We believe that even for once, we’ve all said to someone that they or we are becoming an owl. We didn’t mean it literally, obviously, but just to point out that we or someone else has been staying awake at night and sleeping during the day; just like an owl!
But have we ever thought, why do owls sleep during the day? Well, most owl species are nocturnal, which means they stay awake at night. This characteristic actually helps them find and hunt better and also stay safe from their predators.
Moreover, sleeping during the day helps owls gain energy. Their eye-sight and hunting skills also aren’t that much suitable for activities during the day. So, why not sleep?
How Do Owls Sleep?
Owls are very impressive birds. Once you get learning about these birds, you won’t be able to stop like us.
We fell down a rabbit hole when we started researching different owls. It got us thinking about how owls sleep during the day and how they don’t get attacked while sleeping. Our research led to some adorable and unbelievable findings! Curious? Then let’s know how baby and adult owls sleep.
Baby Owls
You won’t believe how adorably baby owls sleep. They sleep on their sides or cute bellies and face down on the nest or on the branch they’re laying down. It’s just like how a newborn human baby sleeps. We can’t express how adorable it sounds and looks!
Do you know why do baby owls sleep like this? When the owls are still babies, their head is too heavy for their neck muscles to support, so automatically, their head plops down, and making them unable to sleep upright like their parents.
Moreover, newborn owlets are blind, and they don’t develop their eyesight until 10 to 12 days after hatching. So, they use their small toes to hold onto a branch of the tree near their nests while sleeping and avoid falling down.
Additionally, being without eyesight means they can’t see any light, and they have to depend on their hearing and the earth’s vibrations to sense their sleeping hours.
However, once they’re adults, they will also be sleeping like their parents.
Adult Owls
In our lifetime, we all have definitely seen an adult owl sleep. They just remain perched in an upright position on a tree branch, birdhouse, wooden pole, etc.
But have you ever thought about how they could just stay upright while sleeping? Their sharp claws and strong feet aren’t only for catching prey but also for securely gripping the area they’re perching on.
Moreover, owls are very intelligent birds, so they never let their guard down, even while sleeping. These birds of prey tend to stay aware of their environment even when their eyes are shut.
Although they protect their eyes from strong sunlight by shutting both eyes, they still sometimes will keep one eye open to remain alert and avoid any predator attacks. That’s why whenever you spot an owl sleeping, they’ll immediately open their eyes and fly away.
How Much Sleep Do Owls Need?
We all know how a good night’s sleep is important to develop our minds, build energy, and keep us alert. An owl’s sleeping cycle varies depending on their species, but all owls have a high metabolism system which they need for their daily activities.
So, just like us, owls need about 12 to 17 hours of sleep daily to recharge themselves for their night activities. But they don’t get a straight 12 to 17 hours of sleep because they mostly take short power naps throughout the day.
We thought it wasn’t enough, but the amazing fact is that owls can fall asleep in just 11 seconds, which gives them enough time to sleep during the day to regain energy.
However, an owl’s brain is always awake to keep itself safe from any danger. When they sense danger, they will instantly rotate their heads 270 degrees to alert or scare the predator and then take cover or fly to a different place.
On the other hand, baby owlets are just like any baby mammal. They usually get an average of 28% sleep each hour from dawn to dusk, and it’s enough for them to manage the night.
Where Do Owls Often Sleep During the Day?
Owls don’t like hunting or sleeping with other owls because they’re solitary creatures. Even during the breeding season, they don’t hunt or sleep with their pair, so they tend to find a good, safe place to get some shut-eye for the day.
Owls also never sleep in their nests because the nest they call theirs is actually maybe of a falcon’s or a raptor’s. They just aren’t good at building nests, so they tend to occupy or steal someone else’s. But baby owlets will spend their days in that nest until they grow up a little and can hunt on their own.
An owl’s ideal sleeping spot would be somewhere high, quiet, away from other animals and any noises or activities. We usually notice owls perching on a high tree branch with foliage that protects them from predators, sunlight, and noises.
They also don’t fall or lose balance because they use their back toe, hallux, to grab onto a branch tightly. This grip is so firm that it will only loosen when they bend their legs.
Additionally, you will also see these majestic birds in large hollow areas of tall trees. They like to just get into it without notice and get the energy to hunt during the night.
On the other hand, urban owls meaning the ones living in cities or urban areas, usually look for chimneys, barns, abandoned buildings, or any dark areas to get some sleep.
Are All Owls Nocturnal?
Being a nocturnal bird has its own perks! Owls avoid a lot of predators by sleeping during the day and can catch enough food at night to survive daily. But not all owl species are nocturnal, as you might have seen some hunting in the morning or late evenings.
Based on their sleeping patterns, researchers divided owls into three categories: Diurnal, Nocturnal, and Crepuscular.
Diurnal Owls
Only a handful of owl species are diurnal in the world. They sleep through the night like us and stay active during the day to hunt.
For example, Northern Hawk Owls (Surnia ulula), Snowy Owls (Bubo scandiacus), Northern Pygmy Owls (Glaucidium californicum), and Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia), are the most common diurnal owls.
These majestic birds usually have low hearing than nocturnal owls, but their yellow eyes help them absorb enough sunlight and make up for the hearing deficiency. These powerful glowing eyes can spot prey from far away, and it’s enough to hunt.
Nocturnal Owls
Before researching ourselves, we actually never knew there were other sleeping cycles of owls other than being nocturnal. This is because most owl species are nocturnal and prefer to sleep during the day and be active during the night.
Nocturnal owls have night vision eyesight and powerful hearing, which are huge advantages when hunting in the dark. Being nocturnal also benefits them as there’s less competition and more abundance of food sources.
Even though nocturnal owls sleep during the day, they are very conscious of their surroundings, and their mind always stays alert to avoid any threats.
Some examples of nocturnal owls are Barn Owls (Tyto alba), Whiskered Screech Owls (Megascops trichopsis), Eastern Screech Owls (Megascops asio), Western Screech Owls (Megascops kennicottii), Great Horned Owls (Bubo virginianus), Elf Owls (Micrathene whitneyi), Long Eared Owls (Asio otus), etc.
Crepuscular Owls
You definitely have guessed by now what these owls’ characteristic is. Crepuscular owls can hunt at any time of the day or night as they are very active during dusk and dawn.
Do you know you can guess by an owl’s eyes reflection if they’re ready for hunting? Usually, when an owl is hunting, their eyes reflect any light, and these owls have large orange-colored eyes. It helps them hunt their prey in low lights, like in the early mornings or the late evenings.
Some examples of Crepuscular owls are Great Grey Owls (Strix nebulosa), Northern Pygmy Owls (Glaucidium gnoma), Barred Owls (Strix varia), and Short Eared Owls (Asio flammeus).
Research shows that diurnal owl species are 3%, crepuscular owl species are 22%, and nocturnal owl species are 69%, which holds the majority record. Even though the other two characteristics’ percentages aren’t that bad, owls are, in general, called nocturnal because the majority of it has nocturnal behavior.
Conclusion
We find owls to be very fascinating creatures. Their ominous head tilts and rotations, sharp talons, and powerful vision are all admirable. Researching about their sleep pattern has also made us awestruck by all the details. Like can you believe it takes them only 11 seconds to fall asleep?
We hope you found our owl sleeping habit guide a “hoot” yourself and learned something new. If you are also fascinated by these incredible birds of prey, make sure to keep one eye open for more!
