There are more than 200 owl species worldwide, each adapted to its own habitat. Here are some of the most familiar types you may encounter.
Well-known owl species
The barn owl has a pale, heart-shaped face and hunts by sound, as covered in the barn owl diet. The great horned owl is a large, powerful predator with distinctive feather tufts. The snowy owl is a white Arctic species made famous by popular films. The eastern screech owl is small and superbly camouflaged, while the barred owl is known for its who-cooks-for-you call. Each is a specialised member of the birds of prey family.
Smaller and specialised owls
Not all owls are large forest dwellers. The burrowing owl is a small, long-legged species that lives in underground burrows on open grassland and is often active during the day. The tiny elf owl, one of the smallest in the world, nests inside desert cacti. Pygmy owls are also small but bold hunters. These species show how varied owls can be, adapting to deserts, prairies and woodlands. To see what unites them, read what owls eat.