One of the common questions that strikes people’s minds about the diverse nature of owls is: How much do owls weigh?
There are about 254 species of owls of small and large sizes in the world, and their weight is not the same. The owl’s weight, more or less, depends on the species and gender of the owl.
Generally, female owls of each species weigh more than male owls. Anyway, I will give you accurate information about the weight of a mature owl of different species below.
Let’s know how much Barn Owls, Barred Owls, Snowy Owls, Great Horned Owls, Great Gray Owls, Tawny Owls, Screech Owls, etc. weigh in kg.
Contents
- 1 How much do owls weigh?
- 2 On what factors does the weight of an owl depend?
- 3 Species:
- 4 Age:
- 5 Gender:
- 6 Food Availability and Habitat:
- 7 Climate and season:
- 8 What is the maximum weight an owl can carry?
- 9 What does the heaviest owl weigh?
- 10 How much does the average owl weigh?
- 11 (1) Small Owls:
- 12 (2) Medium-sized Owls:
- 13 (3) Large Owls:
- 14 How much do snowy owls weigh?
- 15 How much do barn owls weigh?
- 16 How much do barred owls weigh?
- 17 How much do burrowing owls weigh?
- 18 How much does a screech owl weigh?
- 19 How much does an owl weigh at birth?
- 20 FAQs
- 21 Conclusion
How much do owls weigh?
Here is a list of the average weights of male and female owls belonging to some small and large species. Female owls’ average weight and length are always greater than male owls.
Depending on their living areas, the same species of owl may have different weights in two different locations.
| Sl No. | Owl Species | Average Weight (grams) |
| 1. | Barn Owl | 400 to 700 grams |
| 2. | Great Horned Owl | 1,000 to 2,200 grams |
| 3. | Snowy Owl | 1,600 to 2,900 grams |
| 4. | Barred Owl | 450 to 700 grams |
| 5. | Eastern Screech Owl | 110 to 250 grams |
| 6. | Eurasian Eagle Owl | 1,500 to 4,500 grams |
| 7. | Northern Sawtowhet Owl | 50 to 100 grams |
| 8. | Burrowing Owl | 120 to 240 grams |
| 9. | Long-toed Owl | 250 to 475 grams |
| 10. | Short-toed Owl | 200 to 450 grams |
| 11. | Tawny Owl | 300 to 600 grams |
| 12. | Spectacled Owl | 800 to 1,200 grams |
| 13. | Ural Owl | 700 to 1,300 grams |
| 14. | Little Owl | 150 to 250 grams |
| 15. | Western Screech Owl | 110 to 250 grams |
| 16. | Flammulated Owl | 40 to 60 grams |
| 17. | Northern Pygmy Owl | 60 to 80 grams |
| 18. | Eurasian Pygmy Owl | 50 to 80 grams |
| 19. | Northern Hawk Owl | 300 to 500 grams |
| 20. | Boreal Owl | 130 to 220 grams |
| 21. | Spotted Owl | 500 to 700 grams |
| 22. | Northern Barred Owl | 500 to 700 grams |
| 23. | Fulvous Owl | 150 to 170 grams |
| 24. | Stygian Owl | 170 to 250 grams |
| 25. | Oriental Bay Owl | 90 to 130 grams |
| 26. | Sunda Scops Owl | 85 to 140 grams |
| 27. | Eastern Grass Owl | 200 to 310 grams |
| 28. | African Wood Owl | 220 to 260 grams |
| 29. | Masked Owl | 550 to 750 grams |
| 30. | Sooty Owl | 600 to 800 grams |
| 31. | Tawny tobrowed Owl | 200 to 250 grams |
| 32. | Rufous Owl | 250 to 300 grams |
| 33. | Rufous-tailed Owl | 230 to 310 grams |
| 34. | Southern Boobook Owl | 160 to 280 grams |
| 35. | Andaman Scops Owl | 95 to 125 grams |
| 36. | Crested Owl | 180 to 220 grams |
| 37. | Brown Wood Owl | 280 to 320 grams |
| 38. | Palau Owl | 150 to 160 grams |
| 39. | Brown Hawk Owl | 180 to 310 grams |
| 40. | Elf owl | 30 to 50 grams |
| 41. | Chestnut-shouldered Owl | 190 to 300 grams |
| 42. | Barking Owl | 550 to 800 grams |
| 43. | Powerful Owl | 1,000 to 2,300 grams |
| 44. | Brown Fish Owl | 900 to 1,600 grams |
| 45. | Buffy Fish Owl | 1,000 to 1,500 grams |
| 46. | Brown Boobook Owl | 170 to 250 grams |
| 47. | Jungle Owlet | 45 to 55 grams |
| 48. | White-fronted Scops Owl | 85 to 110 grams |
| 49. | Buffy Scops Owl | 55 to 85 grams |
| 50. | Serendib Scops Owl | 45 to 55 grams |
| 51. | Solomon Islands Boobook Owl | 90 to 120 grams |
On what factors does the weight of an owl depend?
The weight of any species of owl depends on several factors, which are described below:
Species:
How much an owl weighs depends on the species of owl. For example, the elf owl is specified as the smallest species of owl in the world and has an average weight of only 40 grams, while the Blakiston fish owl is considered to be the largest species of owl in the world with an average weight of 2700–4000 grams. Based on species of owls, their weight, height, habitat, color of feathers, food list, etc. change.
Age:
The weight of owls varies depending on their age. After hatching, they weigh the least, and when they become fully grown, they weigh the most, and as they get older, they gradually lose weight. such is the way that can be observed in all species of owls.
Gender:
The weight of owl species varies depending on their gender. In most species of owls, male owls have been observed to be larger in weight and height than female owls.
As the average weight of a male Barn Owl is 470 g and the average weight of a female Barn Owl is 570 g, the average weight of a male Barred Owl is 680 g and the average weight of a female Barred Owl is 820 g, a male Great Horned Owl Its average weight is 1000 grams, and the average weight of a female Great Horned Owl is 1150 grams.
The average weight of a male Snowy Owl is 1200 grams, and the average weight of a female Snowy Owl is 1800 grams.
Food Availability and Habitat:
Often, it has been found that despite belonging to the same species and living in two different areas, owls differ in the color and weight of their feathers.
This difference in weight is mainly due to the change in food that is made as a result of living in two different places. Also, because of a shortage of food, owls in many areas become emaciated, which naturally causes owls to lose weight.
Climate and season:
Climate and seasonal changes have a considerable effect on the weight of owls. It has been observed that owls lose a lot of weight in several seasons.
Especially during the breeding season of owls, taking care of their young and collecting and feeding food for the young does not make up for their proper diet, which causes owls to lose weight.
Some owls are born in a season other than the ideal season, and their weight is often observed to be low. Due to climate change, the ideal hunting time for owls is changing in many areas, largely due to humans, causing food shortages and weight loss for owls.
What is the maximum weight an owl can carry?
The maximum weight an owl can carry varies depending on the species of owl. A larger owl can carry more weight than a smaller species of owl.
However, it has been found that an owl can lift and carry roughly 1.4 times its weight. A great-horned owl has been recorded to carry a maximum weight of 2,500 g. Owls’ bodies have evolved to carry prey heavier than their weight.
Owls’ bodies are adapted for holding heavier prey with their toes and flying heavier prey with their wings. Some species of owls hunt larger fish from water bodies; one such owl species is the Blakiston fish owl.
What does the heaviest owl weigh?
Owls such as the Great Horned Owl, Snowy Owl, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Powerful Owl, Buffy Fish Owl, and Blakiston Fish Owl are known as large species of owls.
Females are generally larger in weight and size than males in all species of owls. While a mature Great Horned Owl weighs an average of 2.20 lb to 4.85 lb, a Snowy Owl weighs 3.53 lb to 6.39lb on average.
The Eurasian Eagle Owl’s weight is 3.31 lb to 9.92lb on average; the Powerful Owl’s average weight is 2.20 lb to 5.07 lb; the Buffy Fish Owl weighs 2.20 lb to 3.31 lb on average; and the Blakiston Fish Owl has the largest weight of these owl species, weighing 6.5 to 10.1 lb (2.95 to 4.6 kg).
How much does the average owl weigh?
Based on their weight, about 254 species of owls found in the world can be divided into three categories: (1) small owls that weigh between 50 and 300 grams; (2) medium-sized owls weighing between 300 and 1000 grams; and (3) large owls, i.e., those owl species weighing more than 1000 grams, are included in this list.
(1) Small Owls:
We call the owl species that average weight between 50 and 300 grams small owls. Elf Owl, whose scientific name is Micrathene whitneyi, is known as the smallest owl in the world. This owl species lives across large areas of the United States and Mexico.
They have 40 grams (1.4 oz) of weight on average, are only 5 to 6 inches (12 to 15 cm) in length, and have a wingspan of about 11 inches (27 cm). Besides, the Northern Saw Towhet Owl, Eastern Screech Owl, Burrowing Owl, Flammulated Owl, Northern Pygmy Owl, Eurasian Pygmy Owl, Eastern Grass Owl, and Andaman Scops Owl, etc. are known as small owls.
(2) Medium-sized Owls:
All owl species whose average weight is more than 300 grams or between 1000 grams are known as medium-sized owl species. Barn owls, which typically weigh between 400 and 700 grams, are known worldwide as medium-sized owls.
Besides, the list of medium-sized owls shows the Barred Owl, whose average weight is 450 to 700 grams; the Spotted Owl, whose average weight is 500 to 700 grams; the Tawny Owl, whose average weight is 300 to 600 grams; the Northern Hawk Owl, whose average weight is 300 to 500 grams; and Spotted Owl, whose average weight is 300 to 500 grams.
Owls whose average weight is 500 to 700 grams, Northern Barred Owls whose average weight is 500 to 700 grams, etc.
(3) Large Owls:
Owl species that weigh more than 1000 grams on average are commonly known as large owls. The Blakiston fish owl tops this list, with an average weight of 2700–4000 grams. That’s why the Blakiston fish owl is identified as the largest species of owl in the world.
Apart from large owls, there are enlisted the Snowy Owl with an average weight of 1600 to 2900 grams, the Great Horned Owl with an average weight of 1000 to 2200 grams, the Eurasian Eagle Owl with an average weight of 1500 to 4500 grams, the Powerful Owl with an average weight of 1000 to 2300 grams, and the Buffy Fish Owl with an average weight of 1000 to 1500 grams, etc.
How much do snowy owls weigh?
The snowy owl is usually specified as a large white owl and is found in the northern United States, northern Canada, arctic tundra, Eurasia, Russia, Scandinavia, and parts of Siberia.
The body of this species of owl is adaptable to survive in cold, snowy areas. The hunting patterns of this species of owl differ from those of other species of owls, snowy owls are more likely to prey during daylight hours, while other species of owl hunt at dusk and mass.
An adult male snowy owl weighs 2.3 to 2.7 kilograms (5 to 6 lb), while an adult female snowy owl weighs 2.7 to 3.6 kilograms (6 to 8 lb) on average.
How much do barn owls weigh?
The barn owl is usually a species of gray or brown owl structured in medium size and existing on all continents of the world except Antarctica, such as the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Europe. Barn owls are better known in the world as owls mate for life.
This species of owl is well known for its beautiful heart-shaped face pattern. There are approximately 24 subspecies of barn owls in the world, each with feathers that vary in color depending on where they live.
An adult male barn owl weighs 330 to 400 grams (about 11.6 to 14.1 ounces) on average, while an adult female barn owl has an average weight of 400 to 600 grams (about 14.1 to 21.2 ounces).
How much do barred owls weigh?
The barred owl, typically a medium-sized brown to gray and white barred owl, is a native owl of the Americas, with habitats throughout much of the Americas.
This species of owl is known as the barred owl for the color of its plumage. These species of owls appear to be more aggressive. They are also notable for a unique hooting call that indicates their location.
An adult male barred owl average weighs 460 to 620 grams (about 16 to 22 ounces), while an adult female barred owl average weighs 620 to 710 grams (about 22 to 25 ounces).
How much do burrowing owls weigh?
The burrowing owl is usually categorized as a small species of sand-colored owl with white spots on the upper feathers and brown spots on the lower part of the thorax, also called choco in many places.
Owls of this species can be seen in large areas of the United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, etc. Like other owls, they tend to hunt at dawn and dusk but are often found to be more active during daylight hours.
An adult male burrowing owl weighs 113 to 170 grams (about 4.0 to 6.0 ounces) on average, while an adult female burrowing owl weighs 142 to 198 grams (about 5.0 to 7.0 ounces) on average.
How much does a screech owl weigh?
The screech owl usually belongs to a small owl species that has two types: the Eastern Screech Owl and the Western Screech Owl.
These species of owls are brownish, grayish, or reddish-brown. Eastern Screech Owls are native to a wide range of habitats, from northeastern America to southern Canada.
Western screech owls can be seen in southwestern Canada, the northwestern United States, and Mexico. The name of this species of owl has been chosen according to its habitat.
Eastern Screech Owl Males average 150 to 178 grams (5.3 to 6.3 ounces), and females average 180 to 215 grams (6.4 to 7.6 ounces).
On the other hand, the average weight of Western Screech Owl males is 170 to 205 grams (6 to 7.2 ounces), and the average weight of female owls is 200 to 240 grams (7 to 8.5 ounces).
How much does an owl weigh at birth?
Owls vary in birth weight depending on the species. Generally, larger species of owls gain higher birth weights, and smaller species of owls gain lower birth weights.
According to various sources of information, the world’s smallest owls, the elf owl, and the pygmy owl, weigh about 4 grams at birth.
On the other hand, the Blakiston fish owl is a large species of owl whose average birth weight is 40 to 60 grams. Besides, there can also be some medium-sized owl species, like barn owls, whose average birth weight is 20 to 30 grams.
FAQs
Q. How much does a large owl weigh?
Ans: The Blakiston fish owl, found in several areas of Japan and Russia, is the largest species of owl in the world, with a maximum weight of 10.1 lb.
Q. What owl weighs 10 lbs?
Ans: An adult female Blakiston fish owl can weigh up to 10 lbs.
Q. How much weight can a full-grown owl pick up?
Ans: Since an owl can lift 1.4 times its body weight, a large Blakiston fish owl can carry a maximum weight of 14.14lb.
Q. Can an owl pick up a 10 lb dog?
Ans: A large species of owl can pick up a dog of 10 lb. But owls do not have dogs on their favorite diet list.
Q. How much does the spotted owl weigh?
Ans: The average weight of an adult spotted owl is 500 to 700 grams.
Conclusion
I hope I have provided you with adequate information about the weight of owls to answer the question “How much do owls weigh?” which has been discussed above.
If you want to know about the weight of a particular species of owl that is not in my post, you can do so in my command box.
You can also share any information about the weight of the owl. Unknowingly, something we do has a huge impact on the owl species, leading to their decline and extinction.
However, we have to look after these beautiful birds so that they can roam freely in their habitats.
