Owls vary enormously in size, and their lifespans vary with them. In general, bigger owls live longer, and all owls live far longer when protected from the dangers of the wild.
How long do owls live in the wild?
Wild owl lifespans range widely by species. Smaller owls such as barn owls often live only about 4 years on average in the wild, while larger species like the great horned owl commonly live 10 to 15 years. As with most birds, many young owls do not survive their first year, which lowers the averages.
Owls live longer in captivity
Protected from predators, starvation and accidents, owls in captivity or rehabilitation can live much longer — often 20 to 30 years, and some large owls beyond that. A steady food supply and veterinary care make an enormous difference.
What shortens an owl's life
In the wild, the biggest dangers are starvation when prey is scarce, collisions with vehicles, and secondary poisoning from eating rodents that have eaten rat poison — a major, avoidable cause of owl deaths. Habitat loss also makes food and nesting sites harder to find.