What bird do owls eat?
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio)
Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)
Which Owls Eat Birds?
Why do owls eat birds?
How do owls prey on other birds?
Do owls eat birds?
Do birds eat owls?
Do owls eat bird eggs?
Owls are one of the most fascinating and mysterious birds in the world. Most owl species hunt under the cover of darkness, so few of us know what they prey on. Mice and rats are the first prey that come to mind when we think about what owls eat, but many birders may be surprised to learn that owls often prey on other birds.
Most American owls will feed on other birds when possible. In fact, birds are an important part of the diet of certain owl species such as great horned owls and hooting owls. For others, birds are caught less frequently. Owls prey on other birds in a number of ways, but perching birds and birds hatching or brooding are most vulnerable.
Owls have many adaptations that make them effective hunters of other birds. Their ability to fly in complete silence and their excellent night vision and hearing allow owls to easily spot and attack other birds. Once the prey is caught, the owl’s sharp talons and beak are very effective at killing the prey.
Read on to learn more about why and how owls eat other birds.
Most common owls will feed on birds when the opportunity presents itself
What bird do owls eat?
Owls are carnivores, which means they prey on other animals. The type of prey they hunt varies with the species of owl and its size. Some owls specialize in hunting certain prey, while others will take any prey they can catch and subdue.
Owls eat a wide variety of birds, ranging in size from small finches to large birds such as geese and even other owls. Unfortunately, great owls also feed on poultry, such as chickens, from time to time, although this is not their typical prey.
Let’s take a quick look at four famous examples of North American owls and the types of birds they eat:
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
The great horned owl is one of the largest owl species in the Americas. It is a powerful opportunistic hunter that feeds on a variety of different prey. Mammals are the most important food source for these birds throughout most of their range, although in some areas birds make up 100% of their diet.
The following birds have been recorded in the diet of great horned owls:
- Waterfowl such as ducks, grebes, and snipe
- great blue heron
- smaller owl
- prairie and peregrine falcon
- osprey
- european starling
- Pigeon
- North American Sandpiper
- Ring-necked Pheasant
- domestic chicken
Birds can sometimes make up the entire diet of a great horned owl
Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
The Barn Owl is a medium-sized owl that is common in rural areas. These birds have a smaller prey range than the great horned owl, but still feed on a variety of smaller animals, including birds. These are the birds they most commonly hunt:
- european starling
- Red-winged and yellow-headed blackbirds
- Pigeon
- guide
- kingfisher
- woodpecker
Barn owl in flight looking for prey
Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio)
The eastern screech owl is a small American owl that feeds on a variety of other animals. These owls can hunt surprisingly large prey, even other members of their own species!
The eastern screech owl has been recorded feeding on at least 83 species of birds, including:
- fly trap
- swallow
- Robin
- Peacebird
- warbler
- sparrow
- Pigeon
- Pigeon
- woodpecker
- other little owls
Closeup of a Perched Eastern Screech Owl
Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)
Snowy owls are another opportunistic species that often feed on other birds. These great owls tend to focus on mammals such as voles and lemmings during the breeding season, but birds become important in winter.
The snowy owl’s diet includes a variety of other birds, such as the following species:
- Canadian goose
- eider duck
- Red Coral
- great blue heron
- songbirds and small shorebirds
- Read on to learn more about other bird-eating American owls.
perched snowy owl
Which Owls Eat Birds?
Almost all North American owl species are known to prey on other birds with varying regularity. Owls are opportunistic hunters, so any owl species will likely prey on another bird if the opportunity presents itself.
The following North American owls are known to feed on other birds:
- great horned owl
- barn owl
- flame owl
- eastern hooting owl
- western hooting owl
- snowy owl
- spotted owl
- striped owl
- northern eagle owl
- northern pygmy owl
- burrowing owl
- northern owl
- Northern Sawmill Owl
- long-eared owl
- short-eared owl
Short-eared owl in flight, looking for food
Why do owls eat birds?
Owls are carnivorous birds, which means they need to eat other animals to survive. Most owls are opportunistic hunters, taking the most readily available prey, although some have a more specific diet.
While birds are not the most important source of food for most owls, they are hunted when possible. Most birds are diurnal, which makes them vulnerable to professional night hunters like owls.
Other birds provide a protein-rich food source that is relatively safe for owls. Most birds are more or less defenseless against owls, with the exception of raptors or very large birds. This makes them easier prey than other animals, such as mammals and reptiles, which can bite, or insects, frogs, and snakes, which can be venomous or venomous.
Long-eared owl perched high on a branch
How do owls prey on other birds?
With their nocturnal feeding habits, it is rare to see owls preying on other birds. Fortunately, ornithologists have discovered a lot about what owls eat by dissecting the pellets they spit out.
These pellets (the owl’s version of hairballs!) contain indigestible parts of the owl’s diet, such as fur, feathers, bones, and beaks.
Owls hunt other birds in a variety of ways. Sleeping birds that roost in the open are most vulnerable, as are birds nesting in nests. Owls also carry young birds out of the nest. Other nocturnal birds, such as owls, also hunt at night. Some owls, such as the snowy owl, actively hunt during the day, and this species has even been known to chase birds in flight.
Owls have incredible hearing, but perhaps most useful when hunting other birds is their amazing eyesight. In addition to these keen senses, owls have specially modified flight feathers that allow them to swoop silently and catch their prey by surprise. They can then use their sharp claws and beaks to kill prey.
Snowy owls have been known to sometimes chase birds
Do owls eat birds?
Owls eat both juveniles and adults. For example, great horned owls often feed on the young of other large birds such as crows, ravens, ospreys and hawks.
In fact, in some regions the great horned owl is the most important predator of red-tailed hawk chicks. Nests of smaller songbird species are also under threat from smaller owl species like the tweeting owl.
Do birds eat owls?
Owls often feed on other birds, but sometimes hunters become prey too! Many diurnal raptors will prey on owls when possible, and some owls will regularly prey on other owl species. Cannibalism has even been documented in the case of the eastern screech owl.
Let’s take a look at some of the birds that often feed on owls:
- Other large owls, such as the great horned owl
- peregrine and other falcons
- Buzzard, such as the red-tailed hawk
- Accipiter hawks like cooper’s hawks
- Other large birds of prey, such as golden eagles
- large crows like the common crow
There are records of cannibalism from eastern screech owls
Do owls eat bird eggs?
Owls don’t often feed on birds’ eggs, but they will certainly seek out birds nestling in their nests. Owls also feed on newly hatched birds.
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Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.