Owls

The Bible typically refers broadly to bird families (sparrows, swallows, eagles, etc.), but it is more specific with owls, mentioning several species.  

In current taxonomy, there are two families of owls; the barn owls (18 species) include barn owls and bay owls. All other owls (200+ species) are a second family. These are categorized by size (pygmy/owlet, elf); sound (saw-whet, boobooks, screech); head features (eared, earless, horned/eagle, crested); facial features (scops, spectacled, long-whiskered, white-faced, maned); behavior (hawk, burrowing); coloring (flammulated); and location (Jamaican, Papuan hawk-owl). The largest owl (by length) is the great grey owl (24 to 33 inches long, wingspan up to five feet); the smallest is the elf owl (less than 5 inches long, wingspan 10 inches).

Owls have long fascinated people; they are both unique and mysterious. Their association with legends, omens, and superstitions probably has to do with their haunting calls and nighttime activity. Owls hunt primarily at night (nocturnal), although some species also hunt at dawn and dusk (crepuscular). A few owls will hunt during the day, perhaps more so when they are feeding young. If not in hiding, daytime owls are often motionless, quiet specters that are easy to walk by without seeing.

This nighttime nature makes seeing owls challenging; even if a birder goes out on an owl prowl, beginning at midnight or 3:00AM, the darkness of night hinders the viewing of birds. Owls are more often heard than seen. Another practice is nighttime banding, which can start at dusk. Nets are set out, and prey sounds are played to draw owls in.

I have had little success with owls. My most common sighting is a great horned owl, simply because I learned where it nests; I have been able to locate the nest a few years and view both parents and babies. This year I finally managed an eastern screech-owl in a nesting box. One of my 2026 highlights was a barred owl. As I was out walking, I heard a tremendous squawking of blue jays. (This is a great sign to be alert that something is going on.) The blue jays soon flew into view, chasing a barred owl that landed in a tree right down the trail from me. My owl nemesis is the short-eared owl. I have made multiple trips the past few years to a known location, but with no success. I also know the location of an occupied barn owl box, but the owls are safely hiding inside whenever I am there.

The Bible mentions up to six different owls. Ten owl species live in Israel today, and I have taken the liberty of making amateur suggestions of which modern-day owls might match the Bible’s species. Four of the Bible’s owls are given in the lists of unclean birds. “These, moreover, you shall detest among the birds; they are abhorrent, not to be eaten … the ostrich and the owl and the sea gull and the hawk in its kind, and the little owl and the cormorant and the great owl, and the white owl and the pelican and the carrion vulture” (Leviticus 11:13,16-18). This list is repeated in Deuteronomy, in a slightly different order: “the ostrich, the owl, the seagull, and the hawk in their kinds, the little owl, the great owl, the white owl” (14:15-16).

The owl (Strong’s Hebrew word 8464): the precise meaning is unknown, and this bird may be extinct. Some believe it likely to be a great owl, while others translate this as a male ostrich, (although “ostrich” is the previous bird in both lists). If this is indeed a large owl, it could be represented today by the Eurasian eagle-owl and the Pharaoh eagle-owl; these very large owls prefer rocky canyons and arid habitat.

The little owl (Strong’s Hebrew word 3563): this is pretty certain to be some kind of owl, and the word root has to do with a cup, which supports the idea of a small owl. Modern Israel has three small owls: the Eurasian scops-owl, the pallid scops-owl, and the little owl.

The great owl (Stong’s Hebrew word 3244): this is believed to be a great owl or eared owl. Israel has both the long-eared owl and the short-eared owl.

The white owl (Stong’s Hebrew word 8580): the precise meaning is unknown, and this creature may be extinct. While the consensus is that this is a bird, some believe it to be a lizard. Since these two lists are identified by God as lists of birds, we can be confident it is a bird in these references. Suggestions include an ibis or water-hen, but many believe it to be an owl, and more specifically, possibly a barn owl. Israel’s western barn owl has a stark white face and often bright white underparts; its overall coloring is light compared to most owls.

These two lists are not very insightful or informative about the various owls. The purpose of these lists is to identify unclean birds that were not to be eaten. Generally, birds of prey are not recommended for eating, due to concerns of disease.

There are a few other owl references in the Bible. The little owl is mentioned once more, translated simply “owl,” but the same Hebrew word. “I have become like an owl of the waste places” (Psalm 102:6). The author of this psalm describes his time of distress; he feels dry, despairing, and isolated. He compares himself to owls who live in dry and desolate areas where few birds dwell.

Isaiah gives a very similar description of birds that live in a barren and scorched land.  “But pelican and hedgehog will possess it, and owl and raven will dwell in it; and He will stretch over it the line of desolation and the plumb line of emptiness” (Isaiah 34:11). Translated “owl,” this is the same Hebrew word as great owl.

Both of these references highlight the desolate places that owls can live, although they are not habitats frequented by most birds. Interestingly, this is precisely one of the reasons (in addition to their nocturnal practices) that the study of owls is limited in comparison to the study of other birds.

The Isaiah passage just quoted gives us two other possible owl references. “The desert creatures will meet with the wolves, the hairy goat also will cry to its kind; yes, the night monster will settle there and will find herself a resting place” (v. 14). The “night monster” could refer to a night demon/goddess named Lilith that haunted the area, or perhaps to a nocturnal animal that encouraged such a legend. Spoken of as a creature that settles there and finds a resting place, it certainly sounds like it could be a bird, and owls are often associated with legends and omens. Some people believe this is a screech owl, whose nighttime sound has been known to terrorize people. The tawny owl lives in Israel’s rocky areas and shrieks at night.

“The tree snake will make its nest and lay eggs there, and it will hatch and gather them under its protection. Yes, the hawks will be gathered there, every one with its kind” (v. 15). The meaning of “tree snake” is doubtful, and some experts believe it to be an owl. It is noteworthy that most snakes do not care for their young after birth, but a bird would do all four actions - make a nest, lay eggs, hatch the eggs, and gather the young under its protection. The desert owl favors desert canyons as its home.

Whatever the specifics of these owls are, the Bible does recognize multiple members of this family that continues to fascinate people.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.