20 Cute Owls Pics You Should Definitely See

Who does not like owls? Take a closer look into the lives of owls! Owls are one of the most fascinating species that exist. Whether learning about migratory patterns, plumage, or the behavior of cute owls, these stunning creatures will never cease to amaze you.

Not only are they super cute and look down upon you with their mighty squinty eyes, but they also symbolize wisdom, intellect and knowledge. We think this is why you are looking at the cute owls’ list—to satisfy your adventurous spirit and search for new knowledge, right?

Well, now that you have landed here, let me tell you a little secret: You cannot just pick one owl! How else would you expect to know the world’s cutest owl if you do not find them all?

Species Of Cute Owls

Did you know that there are 19 distinct species of owls in the United States? From tiny Elf Owls to massive Great Gray Owls, they come in many shapes and sizes.

From their haunting cries to awesome flying displays, owls are creatures of many mysteries. These fascinating animals live throughout the United States and Canada, but they are facing mounting threats to their survival.

Here are the species of owls, especially cute owls:

  1. Great Gray Owl
  2. Elf Owl
  3. Burrowing Owl
  4. Southern White-faced Owl
  5. Snowy Owl
  6. Flammulated Owl
  7. Boreal Owl
  8. Spotted Owl
  9. Barn Owl
  10. Crested Owl
  11. Jungle Owlet
  12. Spectacled Owl
  13. Northern Pygmy Owl
  14. Easthern screech-Owl
  15. Western Screech Owl
  16. Ural Owl
  17. Whiskered Screech-Owl
  18. Short-eared Owl
  19. Northern Saw-whet Owl
  20. Little Owl

1. Great Grey Owl

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The Great Gray Owl is an unmistakable majestic predator of the northern forests. Its massive head and talons, piercing yellow eyes and sleek patterned feathers are instantly recognizable. Their habitat includes dense evergreen pine and fir forest as well as subarctic swampy evergreen forest.

Aware of good eyesight that permits the detection of movement more than half a mile away, the Great Gray Owl is an avid hunter. Its talons can deliver a killing blow to prey, and it possesses remarkable hearing that allows it to locate prey beneath deep snow.

Great grey owls’ measurement is as follow both in males and females:

Length: 24.0 to 33.1 in (61 to 84 cm)

Weight: 24.7 to 60.0 oz (700 to 1700 g)

Wingspan: 53.9 to 60.2 in (137 to 153 cm)

The Great Gray Owl is one of the largest birds in North America, and one of the quietest. It only rarely calls, but instead uses its excellent hearing to locate prey, hunting mammals like squirrels up to the size of a snowshoe hare, even following them into their burrows.

After spotting prey from a perch or from the flight, it swoops from the current perch with an almost silent wing beat, before pouncing on its quarry with a talon-clamping hit.

2. Elf Owl

elf-owl_peter-latourrette-9880240 Elf-Owl_Peter-LaTourrette

Elf Owls are the smallest cute owls that ever exist! They are just the size of a sparrow and they are mostly found around the Mexican border. Their weight is about 1.4 oz (50g) – less than 2 slices of bread. They are 5 inches (14cm) long and will fit into your palm.

At first sight, Elf Owls look sort of like flying mice. The coloring is quite different though with mottled shades of browns, greys and whites predominating on these ‘owls. ‘

Own an Elf Owl and you will have a blast as they just love to bounce around in their cage. It is recommended that you never have 2 male Elf Owls in the same cage as they will fight and may kill each other.

3. Burrowing Owl

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These cute owls are found in the west, Caribbean, Florida, and Mexico, and they have extremely long legs. They burrow underground like a prairie dogs so they can be a predator without being seen.

These cute owls are smaller than crows. Whether you are on a camping trip or just out playing in your backyard, this owl will be fun to have around. It is a real hoot.

This bird’s population was once on the decline, but in recent years they have made a comeback. Through a change in farming techniques, some farmers have been able to provide the owls with a new food source and their numbers are increasing.

Take a look at the long-legged little cutie! Be ready for an exciting reaction from kids who love nature and animals. This small bird is a great find for those interested in the world of science, as well as kids interested in learning about animals that are new to them.

These owls like to live on the ground and stay underground for almost all of their lives, however, because their legs are so long, they do not really dig with them. Instead, they use their beaks to look for soft dirt which they scoop out a little at a time. They live anywhere from deserts, grasslands, and savannas.

4. Southern White-faced Owl

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Watch an owl with a mustache and delight your sense of seeing. This southern white-faced cute owl has cute ear ­tufts, white-face discs framing the feathered beak area, and the mustached look caused by the feathers hanging over the beak.

These characteristics help give this owl its cute look. It may also have small tufts of feathers coming out of its eyebrows. This species is native to South America.

A small range of southern white-faced owls occupies a relatively large area compared to others. These owls are known for their small, round heads and the faint mustache look caused by the feathers hanging over the beak.

They have small ear tufts and large eyes with dark pupils that give them excellent night vision to hunt at night. At dusk, they will fly in to perch themselves in a place where they can shift easily from day mode to night mode.

During the day, they are found sleeping on a tree branch or hidden in dense vegetation positioned at the top of a tree and out of plain sight.

5. Snowy Owl

snowy-owl-g77f50f96d_640-4750961 snowy-owl-cute owl

The snowy owl is a cute owl with a lot of amazing features. Snowy owls are adorable but aggressive. They like to eat small rodents. These owls fly from Northern Canada and Alaska down south in many northern states in winter to hunt for food.

The snowy owl is a fast flier and one of the best hunters among all the owls. They even steal prey from other predators like Arctic foxes! In flight, they are graceful but strong fliers. Arctic wolves, golden eagles and humans are their main threats.

6. Flammulated Owl

flammulated-owl-e1639009058625-4271283 Flammulated Owl

Many people have never heard of Flammulated Owls, but they are one of the most interesting and unusual owl species that can be found in western America. They are also one of the cute owls you can ever find around.

They are a little bigger than sparrows and spend the winter in Central America and Mexico, but they are difficult to spot as they are small and spend the most time at the top of trees.

If you want an unusual pet, this is the perfect one! Flammulated owls can live in quite a small cage, so they do not take too much space. They are quiet and shy but adorable.

7. Boreal Owl

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You have never seen anything like the Boreal Owl! Boreal owls are found in the forest at night in Europe and North America. They glide silently through the forest at night, looking for food. They have large disc-shaped facial markings which give them a ridiculously cute appearance.

Because of their dark plumage, Boreal Owls are extremely well camouflaged. However, their large heads and prominent ear tufts make them relatively easy to identify – but only when seen at close range in good light and from the perfect angle.

Some Boreal Owls’ eyes glow yellow-orange in the dark because a chemical in the retina has properties similar to the luminous paint.

This gentle brown owl is the ultimate addition to your natural bird display. It nests in the holes of tree trunks and hunts small rodents such as lemmings, voles, and other small animals.

8. Spotted Owl

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If you are looking for a cute owl, the beauty of the spotted owl will amaze you. Similar to the majestic eagle, an adorable spotted owl with fluffy feathers and a round head inhabit various parts of Asia.

The spotted owl is the smaller cousin of the giant owl, but despite its small size, it has a key role within the environment.

Spotted Owls have tufts of feathers at the tops of their ears and big eyes with striking orange or yellow spots. Their feather colors are camouflage that helps them stay well hidden in their tree branches. Their short wings make spotted owls excellent hunters of small prey.

Spotted owls are very playful birds and will not be afraid of humans.

9. Barn Owl

barn_owl-e1638911720922-8695172 -Barn_Owl

Wouldn’t it be nice to own a pet who makes such a great companion and does not require a lot of exceptional care? If you are intrigued, read on to learn all about the Barn Owl.

Barn Owls are cute and graceful-looking owls with black penetrating eyes and white heart-shaped face disc.

The barn owl may be a fierce-looking bird, but it is not at all aggressive or dangerous to humans. The barn owl can be found in most parts of the world except for polar and desert regions.

The Barn Owl has the most sensitive hearing of any animal. But it also has excellent vision and can locate prey in total darkness.

Next time you are at the zoo, a bird will almost definitely launch itself off the perch to swoop over to your shoulder and stare into your eyes. Even better than seeing one in the wild is the satisfaction of raising one from a hatchling – they are easy to tame, so they make a lot of sense as a pet.

10. Crested Owl

crested-owl-8341082 Crested-Owl

These cute birds must be one of the most endearing figures in the world. The crested owl is not only attractive but also full of personality. Their gentle buff color and striking white tufts give them a rather angelic appearance and little heads that practically beg you to cuddle up with them.

You will surely love the adorable Crested Owl because of its cute appearance with excellent shaggy and light brown feathers. This owl lives in South and Central America and must be one of the cutest owls you can find.

11. Jungle Owlet

owl-g83ca4ddca_640-3370076 Jungle Owlet

The adorable Jungle Owlet is an exceedingly rare species of owl. These charming creatures have no ear tufts and therefore, their bodies are small and rounded. Their little round heads are also extremely cute and make them look innocent.

The adult owls are usually 8 inches (20 cm) in length. They adorn dense undergrowth in the tropical rainforests of India. The Jungle Owlet is a charming and charismatic bird with a wide variety of vocalizations.

Living high in the trees and spending their days in the dense undergrowth, they typically move from branch to branch. 

12. Spectacled Owl

spectacled-owl-g044447a3c_640-7224947 spectacled-owl

The Spectacled Owl is a unique creature with its cute white eyebrow patches and deep brown head, so it stands out from other birds. They live in South and Central America and are large, being up to 20 inches (50 cm) when fully grown.

They have big round, dark eyes that make them seem very calm and sleepy, but in fact, they are very territorial and will attack if threatened by an enemy.

They are active at night and hunt for food on the forest floor, mainly preying on mice and other small animals.

13. Northern Pygmy Owl

owl-g487301dfb_640-3815009 Northern Pygmy Owl

The Pygmy Owl is one of the cutest owls you will ever see. It is tiny, round and fluffy. Pygmy Owls live in some of northern North America, primarily the northwestern US and western Canada.

These tiny owls are so cute, they will steal your heart! The Northern Pygmy Owl has a rapid calling voice which is perfect for scaring off predators and competing with other males. This pygmy owl measures 6.5 inches long (17 cm) and weighs only 2 oz (60 g).

Their size is fiercely attractive, but what really turns heads is their coloring – soft baby feathers being replaced by vibrant adult plumage. While they may lack the speed of their larger cousins, they have incredible hearing and sharp eyesight.

They are fierce predators that will trace their prey across long distances utilizing sound to locate the right direction, even leaving food on a perch for potential predators to find it to lure them nearer.

14. Eastern Screech Owl

owl-g6c3f5fddc_640-8467207 Eastern Screech Owl

Do you love adventure? Do you love animals? The Eastern screech owl is a cute owl that is about the size of a robin. Residing in eastern US states, this beautiful owl shares the color of tree bark.

It has distinct brown and white streaks on its back that easily blend with the tree they are sitting on. They hunt at night, eating small rodents and other animals.

The female Eastern screech owl will usually lay 4–8 eggs in a natural cavity or old woodpecker hole in a tree, hollow log or empty building.

15. Western Screech-Owl

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Western Screech-Owls are distinctive-looking owls that live in Western forests, from the Pacific Northwest to Mexico. They eat small mammals, but also take advantage of a healthy forest by eating mice and voles as well as insects.

You can find these owls year-round in dense, old-growth forests where they can fly from tree to tree without hitting a clearing. Forest loss, particularly along waterways, is one of the greatest threats to many bird species. Please help protect our local birds with a donation to Audubon today.

16. Ural Owl

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Their round-headed faces and delicate mottling make Ural owls cute, but the pale, large face discs and black eyes make it look really cute. You will not be able to resist these little guys when you see them.

Living in northern Europe and northern Asia, these cute little birds live in forests and eat insects, rodents, lizards and birds as their primary diet. The combination of pale face discs, black eyes and delicate mottled brown and white coloring really makes this owl adorable.

17. Whiskered Screech-Owl

640px-megascops_trichopsis-6265446 Whiskered Screech-Owl

Found in the US and Canada, Whiskered Screech-Owls are one of the cute owls you can ever encounter.

Newly discovered less than 60 years ago and not commonly encountered by birders, the Whiskered Screech-Owl is one of the least known species in its family.

The species faces a number of threats, from habitat destruction to more direct dangers from humans. In the U.S., the species ranges from central Arizona and western New Mexico south into Mexico and Central America to Panama, with most of its range found in Mexico and adjacent countries.

They hunt rodents and other small mammals, as well as birds and lizards. Although they have the same red eyes and large beaks as other owls, they do not hunt at night like other owls, so they do not need to see well in the dark!

18. Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owls are types of owls commonly seen during daytime hours. That is because they are active hunters that hunt in open, grassy areas and fields, where they are easily spotted.

These birds are also found around uncultivated farmland, coastal marshes, and tundra—areas that are easily accessible to humans.

The Short-eared Owl is one the most widely distributed birds in the world and is easily distinguished by its large facial disk and feather ear tufts.

19. Northern Saw-whet Owl

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The diminutive Northern Saw-whet Owl is almost as tiny as the Elf Owl and Peru’s Long-whiskered Owlet. It is found in northern forested areas of eastern North America and across Canada but is not a rare sight in the western mountains and the West Coast states of North America.

It has a round head without visible ears, yellow eyes, and a greyish black bill. A streak of white facial disk feathers sits above the large eyes. The Northern Saw-whet Owl’s call sounds like it is being sharpened on a whetstone, leading to its common name.

This distinctive, repetitive call is often the best way to detect the species in thick vegetation like coniferous forests or tundra areas.

20. Little Owl

Little Owl

These cute little owls are called Little Owls. They are 8 inches (20 cm) in height and stand on one foot. They live in Europe, Asia and North Africa.

They have a flat head and they have big round eyes. Their diet is mainly mice, small rodents and insects, also birds and reptiles, to name only a few things that they eat.

The Little Owl is an owl native to Europe, Asia and North Africa. It is a bird of woodlands and open country but can be found in any area with trees.

Cute Owl FAQs

What Is Special About An Owl?

Owls are special because they have specially designed eyes and ears to locate prey. They also have unique feathers that allow them to fly without being heard.

What do Owls Eat?

Generally, they eat small mammals, rodents, or insects. Some species eat fish.

What Are Owls Afraid Of?

Owl always try to avoid human being. They are also afraid of shouting, clapping and yelling.

Watch More Cute Owl Videos Here

Conclusion

Cute owls are one of the best animals to observe. Watching an owl fly up in the air with only a brief sense of movement before it is gone is simply amazing. The variety of owls that exist is something to marvel at and it inspires researchers to learn more about them.

Owls have some very funny abilities that make studying them remarkably interesting. Some species are under threat of extinction, but others exist simply fine by adaptation to their environment and camouflage.

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