Introduction
This quiz tests your ability to identify 12 owl species by sight, sound, and signature behavior. I’ll walk you from obvious characters (like the snowy white Snowy Owl) to the tiny, tricky Elf Owl. Ready to prove your owl-spotting chops?
Owls are surprisingly diverse: some are diurnal, some nest underground, and some have ear tufts that look like horns. If you want a quick refresher before starting, I wrote up 10 Amazing Facts About Owls and a deep dive on neck anatomy in Why Do Owls Turn Their Heads So Far?.
About the Quiz
There are 12 multiple-choice questions that mix easy ID clues (plumage, size) with behavior and habitat hints. Questions get progressively harder so you’ll warm up before the curveballs.
Instructions
- Read each question and pick the best answer.
- You’ll see a short explanation after each answer to help you learn.
- A passing score is 70% — try for Excellent! Share your result with friends if you beat them.
How Well Do You Know Owl Species?
Test your knowledge of 12 owl species — from the Great Horned to the tiny Elf Owl. Identify by appearance, call, and behavior.
Which owl species is famous for its prominent ear tufts and deep, resonant hoots?
The Great Horned Owl is known for its large ear tufts (not ears) and a powerful, hooting voice. Those ‘horns’ help break up its outline among branches.
Which owl has a distinctive heart-shaped facial disk and hunts silently at night?
Barn Owls have a pale, heart-shaped face that funnels sound to their ears — part of why their flight and hunting are so silently effective.
Which owl is large, white, and often active during the day (diurnal) in open Arctic habitats?
The Snowy Owl stands out with its white plumage and daytime hunting habits, especially in tundra and open fields where lemmings are plentiful.
Which owl has vertical brown-and-white barring on its chest and a loud, familiar call often heard in forests?
Barred Owls have dark vertical bars on a lighter chest and a recognizable hooting call. They’re common in wooded areas of North America.
Which small owl is comfortable on the ground and often nests in burrows or grasslands?
Burrowing Owls live in open grasslands and use burrows (often made by mammals) for nesting. They’re active by day and have long legs for running.
Which tiny, tree-dwelling owl comes in gray or red morphs and mimics a small raptor’s call?
Eastern Screech Owls are small and come in gray or reddish color phases. Their descending tremolo call can sound surprisingly big for a little bird.
Which owl species hunts over meadows at dusk and has relatively short ear tufts, giving it a squat look?
Short-eared Owls are often seen flying low over fields at dusk. Their ear tufts are small and not always visible, making them appear round-headed.
Which small, secretive owl is named for its high, saw-like call and often hides in dense conifers?
The Northern Saw-whet Owl is a tiny, nocturnal bird with a trilling call that gave it the ‘saw-whet’ name. They prefer dense forests and are hard to spot.
Which tiny owl—one of the smallest—lives in deserts and can be active around cacti and palm groves?
The Elf Owl is petite and often nests in woodpecker holes in desert cacti and trees. Despite its size, it feeds on insects and small vertebrates at night.
Which owl species is known for very long ear tufts that sit close together, giving a narrow-headed silhouette?
Long-eared Owls have long, closely-set tufts that make their head look narrow. They roost in dense trees and hunt rodents from perches.
Which very large owl has a disc-like face, long gray body, and specializes in hunting in dense boreal forests?
The Great Gray Owl is tall with a huge facial disk and long body. It prefers boreal forests and hunts by dropping silently onto prey beneath the snow or vegetation.
Which classic European species is stocky with rounded head and tawny-brown coloring, common in woodlands and parks across Europe?
The Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) is a familiar Eurasian species with warm brown plumage and a muffled hoot. It’s a good example of how owl species differ across continents.