Owls are nocturnal birds who belong to the order Strigiformes, and there are over 200 owl species in total all over the world.The owl is typically know for its unique body features including a peculiar upright stance, a large head, binocular vision, sharp talons, and feathers which help in silent flight. Interestingly, owls are divided into two categories, one is the true owl family or Strigidae and the other is the barn owl family or Tytonidae.You might have not come across owls in real life but you will have read about them and watched them many times, most famously in the Harry Potter series. Owls are known for their shady appearance and mysterious behaviour, but it is not common for people to wonder how long owls can live or what is the average owl lifespan? Well, as a rule of thumb, larger owls tend to have a relatively longer lifespan compared to smaller owls. Like many other birds and animals, owls too have an increased average lifespan when they live in captivity in comparison to when they live in the wild. Habitat loss is believed to be one of the key reasons behind the declining average lifespan of owls.How long do snowy owls live?There are various kinds of owls in the world. Some popular species include the barn owl, the great horned owl, the screech owl, the elf owl, the short-eared owl, the flammulated owl, the burrowing owl, the spotted owl and, the snowy owl. Snowy owls are perhaps the most majestic owl species of all with their white colored bodies which look unique.Snowy owls are one of the largest owls. Their body size is relatively larger than many other owls. On average, these owls have a body size of 20.5-28 in (52-71 cm). At the same time, they also have the longest lifespan out of all owls. Snowy owls in the wild have an average lifespan of 8-10 years but when in captivity, these birds have a significantly larger average lifespan. Snowy owls’ lifespan in captivity is around 28 years which is a lot even for these large and sturdy birds. These birds are native to North America and largely breed in tundra regions. Snowy owls have considerably strong bodies and are known to posses some smart defensive tactics as well. They are believed to be the longest-winged owl species in North America. Sadly, in recent years, there has been a dramatic decrease in the population of these owls and they are on verge of extinction. Many owls belonging to different species are facing a similar threat such as the Siau scops owl and the Pernambuco pygmy owl. Governments have been taking the required steps to protect owls and prevent them from becoming extinct.How long do owls live as pets?Even though owls aren’t meant to be kept as pets and can be properly maintained in captivity by an expert, results have showed that their life expectancy is significantly better when they live in captivity. On top of that, an owl’s life expectancy as a pet is even more than some of the other pets you might have such as a dog, a cat, or a goldfish.The primary reason why owls in captivity tend to live longer is because they aren’t exposed to the same dangers in a controlled environment that they have to encounter and overcome in the wild. At the same time, when they are kept as pets in a safe area, they are fed at regular intervals and the items they eat are beneficial for their health, directly leading to a healthier owl with an increased life expectancy. In the wild, owls eat insects of all kinds and other animals which might not prove to be the healthiest choice for their bodies. When they are kept as pets, they do not have to worry about the food source and are fed what is recommended by the experts. Most owls with small bodies also have a healthy life expectancy when they live in captivity because they do not have to worry about predators. Owls in the wild that have a small body size and belong to a lower level of the food chain are often attacked by larger predators, and this is one of the primary reasons behind owl deaths in the wild. The same species of owls when in captivity live longer due to several factors. One factor is proper care is given to all animals and birds that live in a regulated environment such as a zoo, a farm, or a home. However, you must be trained and licensed to keep an owl. You cannot own a native owl as a pet in the US. They don’t make great pets either as they are predatory birds and have an aggressive nature.How long do barn owls live?The barn owl is one of the smaller species of owls with an average body size of 13-16 in (33-41 cm). As the name suggests, barn owls are usually found in grasslands, deserts, and are widely used by farmers. Farmers use barn owls to get rid of any small rodents on their farms such as mice and small raccoons. A barn owl is famous for its listening power as it has the ability to stay perfectly quiet but can listen for even the slightest of sounds which often helps it to escape from many predators as its small body size makes it easy prey.On average, barn owls can live for only around two to four years in the wild but the same kind of owls live longer when they are kept in captivity and are cared for. The barn owl lifespan when in captivity rises to 16-18 years! We know that the lifespans of owls varies depending on the owl species. This is because of the different body sizes and also where owls live.For instance, an American barn owl has a maximum lifespan close to 12 years but a Dutch barn owl can live as long as almost 18 years. A barn owl in England is a record holder in this criteria as it lived for more than 25 years! Barn owls have a high growth rate but people only see a few of them because hardly 30% of barn owls after being born reach adulthood, and the primary reason for the high death rate is the loss of natural habitat and danger from predators. Due to habitat loss, a barn owl living in temperate regions cannot acquire ample food during the winter reason and due to lack of food source, often starves to death. Moreover, many of these birds also die due to pesticides as they come into contact with them when live around farms and grasslands.How long do great horned owls live?The great horned owl is one of the longest living birds. This species is exclusively found in the Americas and has an even longer average lifespan than snowy owls. Ironically, the mortality rate of the young ones of great horned owls is pretty high. However, once these birds undergo total physical development and enter adulthood, they go on to live pretty long lives.The primary factor behind this is that they do not fall prey to other animals, like many owl species do. The great horned owl is one of the most popular owl species in the world. Great horned owls have been given this name due to the presence of the ear tufts on their heads which look like horns.On average, the great horned owl has a life expectancy of 13-15 years in the wild. However, many great horned owls go on to live well into their early 20s as well. What might amaze you more is, this owl species has the potential to live until its mid to late-thirties. These owls can live for a long time if they live in captivity and are taken care of properly. A 29 year old great horned owl holds the record for the oldest owl to be ever recorded. Just like snowy owls, the population of great horned owls has also been experiencing a decline due to excessive deforestation, illegal hunting, and an increasing presence of chemicals in the air.
Owls are nocturnal birds who belong to the order Strigiformes, and there are over 200 owl species in total all over the world.
