Owl Egg: what does an owl egg look like?

Just as mammals give birth, birds and amphibians lay eggs. Since owls are birds, they also lay eggs. Owl’s development and reproduction depend on their eggs. Owl eggs are indispensable for their breeding and growth.

Many bird lovers like me are interested in knowing details about different birds, especially owls. While owl eggs have similar characteristics to those of other birds, there are several distinct characteristics.

Through this article, I will provide all the information related to owl eggs, such as how owl eggs look like with pictures, the number of eggs an owl can lay, and various interesting facts about owl eggs that will develop your knowledge about owl eggs.

What do owl eggs look like?

What owl eggs look like depends entirely on the species of owl.

Small species of owls such as Elf Owl, Least Pygmy-owl, Whiskered Screech-owl, Burrowing Owl, etc. also have smaller egg sizes. Their eggs have a size of about 1 to 1.5 inches.

Eurasian Eagle-owl, Great Horned Owl, Blakiston’s Fish Owl, Verreaux’s Eagle-owl, etc. Large owl species have larger egg sizes. Their eggs are sized  2.5 to 3 inches.

Barn Owl, Screech Owl, Barred Owl, Long-eared Owl, Tawny Owl, etc. are medium species of owls with medium-sized eggs. The size of their eggs is about 1.5 to 2.5 inches.

What do barn owl eggs look like?

A common owl species that is found around the world is the barn owl. Barn owl eggs are Dull white with a slight sheen.

Its size is about 1.5 inches long and its egg shape is oval or ellipsoidal. They mainly lay 4-6 eggs between March and August. Barn owl eggs can take 29 to 34 days to hatch.

What do screech owl eggs look like?

The screech owl is specified as a native owl species in several regions of America, Canada, and Mexico. Screech owl eggs are white and sometimes have a subtle gloss.

It has a  size of about 1.3-1.4 inches in length and it is shaped oval. They mainly lay 4-5 eggs between February and March. Screech owl eggs can take 29 to 31 days to hatch.

What do Barred owl eggs look like?

Barred owls live in Eastern North America, Southern Canada, and the Pacific Northwest. The color of the eggs of this species of owl is completely white. Their eggs have a length of  1.7-2.2 inches and a width of 1.5-1.8 inches.

Barred owls living in eastern and northern regions lay eggs from February to March and barred owls living in western regions lay eggs from March to April.

They lay a maximum of 2 to 3 eggs per year, taking about 28 to 33 days to hatch.

What do Snowy owl eggs look like?

Snowy owls are native to arctic tundra, southern Canada, the northern United States, Wrangel Island, Russia, Siberia, Iceland, etc.

Snowy owl eggs are usually pure white and shiny. Their eggs have a length of about 2.2-2.7 inches and they are 1.8-2.1 inches wide.

Arctic tundra owls lay eggs from late May to early June, while southern snowy owls lay eggs from March to April. They lay about 3-11 eggs which take 31-33 days to hatch.

What do Burrowing Owls’ eggs look like?

The preferred habitats of burrowing owls are mainly in the arid regions of Northwest America, Central America, South America, the Pacific region, and Canada.

Burrowing owl eggs are white or pale brown and sometimes with light brown spots or sometimes without spots.

The eggs of this species of owl are shaped oval. They are  1.5-1.7 inches long and 1.2-1.3 inches wide.

The burrowing owl lays an average of 4 to 7 eggs between February and July. The time of laying their eggs varies slightly depending on the area.

These species of owls take 28-30 days to hatch.

What do great horned owl eggs look like?

Great horned owls are mainly found in America. In the countries of the American continent,   such as the United States, Alaska, Canada, and South American countries including Mexico. Besides, it is found. Great horned owls can also be seen in several parts of Europe and Asia.

The great horned owl lays 1–4 eggs per year, which are pale white in color and occasionally dark in color. Their eggs are shaped 2.1 – 2.2 inches long and 1.8 – 1.9 inches wide.

The great horned owl lays its eggs between January and March, but depending on the area, the time of laying eggs may vary slightly. Their eggs take about 30–37 days to hatch.

How long do owl eggs take to hatch?

How long owl eggs take to hatch depends on the species of owl and where the owl lives. Each species of owl lays a different number of eggs per year and their egg-laying environment is different.

Owls living in colder areas seem to take longer to hatch than owls living in warmer areas. Below are the names of several owl species and an idea of how long it takes for their eggs to hatch.

Sl No.	Types of owls	Hatching Time
1	Barn Owl	29 to 34 days
2	Great Horned Owl	30 to 37 days
3	Snowy Owl	31 to 33 days
4	Eastern Screech Owl	26 to 38 days
5	Northern Saw-whet Owl	21 to 29 days
6	Barred Owl	28 to 33 days
7	Spotted Owl	28 to 32 days
8	Burrowing Owl	28 to 30 days
9	Short-eared Owl	21 to 37 days
10	Long-eared Owl	25 to 30 days
11	Great Grey Owl	28 to 36 days
12	Northern Pygmy Owl	28 to 30 days
13	Tawny Owl	27 to 30 days
14	Elf Owl	21 to 23 days
15	Scops Owl	25 to 30 days
16	Northern Hawk Owl	25 to 30 days
17	Eurasian Eagle-Owl	34 to 36 days
18	Spectacled Owl	30 to 35 days
19	Ferruginous Pygmy Owl	27 to 28 days
20	Eastern Grass Owl	32 to 35 days
21	Verreaux’s Eagle Owl	33 to 35 days
22	Spotted Eagle-Owl	33 to 35 days
23	Indian Scops Owl	30 to 35 days
24	Brown Fish Owl	33 to 35 days
25	Ural Owl	28 to 33 days
26	Crested Owl	32 to 34 days
27	Pearl-spotted Owl	28 to 30 days
28	Boreal Owl	28 to 35 days
29	Andaman Masked Owl	35 to 38 days
30	Forest Owlet	38 to 40 days
31	Collared Owlet	28 to 30 days
32	Northern Boobook	30 to 40 days
33	White-faced Owl	33 to 35 days
34	Brown Wood Owl	35 to 40 days
35	Mackinder’s Eagle Owl	32 to 35 days
36	Buffy Fish Owl	33 to 35 days
37	Magellanic Horned Owl	33 to 37 days
38	Madagascar Red Owl	35 to 40 days
39	Black-and-white Owl	37 to 40 days
40	Whiskered Screech Owl	26 to 32 days
41	Philippine Eagle-Owl	28 to 32 days
42	Sunda Scops Owl	25 to 30 days
43	African Wood Owl	33 to 35 days
44	Southern Boobook	33 to 35 days
45	Brown Hawk Owl	30 to 35 days
46	Himalayan Owl	30 to 36 days
47	Madagascar Owl	32 to 35 days

When do owls lay eggs?

Variations in egg-laying time are observed in each species of owl. Even among owls of the same species, they nest and lay eggs at different times due to their habitat i.e. living in different places.

Below are the names of different species of owls and the months of their egg-laying.

Sl. No.	Owl Species	Breeding Season
1	Barn Owl	March to August
2	Great Horned Owl	January to June
3	Snowy Owl	May to September
4	Eastern Screech Owl	March to May
5	Northern Saw-whet Owl	March to June
6	Barred Owl	February to May
7	Spotted Owl	February to May
8	Burrowing Owl	March to September
9	Short-eared Owl	March to May
10	Long-eared Owl	March to June
11	Great Grey Owl	March to May
12	Northern Pygmy Owl	March to May
13	Tawny Owl	February to May
14	Elf Owl	April to June
15	Scops Owl	March to June
16	Northern Hawk Owl	April to June
17	Eurasian Eagle-Owl	December to March
18	Spectacled Owl	April to June
19	Ferruginous Pygmy Owl	February to June
20	Eastern Grass Owl	October to December
21	Verreaux’s Eagle Owl	June to November
22	Spotted Eagle-Owl	December to March
23	Indian Scops Owl	March to June
24	Brown Fish Owl	November to March
25	Ural Owl	February to March
26	Crested Owl	February to May
27	Pearl-spotted Owl	August to November
28	Boreal Owl	May to June
29	Andaman Masked Owl	March to August
30	Forest Owl	March to May
31	Collared Owl	February to May
32	Northern Boobook Owl	October to November
33	White-faced Owl	May to November
34	Brown Wood Owl	March to June
35	Mackinder’s Eagle Owl	March to April
36	Buffy Fish Owl	January to May
37	Magellanic Horned Owl	January to February
38	Madagascar Red Owl	March to August
39	Black-and-white Owl	March to May
40	Whiskered Screech Owl	April to May
41	Philippine Eagle-Owl	December to March
42	Sunda Scops Owl	February to May
43	African Wood Owl	July to October
44	Southern Boobook	September to November
45	Brown Hawk Owl	January to May
46	Himalayan Owl	December to April

Owl eggs facts

Among about 254 species of owls found in the world, the elf owl is a small species of owl with eggs about 1 inch in length.

The Eurasian eagle owl is counted as one of the largest species of owls found in the world, with eggs having measurements up to 3 inches in length.

Snowy owls are a large white owl species that, despite being large owls, lay relatively small eggs.

Owl eggs vary in color depending on their species. Owl egg color is also formed by how much heat the egg will absorb, which is required for owl egg hatching.

Owl eggs identification

To know how owl eggs look, you first need to know what species of owls are available in your area, as there are about 250 different species of owl eggs.

For example, the color of the eggs of some species of owls is completely white, the color of the eggs of some species of owls is light brown, and the eggs of some species of owls have brown spots on the white.

In addition, there is a difference in measurement between the eggs of each species of owl, some species of owls have large eggs some are small, some are oval and some are round.

Other birds have different owl eggs, but knowing which species of owls live in your area will give you an idea of what their eggs might look like from this website.

I have described owl eggs on my website just for the sake of education, no wildlife should be disturbed or harmed at all. Know about owl eggs and preserve them to live safely around us.

Can you eat owl eggs?

Since owls are a beneficial bird of the ecosystem, in most countries including the USA, Canada, UK, and Australia, it is prohibited by law to disturb the owls or to touch anything of the owls.

Like other birds, owls’ eggs also have nutrition. However, any raw egg can cause many diseases.

Owls lay eggs only one time in a year, averaging 3 to 6 eggs. Owl eggs have a vital role in protecting their species.

Chicken eggs and duck eggs are available in our market.  Eggs of any other birds, especially the preserved ones, should not be eaten at all.

As an ideal citizen, we should ensure that no one disturbs or harms any protected animal. If someone wants to disturb or harm, he should understand the importance of all these animals.

Where do owls lay their eggs?

Owls usually lay their eggs in tree cavities, natural cavities, burrows, barns, rafters, cliffs, caves, nests of other animals, holes in the ground, artificial platforms, etc.

Owls cannot build their nests to lay their eggs. Owls depend on abandoned nests of other animals to lay their eggs.

Each owl has a specific territory, but some species of owls are migratory, moving to other areas, especially during the winter.

During the breeding season, owls search for mates, then come to their territory to search for nests of animals nearby and subsequently lay eggs in the nest. When their owlets grow up they leave their nest.

However,  some species of owls, such as the snowy owl,  migrate when it feels too cold in the winter. In that new territory, they seek nests and lay eggs.

How Often Do Owls Lay Eggs?

Owls usually lay eggs once a year. Owl egg size, egg color, and number of eggs can vary by species.

Owls lay eggs at different times depending on their species. After they lay one egg, it takes a minimum of 2 days and a maximum of 7 days to hatch the next egg.

Considering the age of the owls, the size and number of their eggs vary even within the same species.

Middle-aged owls have been found to lay more eggs than younger and older owls. Young owls and older owls have smaller egg sizes.

Do Owls Lay Eggs On The Ground?

The nesting sites of owls vary depending on the species. Burrowing Owls, common throughout North and South America, lay their eggs in burrows in the ground.

Moreover, some species of owls are seen not to lay eggs directly on the ground, however,   they lay eggs in bushes near the ground.

Below are the names of some species of owls that live close to the ground –

• Eastern Screech-Owl
• Short-eared Owl
• Northern Hawk-Owl
• Long-eared Owl

Can male owls lay eggs?

No male birds, including owls, lay eggs. Even the male owl does not act as an incubator to hatch the eggs. Besides, when the eggs hatch, the male owls do the work of feeding and nurturing them.

However, there are some species of birds whose male partners act as incubators to hatch the eggs, notable among which are –

• Emperor Penguins
• Cassowaries
• Jacanas
• Rheas

Usually, female animals lay eggs or give birth. But there is only one animal in the world called Seahorses which gives birth as a male.

During mating in this marine animal, the female deposits her eggs in a special pouch called the brood pouch in the male’s abdomen. Male seahorses give birth after a few weeks.

Do owls hatch from eggs?

Yes, like all birds and reptiles, owls hatch. First, female owls are seen to lay eggs at a certain time of the year, after which female owls keep on laying eggs for a certain period.

Owls hatch in 25 to 40 days. The time depends on the species.

Fluctuations in temperature can cause owl eggs to take longer or longer to hatch. Baby owls have egg teeth that help the baby owl break open the egg. These egg teeth are seen in the beak of baby owls.

How many eggs do owls lay?

Many species of owls exist in the world,  owls of small size lay more eggs per year in comparison to large owls, while large owls lay an average of 1-3 eggs per year, small owls lay an average of 2-4 eggs per year.

Below is a list of some owl species with their names and how many eggs they lay each year.

Sl. No.	owl species	Lay Eggs (per year)
1	Barn Owl	4-6
2	Snowy Owl	5-11
3	Great Horned Owl	1-4
4	Barred Owl	2-4
5	Eastern Screech Owl	4-6
6	Short-eared Owl	4-7
7	Long-eared Owl	5-7
8	Great Gray Owl	1-3
9	Northern Saw-whet Owl	4-6
10	Eurasian Eagle-Owl	2-4
11	Tawny Owl	1-2
12	Little Owl	3-5
13	Burrowing Owl	9-11
14	Spectacled Owl	2-3
15	Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl	4-5
16	Elf Owl	2-3
17	Northern Hawk Owl	4-7
18	Flammulated Owl	4-6
19	Oriental Bay Owl	2-3
20	Spotted Owl	1-3
21	Boreal Owl	2-4
22	Northern White-faced Owl	2-3
23	Southern White-faced Owl	2-3
24	Ural Owl	2-4
25	Brown Wood Owl	2-4
26	Vermiculated Screech Owl	3-5
27	Amazonian Pygmy Owl	2-3
28	Mottled Owl	2-3
29	Crested Owl	2-3
30	Western Screech Owl	4-6
31	Great Grey Owl	1-3
32	Northern Boobook	2-4
33	Southern Boobook	2-4

When Do Great Horned Owls Lay Eggs?

Depending on the area variation, Great Horned Owls can be seen to change when they lay their eggs. It has been observed that Great Horned Owls lay eggs earlier in colder regions than in warmer regions.

Below are some Great Horned Owls habitats and their Lay Eggs timings –

• United States (Southern): January – February
• United States (Northern): February – March
• Canada: March – April
• Alaska: April – May
• Mexico: December – January
• America (South): March-June
• Europe: February – March
• Asia: March – April
• Africa (Northern): January – February
• Russia: March – April

When Do Snowy Owls Lay Eggs?

Snowy owls change their habitat when it’s too cold. The wide range of habitats they have allows for changes in their egg-laying times. They lay eggs once a year if there is sufficient food and a favorable environment.

Below are the different nesting habitats and egg-laying times of snowy owls-

• Arctic Alaska: April to June
• Southern Canada: May to June
• Lower 48 United States: February to March
• Canada (Northern): May to June
• Scandinavia & northern Russia: May to June
• Arctic Siberia: May to July
• Greenland: May to June

When Do Barred Owls Lay Eggs?

Barred owls, like other species of owls, lay eggs once a year. The timing of egg laying varies according to their habitat. Female and male Barred owls choose their nests before laying eggs. They lay 2 to 4 eggs a year.

Below are some Barred owl’s habitats and their egg-laying times-

• United States (Southeastern): February to April
• United States & Canada (Northeastern): March to May
• United States (Midwest): March to April
• Rocky Mountains: March to May
• Pacific Northwest: March to April

When Do Barn Owls Lay Eggs?

Barn Owls are regarded as one of the most common owls in the world and their range covers most of the world’s regions. Since they are widely distributed all over the world, their egg-laying times can be observed to vary a lot.

Several areas are mentioned below and when these Barn Owls lay their eggs in those areas-

• United States (Southern): February to April
• United States & Canada (Northern): March to May
• United States (Western): February to March
• Europe (Southern): February to April
• Europe (Northern): April to May
• Asia (Southern): February to March
• Asia (Northern): April to May
• Australia: May to August

When Do Burrowing Owls Lay Eggs?

Burrowing Owls are known to stay close to the ground. These species of owls are often seen in small flocks that give protection to them. They lay their eggs in meadows or open spaces. Their egg-laying time varies from region to region.

Below are some areas and the egg-laying season of Burrowing Owls-

• United States (Southern): February to June
• United States (Northern): March to June
• Canada: April to July
• Mexico: January to December

FAQs

Q. What does an owl egg look like?

Ans: There are 254 species of owls in the world whose eggs differ in color and size. Owl eggs are white, light brown, or white with brown spots. Eggs are round or oval, The size of their eggs can be small or large depending on the size of the owl.

Q. How big is an owl egg?

Ans: A large species of owl eggs have an average length of  2.2 inches and a width of 1.8 inches and a small species of owl eggs have an average length of 0.8 inches and a width of 1.8 inches.

The average weight of the owl’s eggs of a large species is about 2 ounces (50 grams) and the average weight of the eggs of the owls belonging to small species is about 0.7 ounces (20 grams).

Q. What color are owl eggs?

Ans: The color of their eggs varies slightly by the species of owls, and the color of the eggs of the same species of owls can also change. The color of owl eggs is white, off-white, and light brown, and brown spots are added to the white eggs.

Q. When do owls lay eggs?

Ans: Owls lay eggs depending on the species and region, but all species of owls lay eggs mainly in winter and spring.

Q. When do owls have babies?

Ans: Depending on the owl’s habitat and species, their egg-laying and hatching times differ, but most species of owls hatch in the spring.

Conclusion:

The above-mentioned description of the owl’s egg laying time, the look of the owl’s egg, egg color, egg weight, and egg size will hopefully help you identify owl eggs.

Owl eggs, like any bird’s egg, are exclusively necessary for owls to reproduce. Owls lay an average of 3 to 6 eggs per season, and these eggs are at risk of being destroyed by predators.

Owls maintain the balance of the environment by eating small animals in our environment which is why it is imperative to preserve this beneficial bird in our environment.

We can make owl nest boxes for owls especially during the breeding season to protect owls’ eggs.