a flat head.
These owls inhabit mature mountain forests, often the tops of trees, and are cavity nesters. They roost in daylight and emerge at night to hunt insects in the canopy and understory.
Facts & Tips
A larger windpipe allows the bird to make a deep hoot, making sounds that appear to belong to a much bigger bird.
Size-wise, this bird is about the same as a child’s juice box.
Call
10. Ferruginous Pygmy Owl
- Scientific name: Glaucidium brasilianum
- Size: 5.5 to 7.1 inches
- Wingspan: 11.8 inches
A feisty, plump little owl that takes down prey larger than itself. This is a daytime raptor, so it may be easier to locate than most owls.
There are two color morphs – a grayish brown or a cinnamon rufous. Both morphs have fine white streaking on their heads. Their bodies have white plumage that appears as three white vertical lines down their chests and bellies. While the gray/brown morph has some white banding in its tail, the cinnamon/rufous morph does not. The red morphs are beautiful, colorful owls.
These birds have no ear tufts. They do have a long tail, so their initial impression may have you thinking “songbird”, but their lemony-yellow eyes say “raptor”. They have distinct white eyebrows.
Facts & Tips
Most owls fly silently and have asymmetrical ears to better locate prey in the dark. The Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, on the other hand, has symmetrical ears and is a bit noisy in flight. They rely on sight more than hearing to track down their meals.
Call
11. Northern Pygmy-Owl
- Scientific name: Glaucidium gnoma
- Size: 6.3 to 7.1 inches
- Wingspan: 12 inches
A small owl with a large rounded head and no ear tufts, the Northern Pygmy-Owl is a diurnal hunter unafraid to take on songbirds larger than themselves. They are about the size of a robin.
They are brown with white spotting on the head and back, with whitish underparts and dark barring on their chests and bellies. These petite owls have large yellow eyes and a yellow bill. The tail is long compared to other small owls.
The reddish morph is rusty-brown all over with a spotted head.
To deter larger predators, they have 2 false eye spots on the back of their heads to confuse anything that would try to eat them.
In winter, these raptors move from the montane forest to lower elevations, where they are often found in urban and suburban habitats.
Facts & Tips
The flight profile of Northern Pygmy-Owls is similar to a woodpecker’s – an undulating flight instead of a straight line.
Like the Ferruginous and other pygmy owls, the Northern Pygmy-Owl has symmetrical ears, due to their being a diurnal raptor.
Call
The Cutest “Cute Owl” I’ve Seen
That would be Luna.
Luna resides in Punta Gorda, Florida where he’s an Ambassador for the Peace River Wildlife Center. Luna is unique because he happens to be a leucistic Eastern Screech Owl.
As a leucistic (not albino) owl, Luna is white, but he has dark eyes. Found as a young bird outside the nest, the Wildlife Center took him in. They couldn’t find a nest nearby to return him to. As a white, fluffy avian marshmallow, he would have made a nice snack for predators, so Luna became a permanent resident at the center in Ponce de Leon Park, and one of the raptor Ambassadors for the Center.
With his big, black eyes, fluffy white feathers, and sweet little white tufts on top of his head, Luna is absolutely one of the cutest owls you’ll see. Go visit him at Peace River Wildlife Center in Punta Gorda, Florida.
Want to learn more about leucistic birds see our article on leucistic crows.
General Owl fun facts
A baby or young little owl is called an owlet. Before they get their full flight feathers, they are known as branchlings. You can find them sitting on large branches, staring down at you with those big eyes.
Not all owls Hoot! Eastern Screech Owls whinny like a horse, Barn Owls hiss and scream, and Northern Saw-whet Owls sound like a saw being sharpened on a whetstone.
Many owls have asymmetrical ears, meaning that their ears don’t sit directly across from each other. One ear higher and the other ear in a lower position makes them hear their prey far better than having both ears at the same level.
Owls have tube-shaped eyes. This provides them with better depth perception and allows them to see their prey from long distances. They can see for miles but don’t see very well up close.
Those tubular eyes are also why owls can move their necks up to 270 degrees. This movement may cut off circulation in their head, but they have a blood-pooling system that runs their brains and eyes until they move their neck and release the pressure on their arteries and veins.
A note on Owl Etiquette
Owls are sensitive, secretive birds so please observe these few pointers when viewing or photographing owls:
- Don’t get too close – if the owl looks at you frequently, you’re too close.
- Stay on “the sidelines” and don’t enter an open area where an owl is hunting.
- Use binoculars or a scope for viewing and a telephoto lens for photography.
- Do not intentionally “flush” an owl.
- If you use audio recordings, minimize their impact on birds, and follow the ABA Code of Birding Ethics.
- Use discretion when sharing the location of an owl; usually, it’s best to provide details only to people you can trust to treat the owl safely.
- Do not feed owls anything such as mice, which may cause them to get used to people and can also result in collisions with cars and buildings.
- Avoid the use of flash photography, especially after dark.
- Eliminate noise to avoid interfering with a bird’s auditory hunting – if you’re viewing from a car, turn off the engine; if you’re with others, talk in a whisper only when necessary.
Conclusion
To learn about owls, raptors, and other birds in your area, as always, your local Audubon Society and its chapters have numerous opportunities to look for birds. Go to their websites and see if they run owl prowls, or sign up for a bird walk.
Some organizations do raptor rehabilitation and utilize birds unable to be returned to the wild as teaching ambassadors for the public. While it’s not seeing a Great Horned Owl in the forest, joining one of these programs enables you to get an up-close view of one that you would never get in the woods.
Remember, all you need to get started is a decent pair of binoculars, a good location, and for some of these birds, a good pair of ears.
Go plan than Owl Prowl and get out to see all those cute owls!
