What is the biggest owl in the world? Top 10 largest breeds to ever exist
Owls are known for their silent flight and sharp hunting skills, but the biggest species in the world, like the Eurasian eagle-owl and Great horned owl, stand out as powerful apex predators. Yilma Abebe, an ornithologist and conservation biologist, explains that identifying the largest varies depending on size, wingspan, and weight, and understanding how owls are measured and how they hunt is key to distinguishing these large owls from their smaller relatives.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- The Blakiston's fish owl is the largest in the world. It leads in both weight (up to 4.5 kg/9.9 lbs) and wingspan (up to 2 meters/7 ft).
- The Great grey owl is the largest owl species in the northern hemisphere, with a wingspan between 1.5 and 1.8 m (5 – 6 ft).
- The Great horned owl is the most powerful of these species, weighing between 1.6 – 3.5 kg (3.5 – 7.7 lbs).
- The largest owls are apex predators that hunt down prey that other animals avoid.
- In most large owl species, the females are up to 30% larger and more powerful than the males.
We strive to provide our readers with valuable insights and information through our various rankings and lists. We used data from largest.org, facts.net, Randomfun, Gitnux, and other publicly available data to analyse the owls’ sizes.
10 biggest owls in the world
Besides being nocturnal animals, owls can fly nearly silently and stay hidden thanks to exceptional camouflage. Owls are found on every continent except Antarctica.
The Eurasian eagle owl (Bubo bubo) and the Blakiston's fish owl (Bubo blakistoni) are among the largest owl species. Here are some of the biggest owl species and what makes each unique.
Species | Weight (kg/lbs) | Length (cm/in) |
Eurasian eagle-owl | 2.3 – 4.5 kg (5 – 10 lbs) | Up to 75 cm (30 inches) |
Blakiston's fish owl | 4 – 4.5 kg (8.8 – 9.9 lbs) | Up to 95 cm (37 inches) |
Great grey owl | 1.3 – 1.8 kg (2.9 – 4 lbs) | Up to 80 cm (31 inches) |
Great horned owl | 1.6 – 3.5 kg (3.5 – 7.7 lbs) | Up to 64 cm (25 inches) |
Snowy owl | 1.6 – 3.5 kg (3.5 – 7.7 lbs) | Up to 71 cm (28 inches) |
Pharaoh eagle-owl | 1.6 – 3.2 kg (3.5 – 7 lbs) | Up to 60 cm (24 inches) |
Indian eagle-owl | 2.7 – 3.2 kg (6 – 7 lbs) | Up to 74 cm (29 inches) |
Cape eagle-owl | 2 – 4 kg (4.4 – 8.8 lbs) | Up to 60 cm (24 inches) |
Verreaux's eagle-owl | 2 – 4 kg (4.4 – 8.8 lbs) | Up to 61 cm (24 inches) |
Magellanic horned owl | 1.5–2.5 kg (3.3– 5.5 lbs) | Up to 55 cm (21.7 inches) |
1. Eurasian eagle-owl
Source: Getty Images
- Scientific name: Bubo bubo
- Weight: 2.3 – 4.5 kg (5 – 10 lbs)
- Wingspan: 1.5 – 2.0m (5 – 6.6 ft)
- Length: Up to 75 cm (30 inches)
- Location: Europe, much of Asia, North Africa
The Eurasian eagle owl is one of the world's largest owls, with a wingspan of 1.8 to 2.8 m (6–9.2 ft). These majestic birds have prominent ear tufts, bright orange eyes, and a greyish-brown facial disc with a black beak.
They are native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa and can be found in woodlands, deserts, mountains, open grasslands, and riverbeds. They mainly feed on small mammals such as voles, rats, and rabbits.
2. Blakiston's fish owl
Source: Getty Images
- Scientific name: Bubo blakistoni
- Weight: 4 – 4.5 kg (8.8 – 9.9 lbs)
- Wingspan: 1.7–2 m (5–7 ft)
- Length: Up to 95 cm (37 inches)
- Location: Eastern Russia, northern China, and Korea
This majestic bird is the largest owl in the world. Blakiston fish owl size in weight spans between 4 and 4.5 kg (8.8–9.9 lbs), making it the heaviest owl species. What about Blakiston’s fish owl’s wingspan? This gigantic bird is also the biggest owl by wingspan, ranging between 1.7 m and 2 m (5–7 ft).
The Blakiston's fish owl is one of the biggest owls in the world compared to humans. They are mainly found in Eastern Russia, northern China, and Korea.
3. Great grey owl
Source: Getty Images
- Scientific name: Strix nebulosa
- Weight: 1.3 – 1.8 kg (2.9 – 4 lbs)
- Wingspan: 1.5 – 1.8 m (5 – 6 ft)
- Length: Up to 80 cm (31 inches)
- Location: Boreal forests of North America, Europe, and Asia
The Great grey owl, scientifically known as Strix nebulosa, is the largest owl species in the northern hemisphere, with a wingspan ranging between 1.5 – 1.8 m (5 – 6 ft). Additionally, it is one of the tallest species of owl in the world, with a length of up to 80 cm (31 in). Its name is derived from the mottled grey colouration of the body.
4. Great horned owl
Source: Getty Images
- Scientific name: Bubo virginianus
- Weight: 1.6 – 3.5 kg (3.5 – 7.7 lbs)
- Wingspan: 1.5 – 1.8 m (5 – 6 ft)
- Length: Up to 64 cm (25 inches)
- Location: Most of North and South America
This powerful predator can take down birds and mammals even larger than itself, but it also dines on daintier fare, such as tiny scorpions, mice, and frogs. Its weight ranges between 1.6 – 3.5 kg (3.5 – 7.7 lbs). These majestic birds are primarily found in North and South America. They have ultra-soft feathers to help mute any additional flapping sounds.
Snowy owl
Source: Getty Images
- Scientific name: Bubo scandiacus
- Weight: 1.6 – 3.5 kg (3.5 – 7.7 lbs)
- Wingspan: 1.5 – 1.8 m (5 – 6 ft)
- Length: Up to 71 cm (28 inches)
- Location: Arctic tundra and mountains
Snowy Owls live in open, treeless areas of the Arctic called tundra, such as prairies, fields, marshes, beaches, and dunes. These predators are opportunistic hunters who eat small mammals, such as lemmings, ground squirrels, voles, hares, and rabbits. Their weight ranges between 1.6 and 3.5 kg (3.5–7.7 lbs), and body length can reach up to 71 centimetres (28 in).
6. Pharaoh eagle-owl
Source: Getty Images
- Scientific name: Bubo ascalaphus
- Weight: 1.6 – 3.2 kg (3.5 – 7 lbs)
- Wingspan: 1.6 – 1.8 m (5.2 – 6 ft)
- Length: Up to 60 cm (24 inches)
- Location: Sub-Saharan Africa
The Pharaoh eagle-owl is a fairly large owl with relatively short and pointed ear tufts. These birds have cat-like faces, orange-yellow eyes, short ear tufts, and a dark rim on their faces.
They can grow up to 60 centimetres (24 in) with a wingspan between 1.6 and 1.8 m (5.2–6 ft). These birds are found across Sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. They stand out because they are monogamous and form a lifelong breeding pair.
7. Indian eagle-owl
Source: UGC
- Scientific name: Bubo bubo indica
- Weight: 2.7–3.2 kg (6 – 7 lbs)
- Wingspan: 1.8 – 2.5 m (6 – 8.2 ft)
- Length: Up to 74 cm (29 inches)
- Location: Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia
The Indian eagle-owl, scientifically known as Bubo bubo indica, is an owl species native to hilly and rocky scrub forests in the Indian Subcontinent. They have a relatively similar appearance to the Eurasian eagle owl, but are smaller and have weaker streaking on their underparts.
These birds weigh approximately 2.7 kg and 3.2 kg (6–7 lbs) and can have a length of up to 74 cm (29 in). The Indian eagle-owl can live up to 20 years.
8. Cape eagle-owl
Source: Getty Images
- Scientific name: Bubo capensis
- Weight: 2 – 4 kg (4.4 – 8.8 lbs)
- Wingspan: 1.5 – 2 m (5 – 6.6 ft)
- Length: Up to 60 cm (24 inches)
- Location: Sub-Saharan Africa
The Cape eagle-owl is the third biggest owl ever found in South Africa. This bird species’ habitat is mainly in the rugged and rocky terrain, mainly in the mountains.
The sides of the upper breast are densely blotched black, while the rest of the underparts have some blackish spots and coarse bars. These birds feed on mammals, from small rodents and shrews up to the size of hares.
9. Verreaux's eagle-owl
Source: Getty Images
- Scientific name: Bubo lacteus
- Weight: 2 – 4 kg (4.4 – 8.8 lbs)
- Wingspan: 1.8 – 2.1 m (6 – 7 ft)
- Length: Up to 61 cm (24 inches)
- Location: Sub-Saharan Africa
The Verreaux's eagle-owl (Giant eagle-owl or the Milky eagle-owl) species is named after Jules Verreaux, a botanist and ornithologist from France. They are primarily found in Sub-Saharan Africa and prefer a dry savanna dotted with trees and thorny shrubs.
These raptors mainly feed on medium-sized mammals, such as rats, hares, mongooses, monkeys, hedgehogs, and hyraxes.
10. Magallanic horned Owl
Source: Getty Images
- Scientific name: Bubo magellanicus
- Weight: 1.5–2.5 kg (3.3– 5.5 lbs)
- Wingspan: 1.1–1.3 meters (3.6–4.3 ft)
- Length: Up to 55 cm (21.7 inches)
- Location: South America
The Magellanic horned owl, or lesser horned owl, is known for its rounded body, white neck and throat, brown and white patches on the back, and two feathers behind the eyes that look like ears. They weigh approximately 1.5kg and 2.5 kg (3.3– 5.5 lbs), and their wingspan ranges between 1.1 and 1.3 meters (3.6–4.3 ft). These birds of prey are mainly found in South America.
Why does the “biggest” owl depend on how size is measured?
When people research the biggest owl in the world, the answer varies because diverse sources use different measurements. Yilma Abebe, an ornithologist and conservation biologist, explained that comparing these large owls requires looking at the three distinct metrics:
- Total length (the tall metric): Owls are measured from the tip of their beak to the end of their longest tail feather.
This can be misleading because it includes feathers, not just the body. For example, the Great grey owl is often cited as the ‘largest’ by length because it has a very long tail and massive, fluffy plumage. However, underneath those feathers, its actual body is surprisingly small and light.
- Wingspan (the wide metric): Owls are also measured by the distance between the tips of the longest primary feathers when the wings are fully spread.
- Body mass (the heavy metric): In biological terms, weight is the truest measure of size. On average, the Blakiston’s fish owl is the heaviest.
Abebe also adds one crucial detail that many people miss: female owls are larger. He said:
In most owl species (reverse sexual dimorphism), the female is significantly larger and heavier than the male, sometimes by as much as 30%. A ‘record-breaking’ measurement is almost always a female.
How large owls hunt and survive in the wild
Unlike smaller owls that catch insects or mice, large owls like the Great horned, Eurasian eagle-owl, and Snowy owl operate more like “winged leopards”. Abebe shared three survival tactics that set these apex predators apart:
1. Brute force over finesse: Rather than just grabbing prey, large owls rely on raw power. For example, a Great horned owl can exert around 500 pounds per square inch (PSI) with its talons (razor-sharp claws), which is over 15 times the grip strength of an average human. This allows these large owls sever the spines of their prey instantly.
2. Targeting dangerous prey: Large owls also hunt animals that other predators avoid, such as:
- Skunks: The Great horned owls are the primary predator of skunks (as owls have a poor sense of smell) without being affected by their spray.
- Porcupines: Some large owls flip porcupines over to attack the soft underbelly, avoiding their sharp spines.
- Other birds of prey: Large owls often attack hawks and smaller owls to eliminate competition.
3. Hunting on the ground: While many people imagine owls swooping from trees, the large owls often hunt on the ground, like the:
- Snowy owls sit on open ground or snow berms, using their white camouflage to ambush lemmings or ducks.
- Blakiston’s Fish Owl hunts almost exclusively in water. “They have specialized pads on their feet (spicules) to grip slippery fish, and they will wade into freezing rivers to catch salmon, much like a bear.”
What is the world's largest owl?
The Blakiston's fish owl is the world's largest owl, with its body weighing around 4 to 4.5 kg (8.8–9.9 lbs). They have an average wingspan of 1.7m and 2 m (5–7 ft).
What is the most powerful owl?
The Great horned owl is one of North America's largest and most powerful birds of prey. The fierce predator can weigh up to 4 pounds, and its talons require 28 pounds of force to open.
How big are giant owls?
The Verreaux's eagle-owl, also known as the Giant Eagle-owl, weighs 2 – 4 kg (4.4 – 8.8 lbs) and has a wingspan ranging between 1.8 and 2.1 m (6 – 7 ft).
With over 200 species living on various continents, these are the biggest owls in the world. These birds of prey are apex predators that help control populations of small mammals and insects. Their presence is essential for maintaining the functionality of ecosystems worldwide.
Source: Original
Legit.ng published an exciting post about the top 10 largest eagles in the world. Eagles are remarkably agile and can reach impressive speeds when diving or chasing prey. These birds have eyesight that is around five times better than a human’s.
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Source: Legit.ng
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