What is a Group of Owls Called? (Complete Guide)

If you’re lucky enough to see an owl in the wild, they’re almost certainly alone. If you’ve ever seen more than one alone, you’re in luck, as this is extremely rare. So anyway, what is the collective noun for a flock of owls?

The most common collective noun for a flock of owls is council. Other less common names include a wisdom, congress, shooting and stars of owls. In flight, owls can be called silent; this is because owls fly very quietly, making them excellent hunters.

The above terms are the most commonly used, but not a complete list, and may vary depending on which part of the world or part of the country you are from.

Read on to learn why owls get some of these terms when they congregate, as well as some other related questions about all things owls and flocks, or should we say councils.

Other names for a flock of owls

• owl fair
• owl’s diss
• owl’s nest
• looming owl
• nest of owls
• pair of owls
• The Wisdom of an Owl
• bent owl

great horned owl family

Why is a flock of owls called a parliament?

Collective nouns for most groups of birds date back to the Middle Ages and are usually based on the characteristics or characteristics of the birds. Many of them were originally used in poetry as well, and have stuck around ever since.

There are several potential reasons why referring to a flock of owls as a parliament has become such a well-known and widely used term. However, the most likely reason is that in CS Lewis’ 1950s book The Chronicles of Narnia, he referred to a flock of owls as the Parliament. It’s safe to say that the book went on to be quite popular, so it would explain why the term became so well known and widespread.

The actual origin of the word is thought to date back to the 1300s, when the 14th century poet Geoffrey Chaucer used the “Parlement of Foules” to describe a large parliament of birds (fowl).

You could argue that it’s very plausible that CS Lewis read some of Chaucer’s poems at some point and probably rephrased “foules” as “owls”.

Let’s face it, “A Parliament of Owls” sounds funnier and more poetic than “a flock of owls” or “a flock of owls.” In fact, CS Lewis probably didn’t pay much attention to whether the owls congregated in these groups or together.

So, in fact, “The Parliament of Owls” is poetry!

Another reason (albeit unlikely in our opinion) is that Parliament is where British politicians meet, and when political issues are debated, you can often say yelling.

Councils are also associated with knowledge and wisdom (take this with a pinch of salt), and since owls are also thought to be wise and learned (as smart as owls are), links and wordplay can be drawn from them.

A family of barn owls on a tree

What is the name of a flock of flying owls?

When in flight, a flock of owls is known to be silent; however, it is rare to see owls flying in flocks.

The reason for this name is that owls possess a truly remarkable ability to fly almost silently, which is vital to their survival. This applies to owls of all shapes and sizes, so even the larger ones like the barn owl or the great horned owl will fly almost silently.

This skill is crucial to the owl’s survival as it allows them to stealthily hunt their prey, meaning that the prey will not be able to hear nearby owls and escape.

It’s very rare to see a flock of owls flying together, but it happens. The best time to observe is on cold winter nights, as many owls will hunt during the day, sometimes in their small flocks.

What is a group of little owls called?

Generally, a group of young owls is called a litter. Owl is the term given to babies or owl cubs.

Do owls gather in flocks?

Several species of owls do occasionally form small flocks. This often includes family members or several owls from the same species. Usually there are up to 5 owls in the group and this may vary by species. Certain species live together in small numbers and can sometimes be seen flying together.

Both short-eared owls and barn owls have been known to form these small flocks. Burrowing owls sometimes nest in small flocks.

A flock of burrowing owls

When Do Owls Flock?

If the owl chooses to form a small flock with other owls, it will be outside of the breeding season. During the breeding season, owls usually live together in pairs.

Why do owls flock together?

Owls are thought to roost together for several reasons. The first is that they can seek out any predators or flocks of songbirds during the colder months and keep warm because they can huddle together.

Habitats are often located near good hunting locations where prey is plentiful for owls to hunt. So that could be another reason, because that information is basically shared with the owls that join the roost.

Pair of striped owls

Are owls solitary or gregarious?

Owls typically live alone, in pairs with mates or other family members; however, living with other family members may not occur until young owls reach the age of independence.

How many owls are there in a flock?

It is generally accepted that at least three to five owls need to be together to be considered a flock. Below that, they’re just a couple or alone.

What is a pair of owls called?

There is no specific term for two owls together, so they are called a pair of owls.

a pair of little owls

What is a flock of barn owls called?

A group of barn owls has a specific collective noun; a flock of barn owls.

What is a flock of snowy owls called?

A flock of snowy owls is often called a snowy owl blizzard.

What is a flock of striped owls called?

There are two collective nouns for a group of barred owls; prisons forbidding owls and injunctions forbidding owls.