There are several kinds of owls that can have black eyes. Owls are nocturnal birds of prey that are known for their large, forward-facing eyes and ability to rotate their heads almost 360 degrees. An owl’s eye color is linked to its species and can range from yellow to orange to black. In this article, we’ll explore the owl species that commonly have black eyes and what makes their eyes appear this way.
Owl Eye Anatomy
Before looking at specific owl species, it’s helpful to understand some basics of owl eye anatomy. An owl’s eyes are quite different from human eyes. Here are a few key facts:
- Owls have tube-shaped eyes that are immobile in their sockets. This means they can’t move their eyes side-to-side like humans can.
- Their eyes are disproportionately large for their skull size. An owl’s eyes can be up to three times heavier than a human eye.
- Owls have excellent night vision but more limited daytime vision. Their retinas contain high densities of rod photoreceptor cells which detect dim light.
- The front of an owl’s eye contains a tubular structure made of bony plates called the sclerotic ring. This ring surrounds the pupil and helps give owls their distinctive “eyed” look.
An owl’s eye color is determined by the amount and type of pigment in the iris, along with the size of the pupil opening. Generally darker eye color indicates more melanin pigment in the iris. Next we’ll look at some owl species where black eyes commonly occur.
Barred Owl
One of the most common owls with black eyes is the barred owl. The barred owl (Strix varia) is a medium-sized owl native to North America.
Barred owls have dark brown to black eyes. Their iris color ranges from chocolate brown to coal black. Their dark eyes stand out against their pale gray facial disks and brown and white vertical barring on the neck and upper body.
Barred owls are highly adaptable and occupy a range of wooded habitats across the eastern and western United States as well as parts of southern Canada and Mexico. They are year-round residents throughout most of their range.
The barred owl’s black eyes aid its nighttime hunting. They can dilate their pupils wide open to maximize light intake while hunting small mammals like mice, voles and rabbits after dark.
Great Horned Owl
Another common owl in North America equipped with black eyes is the great horned owl.
The great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) has striking orange eyes as a juvenile, but these darken over its first year to become dark reddish brown to black as an adult. Their dark eyes and pupils are well-adapted to night vision and low light situations.
Great horned owls are one of the most powerful and adaptable raptors in North America. Their diet is extremely varied and can include rabbits, hares, squirrels, skunks, ducks, reptiles, amphibians, insects, scorpions and more. They hunt at night aided by their keen black eyes.
Eastern Screech Owl
The eastern screech owl (Megascops asio) is a small species found throughout eastern North America. They have prominent ear tufts, a gray and brown mottled appearance and yellow eyes or black eyes depending on their color morph.
There are two color variations of the eastern screech owl – gray and red. Gray morphs have yellow eyes while red morphs have dark brown or black eyes. Intermediate plumages also exist where the owl may have brown, hazel or intermediate eye colors.
Regardless of morph, the eastern screech owl’s large dark eyes are well-adapted to night hunting of insects, reptiles, amphibians and small mammals around its wooded habitats.
Barn Owl
The barn owl (Tyto alba) is one of the most widely distributed owl species and is found on every continent except Antarctica. With their white heart-shaped faces, buff back and wings and black eyes they have a very distinctive appearance.
The barn owl’s eyes are one of its most striking features. Its irises and pupils appear completely black, giving its face an intense, dark appearance. Its eyes perfectly match its nocturnal lifestyle.
Despite their spooky dark eyes, barn owls are not threatening to humans. Their diet consists mainly of small rodents like mice and voles. Their dark eyes and facial disk allow them to expertly hunt in low light conditions.
Long-Eared Owl
The long-eared owl (Asio otus) is a medium sized owl with prominent erect ear tufts, a stocky body and orange eyes that can darken to black as they mature. They are found throughout North America and Eurasia.
As juveniles, long-eared owls have bright orange-yellow eyes. As they mature their irises tend to darken, eventually becoming a very dark reddish brown or black. Their dark eyes match their nocturnal hunting habits and ability to thrive under low light conditions.
Long-eared owls hunt mostly small rodents as well as birds, reptiles and insects. Their dark eyes help them expertly locate prey rustling in vegetation even in darkness.
Short-Eared Owl
Closely related to the long-eared owl, the short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) also develops black eyes with maturity. Their eyes start out a luminous yellow in juveniles and transition to orange, then reddish brown and finally blackish brown or black as adults.
Short-eared owls inhabit open country like grasslands, marshes and heathland throughout much of North America, Europe and Asia. They hunt mostly small mammals, birds and insects, especially voles and mice. Their dark eyes and acute hearing help them expertly locate prey while flying low over fields and marshlands, even at night.
Spotted Owl
The spotted owl (Strix occidentalis) is a medium sized owl that inhabits coniferous forests across western North America. As the name suggests, spotted owls have white and brown speckled plumage, along with dark brown eyes that can appear black.
There are three subspecies of spotted owl – northern, California and Mexican – but all have blackish-brown irises that blend with their pupils to give a black eyed appearance. Their dark eyes allow for excellent night vision required for their nocturnal hunting habits.
Spotted owls feed mainly on small mammals like flying squirrels, woodrats, mice and rabbits. Their dark eyes equip them perfectly for locating prey in low light forest environments.
Other Owls with Dark Eyes
In addition to the species already mentioned, there are a few other owl types that may have black or very dark brown eyes:
- Tawny owl (Strix aluco) – Found across Eurasia, they have very dark brown to black eyes.
- Brown wood owl (Strix leptogrammica) – A resident of eastern Asia, their eyes are very dark brown to black.
- Crested owl (Lophostrix cristata) – Native to Central and South America, they often have black eyes.
- Stygian owl (Asio stygius) – Found in Central and South America, they have dark reddish brown to black eyes.
So in summary, there are quite a few owl species worldwide that have black or nearly black eye coloration. Their dark eyes allow for excellent vision under low light conditions for their nocturnal hunting habits.
Summary of Owls with Black Eyes
Here’s a quick summary of some of the most common owl species that display black eye color:
| Owl Species | Region |
|---|---|
| Barred Owl | North America |
| Great Horned Owl | North America |
| Eastern Screech Owl (red morph) | North America |
| Barn Owl | Cosmopolitan |
| Long-Eared Owl | North America, Eurasia |
| Short-Eared Owl | North America, Eurasia, South America |
| Spotted Owl | Western North America |
Why Do Owls Have Black Eyes?
So why have some owl species evolved to have black or nearly black eyes? There are a few key reasons:
- Camouflage – Black eyes don’t reflect light like lighter colored eyes. This helps the dark-eyed owls stay concealed when roosting in darkness.
- Light absorbtion – Dark eye color may improve an owl’s ability to absorb light, enhancing night vision.
- Sharp daytime vision – Dark eyes with heavily pigmented irises may also sharpen an owl’s vision during daylight hours.
- Glare reduction – Black eyes may cut down on glare from sunlight or artificial lights when owls are active in daytime or around human infrastructure.
So in summary, the black eyes prevalent among many owl species are an adaptation to their nocturnal lifestyle and needs for excellent vision in low light conditions and concealment from prey.
Conclusion
Owls with black eyes include common North American species like the barred owl, great horned owl, eastern screech owl, and spotted owl. Other owls worldwide including the barn owl, long-eared owl, and short-eared owl may also have nearly black eye coloration. An owl’s dark eye color is well-adapted to its nocturnal hunting needs and ability to thrive in low light conditions. So next time you spot big, dark eyes on an owl, know that they serve an important purpose for the owl’s survival!
