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Quizzes > Science > Biology

Which Owl Species Can You Identify? Take the Quiz Now!

Ready for an owl trivia quiz? Prove your bird identification skills!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for owl species quiz featuring Barn and Snowy Owls on dark blue background

This owl species quiz helps you identify owls by photo, silhouette, and call, from Barn Owl and Great Horned to Snowy. You'll practice spotting field marks, fix tricky look-alike mix-ups, and learn a couple of quick facts as you play. Want more variety after this? Try a broader bird ID quiz with friends.

Which owl species is characterized by a heart-shaped facial disc and is found throughout many regions worldwide?
Bubo bubo
Strix varia
Tyto alba
Athene noctua
The Barn Owl (Tyto alba) is easily identified by its distinctive heart-shaped facial disc, which helps funnel sound to its ears. This species has a global distribution and is one of the most widespread owls. Its white underparts and golden upperparts are also key field marks.
Which owl species is known for its snowy-white plumage and is native to Arctic tundra regions?
Long-eared Owl
Great Horned Owl
Snowy Owl
Barred Owl
The Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) has predominantly white plumage that provides camouflage against the snow and ice of its Arctic tundra habitat. Males can appear almost pure white, while females and juveniles show more dark markings. It is known for diurnal hunting during the Arctic summer.
Which owl species is easily recognized by its prominent ear tufts and deep hooting calls throughout North America?
Eastern Screech Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Great Horned Owl
Barn Owl
The Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) is known for its large ear tufts, bright yellow eyes, and resonant hoots that carry across woodlands. It is one of the most widespread owls in the Americas. It also exhibits a broad diet, preying on mammals, birds, and amphibians.
Which small owl species exhibits both gray and rufous color morphs and often roosts in tree cavities in North America?
Long-eared Owl
Burrowing Owl
Northern Hawk Owl
Eastern Screech Owl
The Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio) occurs in gray and rufous morphs, providing effective camouflage against tree bark. It is a small, cavity-nesting owl common in woodlands and suburban areas of eastern North America. Its trilling call is also distinctive at dusk.
Which owl species nests underground in burrows and is often active during daylight hours in open grasslands?
Burrowing Owl
Great Grey Owl
Tawny Owl
Short-eared Owl
The Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) lives in burrows, often those dug by prairie dogs or other mammals. It inhabits open grassland and desert areas and is more diurnal than most owls. These owls can often be seen standing near their burrows in daylight.
Which owl species has a hawk-like silhouette with a long tail and tends to hunt during daylight hours over open forests?
Barn Owl
Barred Owl
Eastern Screech Owl
Northern Hawk Owl
The Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) has a slender, hawk-like silhouette, with long tail feathers and no ear tufts. It is often active during daylight, perching visibly to scan for prey in boreal forests. Its diurnal habits and shape distinguish it from most owls.
Which owl species is nicknamed the 'Ghost of the North' due to its large size, round face, and stealthy hunting in boreal forests?
Great Grey Owl
Tawny Owl
Snowy Owl
Barred Owl
The Great Grey Owl (Strix nebulosa) is one of the world's largest owls by length, with a massive round facial disc and dense grey plumage. Its silent flight and ghostly appearance in northern forests have earned it the nickname 'Ghost of the North.' It predominantly hunts small mammals hidden under snow.
Which tiny owl species, measuring just 12 - 14 cm in length, is considered the world's smallest owl?
Burrowing Owl
Elf Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Western Screech Owl
The Elf Owl (Micrathene whitneyi) is the smallest owl species, measuring only about 12 - 14 cm in length. It resides in desert oak woodlands of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Despite its tiny size, it preys mainly on insects and small invertebrates.
Which rare and massive owl species is specialized in fishing and is native to the riverine forests of eastern Russia and Japan?
Great Grey Owl
Blakiston's Fish Owl
Barred Owl
Brown Fish Owl
Blakiston's Fish Owl (Bubo blakistoni) is the largest owl species by weight and is specialized for catching fish in rivers and streams. It inhabits riparian forests of eastern Russia and Japan. Its large talons and low, booming calls are distinctive.
Which European owl species often nests in old tree cavities, lacks ear tufts, and has a pale grey facial disc outlined by a dark border?
Tawny Owl
Ural Owl
Barn Owl
Long-eared Owl
The Ural Owl (Strix uralensis) is a large, round-headed owl without ear tufts. It has a pale grey facial disc rimmed with a dark border and often uses natural tree cavities or old stick nests. It inhabits boreal and mixed forests across Europe and Asia.
Which owl species is known for its diurnal hunting over open fields and marshes, often seen weaving low over vegetation at sunset?
Short-eared Owl
Great Horned Owl
Eastern Screech Owl
Barn Owl
The Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) is one of the most diurnal owl species, often hunting during dusk and daylight hours. It flies low over open grasslands and marshes with buoyant wingbeats. Its mottled brown plumage and relatively small ear tufts distinguish it.
Barn Owls belong to which family, distinguished by their heart-shaped faces and unique skeletal structure from true owls?
Accipitridae
Falconidae
Strigidae
Tytonidae
Barn Owls are part of the family Tytonidae, which is distinct from the true owl family Strigidae. Tytonids are characterized by a heart-shaped facial disc and differences in their skull and skeletal structure. They also have longer legs and a unique ear structure for enhanced hearing.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Distinctive Owl Features -

    Use the quiz owl challenges to pinpoint unique markings, plumage patterns, and calls of various owl species.

  2. Differentiate Similar Species -

    Analyze subtle differences between lookalike owls, like Barred and Barn Owls, to sharpen your bird identification quiz skills.

  3. Recall Habitat and Behavior -

    Recall typical habitats, hunting styles, and flight patterns of nocturnal hunters in the owl species quiz context.

  4. Apply Observation Techniques -

    Apply effective field observation and listening strategies learned in the identify owls quiz to real-world birdwatching.

  5. Evaluate Your Owl Knowledge -

    Assess your bird identification quiz performance to pinpoint strengths and areas for improvement in owl trivia mastery.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Facial Disc Recognition -

    Owls feature unique facial discs that channel sound to their ears, so the Barn Owl's heart-shaped disc stands out in a quiz owl challenge. Use the FACE mnemonic (Facial disc shape, Asymmetry, Colour, Edge sharpness) to recall disc features easily during any owl species quiz.

  2. Ear Tufts and Crown Patterns -

    Ear tufts can mimic branches or stalks, aiding camouflage - notice how the Great Horned Owl's tufts differ from the Barred Owl, which lacks them entirely. Bird identification experts at the Audubon Society advise focusing on tuft length and angle to ace an identify owls quiz.

  3. Plumage and Camouflage Patterns -

    Look for bars, spots, and camouflage patterns: the Barred Owl's horizontal bars versus the vertical streaks on a Long-eared Owl offer quick ID clues in an owl trivia quiz. A simple SPOT mnemonic (Stripes, Patterns, Overall tone, Texture) helps visualize key plumage traits before selecting your answer.

  4. Vocalizations and Call Patterns -

    Each species' hoots, screeches, and churring calls are audio signatures - listen for the Barred Owl's "Who cooks for you, who cooks for you all?" pattern to differentiate it from the Snowy Owl's rapid cackling. According to research in The Journal of Raptor Research, call rhythm and pitch differences can boost your bird identification quiz score significantly.

  5. Habitat and Geographic Range -

    Knowing where owls live is as vital as spotting their markings - Snowy Owls frequent Arctic tundra, while Eastern Screech-Owls prefer woodlands in North America, a tip that often saves points in an owl species quiz. Using an atlas guide from the British Trust for Ornithology, map species ranges to cross-check expected sightings and improve your quiz owl performance.

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