Species group · Birds

Owlets

WAnimals has 4 species of owlet, all in the family Strigidae.

4 species
1 family
100 countries
293 parks
Weight
35 g – 240 g
Length
12 cm – 25 cm
Lifespan
3 – 9 years

Ranges calculated from the entries that record the figure, not from all 4.

All 4 species of owlets on WAnimals

Each one has its own full entry. This group does not replace them: it brings them together.

Conservation status

4 Least Concern

No species documented in this group is genuinely at risk according to the IUCN, with the data available today.

See the global conservation status

Where they live

Recorded in 100 countries. The ones with the most species in the group:

Where to see them

Did you know…

  • Its scientific name means literally 'wise digger'.

    From Burrowing Owl

  • It nests underground, in burrows of its own or inherited from other mammals.

    From Burrowing Owl

  • It lines the entrance of its burrow with cattle dung, possibly to attract insects.

    From Burrowing Owl

  • It is the smallest owl in all of Europe.

    From Eurasian Pygmy Owl

  • It catches birds almost as large as itself in mid-air.

    From Eurasian Pygmy Owl

  • It caches food in tree holes in autumn, a habit uncommon among owls.

    From Eurasian Pygmy Owl

  • It is one of the smallest owls in the world and usually nests in holes cut by woodpeckers in the great saguaro cacti of the Sonoran Desert.

    From Elf Owl

  • It is the smallest owl in the world: it weighs the same as two coins and fits in the palm of a hand.

    From Elf Owl

Ecosystems

See every species group · Explore the species one by one