Europe is home to some of the world’s most majestic birds, and owls are no exception.
Whether visiting for a few days or months, you’ll likely encounter one of Europe’s many types of owls.
From the Great Grey Owl to the Eurasian Pygmy Owl, each owl has its unique characteristics.
In this blog post, we will explore the types of owls in Europe that you can find and discuss their habitat, diet, and behavior.
1. Little Owl
The Little Owl is one of Europe’s most common types of owls. They are easily identified by their small size, brown plumage, and white throat feathers.
The Little Owl is found throughout Europe and parts of Asia, living in open areas such as grasslands, meadows, cities, and gardens.
This species is relatively easy to find. During the day, it is often seen perched on trees or walls, making it a popular choice for wildlife photographers.
While their vocalizations are not the most impressive, Little Owls can be heard calling at night in their native areas.
2. Great Gray Owl
They are magnificent raptors if you’re fortunate enough to witness one. Many individuals believe they appear to be carrying a bowtie around their neck and wearing a grey suit!
Although they have a large range, these owls prefer to live in a forest beside a clearing.
When it’s cold outside, they need a lot of space to listen for mice scurrying under the snow so they can break through and catch supper.
Additionally, due to their size, grey-gray owls consume up to 7 rodents per day, which is a lot of food. They NEVER construct nests.
These types of owls in Europe merely employ those other large birds produce. What a powerhouse of efficiency!
These owls will bravely protect their claimed nests, even from bears, once they have claimed them.
They make a strong, aggressive, and distinctive call that sounds like “whooooo, woo, woo, woo.”
Additionally, they employ a soft double hoot to defend their territory or feed their young.
3. Short-Eared Owl
The Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) is an owl in many parts of Europe. It has a unique look, with its yellow eyes and mottled brown feathers.
The owls live in meadows, grasslands, and other open habitats, hunting small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles.
These types of owls in Europe are nocturnal, meaning they are mostly active at night. During the day, they can rest in tall grasses or trees.
The Short-eared Owl is a migratory species, meaning it spends the winter months in warmer climates and returns to Europe for the summer.
Short-eared Owls are a threatened species in Europe, primarily due to habitat loss and degradation.
Some countries, such as the UK, are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
Conservation efforts to help protect this species are underway, including creating new habitats and improving existing habitats for these owls.
As they continue to decline in Europe, we must take steps to protect them before they become extinct.
4. Long-Eared Owl
The Long-eared Owl is a species of owl found in Europe and parts of Asia.
It has tufts of feathers on its head that look like ears, giving it its name.
This species is active mainly at night and prefers wooded areas, where it can find plenty of prey.
Its diet comprises small mammals, birds, amphibians, insects, and earthworms.
The Long-eared Owl, one of the types of owls in Europe, is often seen perched in a tree or on a fence post near its nesting site.
During the breeding season, the Long-eared Owl can be quite vocal, making a loud “hoot” call to attract mates.
The Long-eared Owl has an impressive wingspan of up to 1.2 meters and can reach up to 40 kilometers per hour.
This owl will silently glide through the air to sneak up on its unsuspecting prey when hunting.
This species is not as common as other species of owls in Europe, but its presence is still strong, and its numbers are increasing.
Conservation efforts have stabilized the Long-eared Owl population, and its numbers are likely to continue growing.
5. Northern Hawk Owl
As their name says, Northern Hawk Owls behave more like hawks than owls! These owls have unusual characteristics for owls—they sit alone in big trees and hunt during the day.
Due to their ability to be consumed whole and general abundance, voles are a major food source for Northern Hawk Owls.
They will also consume young hares, red squirrels, mice, rats, and lemmings. These types of owls in Europe can even eat smaller songbirds in their diet!
Males utter a low, rolling “hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo” sound between ten and two hundred times. Females make similar cries, although they are hoarser and shorter.
6. Tawny Owl
The Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) is a species of owl found in many parts of Europe.
It is the most common owl in its range and the only species in the family Strigidae native to the continent.
The Tawny Owl has a wide range, occurring from Great Britain, France, and Germany to Estonia and Finland.
It prefers a habitat of mature deciduous or mixed woodland, parks, and gardens.
The Tawny Owl has a mottled brown-and-black plumage with yellow eyes. Its call is often heard in the evening and is quite vocal at night.
Its diet consists mainly of small mammals, insects, and other small prey. It is not left out of this list of the different types of owls in Europe!
7. Eurasian Eagle Owl
The Eurasian eagle owl (Bubo bubo) is one of Europe’s most impressive birds of prey. Found in many areas throughout the continent, it has a wingspan of up to almost 2 meters.
This owl is also one of the largest of its kind, with a mass ranging between 2.5 and 4.5 kg.
Although they are mainly found in coniferous and deciduous forests, they also inhabit mountainous regions and grasslands.
They feed mainly on small mammals such as hares, rabbits, rats, and other rodents.
These owls have distinct plumage and coloring: their head, throat, and upper chest are usually brownish-gray, while their underparts are whitish or grayish-white.
The back is streaked with gray and white. Its eyes are yellow with black centers, and it has short, broad wings.
These types of owls in Europe are nocturnal and are most active during the night and early morning hours.
In addition, they can be heard from far away, as their distinctive call sounds like a deep hooting noise.
8. Barn Owl
The Barn Owl is one of Europe’s most widely distributed types of owls.
It is found throughout the continent, from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean countries.
The Barn Owl is quite small. Its face is white with a heart-shaped facial disk. Its plumage is mostly brownish-gray with a white underbelly.
The bird preys mainly on small mammals such as voles, mice, shrews, and rats. It hunts mainly in open fields, meadows, and pastures.
The species is endangered due to human activity’s destruction of their natural habitats.
Several European countries have adopted conservation measures to protect them, such as creating wildlife sanctuaries and providing habitat protection laws.
9. Eurasian Scops Owl
The Eurasian Scops Owl is one of Europe’s most widespread owl species. It is a small bird of prey with a white face, large yellow eyes, and a greyish-brown body.
It inhabits mainly open woodlands, deciduous forests, parks, gardens, and hedgerows.
They usually hunt at dusk and dawn by perching on a tree branch and waiting for prey.
They mainly feed on insects, although they occasionally feed on small birds and rodents.
The Eurasian Scops Owl is an important part of the European ecosystem. It helps control the population of pests and provides a food source for other predators.
They are also popular in many European cities, often perched on rooftops or trees.
Apart from being types of owls in Europe, they are usually quite shy birds, so it is not always easy to spot them in the wild.
10. Tengmalm’s Owl
Tengmalm’s Owl (Aegolius funereus) is one of Europe’s most widespread types of owls.
Found throughout northern and central Europe, this small, nocturnal bird is a specialist predator of small rodents and birds.
Although Tengmalm’s Owls are generally solitary, they sometimes congregate in small family groups during breeding.
In addition, during winter months, these birds can be found in large flocks of up to 200 individuals.
The Tengmalm Owl is characteristically white, with grey upper parts and a brownish-barred underside. It also has distinctive yellow eyes, a black beak, and ear tufts.
With a wingspan of roughly 36 cm, Tengmalm Owls are one of the smallest owl species in Europe.
11. Eurasian Pygmy Owl
The Eurasian Pygmy Owl is one of Europe’s smallest types of owls, measuring just 14 to 16 centimeters in length and weighing only 30 to 35 grams.
Its head and upper parts are gray-brown with white and light brown spotting, while its underparts are white with reddish-brown streaks.
This owl is native to Scandinavia, Russia, and some parts of the UK.
It prefers wooded areas with dense tree canopies and can be found from sea level up to an altitude of 1600 meters.
This owl’s diet primarily consists of small birds and mammals, such as mice and voles. It is also known to hunt during the day and at night.
12. Ural Owl
The ural owl (Strix uralensis) is a large species of owl native to Europe. Its impressive wingspan ranges from 110 to 130 cm and it can weigh up to 1 kg.
These particular types of owls in Europe are brown with distinctive white markings on their back.
Ural Owls are known to inhabit forests, parks, gardens, and urban areas.
They are mostly nocturnal and can be found hunting at night for small mammals, insects, amphibians, and birds.
These owls breed in the summer and build their nests on trees or abandoned buildings.
Ural Owls are a great addition to any area and are a delight to watch!
13. Snowy Owl
One of the most beautiful animals on the earth is the snowy owl, one of the many types of owls in Europe.
Almost everyone, birders and non-birders alike, is stopped by their white plumage!
They are largely white, but horizontal, dark lines run all over their bodies, excluding the face and breasts.
Interestingly, Snowy Owls travel with the seasons and appear whiter as they age.
On the northern tundra, they reproduce during the summer. But when winter approaches, these birds migrate south to warmer climates.
Most years, Snowy Owls’ sightings are limited to northern Europe. However, occasionally, there is a Snowy Owl “irruption,” causing a large increase in the number of birds that migrate south.
