One of the questions that everyone asks is: how many types of owls are there in the world and how are each of them different?
Types of owls
The owls that we can see today are within the order Strigiformes, which in turn is divided into two families: Strigidae and Tytonidae. Now, within each family there are numerous species of owls, each classified into different genera.
Below are some examples of owls belonging to each of these types or groups:
Owls of the family Tytonidae
This family extends throughout the world, so we can say that the types of owls that belong to it are cosmopolitan. Likewise, they stand out for being medium size and excellent hunters. Here we will find some 20 species that are distributed all over the world, but the most popular are the ones we show.
- Barn owl (Tyto alba)
It is the best-known representative of this family and lives throughout the planet, except in desert and/or polar areas. It is a medium bird, from 33 to 36 cm. In flight it can be seen completely white and its heart-shaped white facial disc is very characteristic. Its feathers are soft, allowing it to fly stealthily and perfect for hunting its prey.
Precisely due to the color of its feathers during flight, this type of owl is also known as the white owl.
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Barn owl (Tyto alba).
- Dark Owl (Tyto tenebricosa)
Medium-sized and present in New Guinea and southeastern Australia, it can reach a size of about 45cm length, with females being a few centimeters larger than males. Unlike its relative Tyto alba, this species has dark colors, such as different shades of gray.
As a curious fact, during the day it is very difficult to see or hear, since it remains well camouflaged among the dense foliage, and at night it sleeps in tree holes or caves.
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Dark owl (Tyto tenebricosa).
- Cape Owl (Tyto capensis)
Native to southern and central Africa, very similar to Tyto alba, but differs in being larger. Measures about 34 to 42cm and it has darker colors on its wings and a more rounded head. It is a bird that is categorized as “vulnerable” in South Africa.
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Cape Owl (Tyto capensis).
Owls of the family Strigidae
In this family we find the majority of the representatives of the Strigiforme order, with some 228 species of owls around the world, so we will name the most well-known and characteristic examples.
- Black owl (Strix huhula)
Typical of South America, it lives from Colombia to northern Argentina. It measures approximately 35 to 40cm. This type of owl has solitary habits or can travel in pairs. Its coloration is very striking, since it has a barred design in the ventral area, while the rest of the body is blackish. It is common to see it in the highest strata in the jungles of the regions where it lives.
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Black owl (Strix huhula).
- Striated owl (Strix virgata)
It extends from Mexico to northern Argentina. It is a slightly smaller species of owl, measuring about 30 to 38cm. It also has a facial disc, but brown, and its white eyebrows and the presence of “whiskers” are distinctive. It is very common in humid lowland forest areas.
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Striated owl (Strix virgata).
- Small caburé (Glaucidium brasilianum)
One of the smallest owls in this family. It is distributed from the United States to Argentina. As we say, it is a kind of small size, since measures 16 to 19 cm. It has two color phases where it can present a reddish or grayish color. A peculiarity of this species is the presence of spots on the back of the neck. These spots simulate “false eyes”, which are often used to hunt prey, since it looks like a larger animal. Despite its small size, it can hunt other species of birds and vertebrates.
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Small caburé (Glaucidium brasilianum).
- European Owl (Athene noctua)
Very similar to its South American relative Athene cunicularia, this species of owl is typical of southern Europe and northern Africa. Measure from 21 to 23 cm and it is brown with white streaks. It is very common in areas with olive tree plantations and Mediterranean landscapes with bushes. It is identified by its characteristic stocky shape.
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European Owl (Athene noctua).
- Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus)
It is distributed throughout northern Europe. It is known as the owl or mountain owl and lives in coniferous forests. It is a small to medium sized species, measuring about 23 to 27cm. It is always found near the areas where it nests. It has a large, rounded head and its body is stocky, so it is common to confuse it with Athene noctua.
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Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus).
- Maori owl (Ninox novaeseelandiae)
Typical of Australia, New Zealand, Southern New Guinea, Tasmania and Indonesian islands. It is the smallest and most abundant in Australia. It measures about 30 cm and its tail is relatively long with respect to its body. The environments where it lives are very broad, since it is possible to see it from temperate forests and arid areas to agricultural areas.
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Maori owl (Ninox novaeseelandiae).
- Barn Owl (Strix hylophila)
Present in Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. Very characteristic for its curious song, similar to the croaking of a frog. Measure from 35 to 38 cm and it is a very difficult bird to observe due to its elusive behavior. It is categorized as “near threatened” and is found in primary forests with dense vegetation.
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Barn owl (Strix hylophila).
- North American barn owl (Strix varia)
Native to North America, as its name indicates, it is a type of large owl, since measures 40 to 63 cm. This species caused the displacement of another similar species, but smaller in size, also present in North America, the spotted owl. Strix occidentalis. It lives in dense forests, however, it can also be observed in suburban areas due to the presence of rodents in these areas.
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North American barn owl (Strix varia).
- Spectacled Owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata)
Native to the jungles of Central and South America, it lives from southern Mexico to northern Argentina. It is a fairly large species of owl, which It measures about 50 cm and it is robust. Due to the colorful design of the feathers on its head, it is also called the spectacled owl.
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Spectacled Owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata).