We’ll show you which owl species is the biggest, where it lives, and how it compares to some of the other large birds in the world.
About Owls
Owls are somewhat small birds, standing less than two feet tall in most cases. Most people know them by their large, alert-looking, front-facing eyes, and hooting calls. Owls have abnormally large wings that help them achieve great speeds or stay aloft at low speeds when flying. Many species of owls have wings with features to help them stay silent as they stalk prey. For example, they have down feathers on their wings and legs along with comb-like fringe feathers that reduce the sound made when they flap. However, they do not have to flap as often as other birds due to the small size of their bodies relative to their wings. Some owls, like those that hunt fish, do not have these sound-dampening elements on their wings. Although we think of owls as strictly nocturnal, that is not always true. Some species sleep during the day, but other species, like the northern hawk owl, hunt during the daytime. The snowy owl is known as a crepuscular creature, one that hunts during pre-dawn and twilight hours.
What Type of Birds Are Owls?
Owls are considered raptors, according to experts, including the National Audubon Society. Owls are clearly predatory and share many other features with other raptor birds. Let’s take a brief look at why owls are raptors.
Carnivorous Predator: Owls often prey on rodents, but owls can also eat snakes, frogs, fish, and more. Their hunting abilities and carnivorous nature help them meet the most basic element of a raptor.Beaks: owls have hooked beaks that help them tear into prey, but they can also swallow some prey whole.Feet: a significant aspect of raptors is their powerful grasping feet, including sharp talons. Owls have feet that can exert up to 500 PSI. That is as strong as the bald eagle.Eyesight: Owls have potent eyesight that helps them spot prey from hundreds of feet away
For all these reasons, owls are considered deadly raptors. However, they are certainly not as large as other birds of prey. The owls join the company of hawks, eagles, falcons, and other predatory avian creatures.
What Is the Largest Owl in the World?
The largest owl in the world is Blakiston’s fish owl. In this case, we are only measuring the size of these owls according to their wingspan. The Blakiston’s fish owl has a wingspan that measures between 5 feet 10 inches and 6 feet 3 inches, making it the largest wingspan of any owl. This giant owl is found exclusively in North East Asia and shares its habitat with a few different endangered species such as the Amur tigers, Amur leopards, Asiatic black bears, and wild boars. Additionally, a recent study took place by the Wildlife Conservation Society and discovered that these owls rely on threatened old trees for nesting and foraging sites. Furthermore, the weight of this species ranges between 6.5 lbs and 10.1 lbs, with the females of the species weighing more than the males. The body of the owls ranges in size between 24 and 28 inches, and therein lies a bit of trouble when we consider the largest owl in the world. For example, the great grey owl can measure anywhere between 22 inches and 33 inches in length. Its wingspan can reach about 5ft in length, too. Yet, these owls weigh less than Blakiston’s fish owls. They only weigh about 4.19lbs at maximum, with an average weight just over closer to 3lbs. Considering that Blakiston’s fish owl has a larger wingspan and greater weight, we’re going to consider it the largest owl. However, the great grey owl is certainly the longest in the world.
Where Does the Largest Owl in the World Live?
Blakiston’s fish owl lives in Japan, China, and parts of Russia. Unfortunately, they are endangered, with only a little over a hundred breeding pairs left in Japan and perhaps a few thousands worldwide. Groups in Japan and Russia are leading the way in monitoring and conserving these owls. Yet, their numbers continue to dwindle. The owl is named for Thomas Blakiston, an English naturalist who “discovered” the owl in Japan in 1883. As the owl’s name suggests, this bird of prey prefers to hunt fish. It will hunt catfish, salmon, lamprey, and other fish. Blakiston’s fish owl lives in forested areas near water. When they hunt, the owls will typically forage for fish in shallow rivers, or they will wait by the riverside for something to move in the water. When they spot prey, they will typically grasp them with their toes and talons and fly off to consume the catch.
What Are the Other Largest Owls in the World?
As we’ve mentioned, the great grey owl is the longest. Yet, other large species of owls exist, too. For example, the Eurasian eagle-owl can weigh up to 8lbs and has a wingspan that may reach 6 feet long. The Eurasian eagle-owl is the second-largest owl in the world if we are looking at wingspan. Snowy owls are also very large, even though they do not weigh much. They only weigh 4.5 lbs and have a wingspan of about 4.4-4.8 ft. That measure makes it clear just how much larger Blakiston’s fish owl is over the others. Owls are often thought of as a symbol of intellectuals. The truth is that they are savvy killers that are just adept at killing and eating other creatures as other raptors. Yet, owls tend to be much smaller than other raptors. As such, they don’t use their bodyweight or immense power to slam into and kill their prey. Nevertheless, they are cunning and have all the tools required to finish their prey, no matter if it is a fish, insect, or mammal.
