There are several species of owls that can have white bellies. To determine which owl species have white bellies, we first need to understand some background information about owls. Owls are nocturnal birds of prey that belong to the order Strigiformes. There are around 250 species of owls that are found all over the world, except in Antarctica. Owls hunt small mammals, birds, and insects using their powerful talons and sharp beaks. Their feathers allow them to fly silently, helping them sneak up on prey. Many owl species also have special adaptations like asymmetrical ears and facial discs that help them locate prey in low light conditions. Now let’s look at some of the most common owl species with white bellies.
Snowy Owl
One of the most iconic owls with a white belly is the Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus). As the name suggests, this large owl breeds in Arctic regions and has predominantly white plumage. The underparts and belly of the Snowy Owl are varying shades of white. The black spots or barred markings on the plumage can be used to identify males and females – females have more spotting. Snowy owls have yellow eyes and can weigh up to 6 pounds. Their wingspan can be up to 5 feet across! These magnificent owls mainly feast on lemmings but also hunt hares, voles, ptarmigan and other birds. During winter, some Snowy Owls migrate south to Canada and the northern United States. They can sometimes be spotted hunting in open fields or perched on high vantage points like fence posts.
Barn Owl
Another owl species with a white underside is the Barn Owl (Tyto alba). This medium-sized owl has long wings, a heart-shaped face, and a light brown back with dark speckles. The front and belly parts are snowy white. Some geographic variations may have more reddish-brown plumage. Barn Owls have dark eyes instead of yellow. These owls inhabit fields, forests, deserts, and suburban areas across most continents except Antarctica. They mainly eat small rodents like mice, voles, shrews, and rats. Barn Owls are prolific hunters – a single pair with a brood of six chicks can consume over 1,000 rodents per year! Their soft feathers allow them to fly almost silently which helps them sneak up on prey undetected.
Eastern Screech Owl
The Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio) is a small owl found in woods across much of North America. They have prominent ear tufts, yellow eyes, and dark bills. Their plumage is variable but generally consists of mottled gray, brown, and black feathers on the back and head. The underside and belly feathers are white or pale gray. Some color variations can be either mostly gray or mostly red. Eastern Screech Owls hunt from perches waiting to ambush small animals like mice, voles, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and even fish. During the day they roost in tree cavities or nest boxes. Their call is a haunting, descending whinny which gives them their name.
Great Horned Owl
The Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) is a large and powerful owl common across the Americas. They have distinctive ear tufts, reddish-brown or gray plumage, white throats, and yellow eyes. The underparts and belly feathers are broadly white or light gray with some brown horizontal barring. Great Horned Owls are fierce ambush predators taking prey as varied as rabbits, squirrels, skunks, grouse, ducks, and geese. They even eat other raptors like hawks and falcons. Although they don’t build nests, Great Horned Owls use abandoned hawk, crow, or raven nests, stumps, cliffs, or cavities to raise their young. They have a deep hooting call which can be heard from miles away.
Long-eared Owl
As the name suggests, the Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) is recognized by its long, slim ear tufts. The plumage of this medium-sized owl is mottled brown and tan with darker brown vertical streaks. The underparts and belly are lighter with thick brown streaks on a buffy white or pale brown background. Long-eared Owls are found across Europe, Asia, and North America. They roost in concealed locations during the day like dense thickets or conifer groves. At night they emerge to hunt rodents, rabbits, and birds primarily by aerial attacks after long periods of hovering. Their cryptic plumage and silent flight feathers allow them to strike prey without being detected.
Short-eared Owl
Closely related to the Long-eared Owl, the Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) is appropriately named for its much smaller, barely visible ear tufts. Their plumage is brown or gray with heavy dark streaks on the back and head. The underparts and belly are significantly lighter with thin brown streaks over white. Short-eared Owls are found in open country across North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. They frequently hunt during daylight hours cruising low over open fields watching for voles and other rodents. At night they also hunt, sometimes hovering high overhead before diving down feet-first to strike prey. Their flight and long wings are buoyant but labored with slow, deep wing beats.
Burrowing Owl
The Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) lives up to its name by nesting underground in abandoned burrows made by prairie dogs, ground squirrels, and badgers. Unlike most owls, they are active during the day and night. Burrowing Owls have long legs and are smaller than other owls. Plumage can range from sandy brown to grayish-white. They generally lack dark markings on the face and underparts, so their belly and undertail feathers are a plain buffy white. Sometimes black spots or barring can be present on the belly and flanks. Burrowing Owls inhabit open grasslands, prairies, and agricultural lands across the Americas feeding on insects, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
Northern Saw-whet Owl
The Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) is a very small owl residing in forests across North America. Adults are reddish-brown above with white streaking and lack ear tufts. The face is pale with a white triangular patch between the yellow eyes. Their underparts and belly are white with reddish-brown streaks. Northern Saw-whet Owls hunt at night eating mainly mice, voles, shrews, and insects. During the day they roost silently camouflaged against tree trunks. They get their name from their haunting, repetitive tooting call which sounds similar to whetting a saw.
Flammulated Owl
The Flammulated Owl (Psiloscops flammeolus) is a tiny owl of western North American forests. They have grayish or brown cryptic plumage and small ear tufts. Their yellow eyes are surrounded by dark markings. The underparts and belly are pale gray or buffy white with some faint streaks on the breast. Flammulated Owls hunt nocturnal insects like moths and beetles as well as small rodents and birds. They nest in old woodpecker cavities and are highly migratory, wintering in Mexico and Central America. Their low, hoarse calls sound like quiet knocking sounds which can aid in identification.
Eastern Grass Owl
In South America, the Eastern Grass Owl (Tyto bargali) inhabits open grasslands, savanna, and agricultural areas. It has long wings and legs with buffy brown upperparts and pale cream underparts. The heart-shaped facial disk is pale with dark brown eyes. It lacks ear tufts. The Eastern Grass Owl’s white underbelly contrasts with its brown back and wings. It hunts small mammals like rodents, bats, and rabbits as well as insects, catching prey in flight or by pouncing from a perch. By day it roosts hidden at ground level beside rocks or vegetation.
Madagascar Red Owl
Endemic to Madagascar, the Madagascar Red Owl (Tyto soumagnei) has bright reddish-brown plumage above and pinkish-white underparts. It has a pale heart-shaped face and dark eyes. The belly and undertail are whitish with some faint barring. It inhabits open wooded areas and wetlands on the island. Madagascar Red Owls hunt insects, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. They nest in tree cavities and can often be heard calling at dawn and dusk with a series of barking hoots. Being an island species, it is vulnerable to habitat loss and predation.
Rufous Owl
The Rufous Owl (Strix rufipes) is found in woodlands across tropical Sub-Saharan Africa. It has dark eyes and lacks ear tufts. The upperparts are a deep rufous-brown color with black and white flecking. The underparts are white to buff with black streaks on the breast and fine barring on the belly. The barred pattern helps camouflage the owl against tree bark where it roosts during the day. Rufous Owls hunt rodents, bats, insects, reptiles, and birds at night. Their loud, deep hoots are often the best way to detect these owls.
Spotted Wood Owl
The Spotted Wood Owl (Strix seloputo) resides in forests and woodlands from northeast India through southeast Asia. It has brown upperparts marked with white spotting and streaks. The underparts are pale with thick streaks on the breast and fine bars on the belly and undertail coverts. Its yellow eyes are surrounded by dark feathers. Spotted Wood Owls hunt small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates at night. During the day they roost against tree trunks where their camouflage provides remarkable concealment.
Pallid Scops Owl
The Pallid Scops Owl (Otus brucei) is a small owl of the dry open woodlands and savannas of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is sandy brown above with faint streaks and a white throat patch. The underparts are buffy white to pale gray with delicate dark shaft streaks. It has noticeable ear tufts but lacks strong facial markings. Pallid Scops Owls feed mainly on insects like moths, beetles, and grasshoppers which they capture in flight or pick off vegetation. They nest in tree cavities where the female incubates the eggs while the male provides food.
Japanese Scops Owl
Native to Japan, the Japanese Scops Owl (Otus semitorques) is found in mixed forests and wooded parks. Adults are gray-brown above with faint pale spotting and conspicuous ear tufts. The underparts are whitish with longitudinal brown streaking. The eyes are yellow surrounded by blackish facial feathering. Japanese Scops Owls feed on insects, reptiles, and small mammals. By day they roost well-hidden in dense foliage, skillfully camouflaged against bark and branches. After nightfall, theirAccelerating Progressloud, repetitive calls can be heard through the forests.
Celebes Owl
Endemic to Indonesia, the Celebes Owl (Otus manadensis) inhabits rainforest and wooded habitats on Sulawesi island. It is a moderately small owl with ear tufts and brown upperparts with white spotting. The underparts are cream-colored with distinct black streaks on the breast and finer bars on the belly. The eyes are yellow and surrounded by dark feathers with pale markings. Celebes Owls are nocturnal, feeding on insects, small reptiles, and rodents like shrews and rats. During the day they roost well-concealed on branches.
Australian Masked Owl
The Australian Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae) is found across Australia and New Guinea in wooded areas. It is mostly dark brown with some white spotting on the wings and upperparts. The facial disc is pale with a dark brown mask-like border. The underparts are white with rufous barring or streaks, especially on the breast and belly. Masked Owls take mammals like possums, gliders, and rabbits as well as birds, reptiles, and insects. They can sometimes be seen hunting during daylight hours. Their loud, barking hoots echo through the night.
Conclusion
In summary, there are many owl species spanning multiple genera that can have white or pale-colored bellies. Some of the most widespread include the Snowy Owl, Barn Owl, Eastern Screech Owl, and Great Horned Owl. More localized species with white underparts include the Burrowing Owl, Madagascar Red Owl, Spotted Wood Owl, Pallid Scops Owl, and Australian Masked Owl among others. The white or pale belly provides camouflage when viewed from below against pale daytime skies. It contrasts with the darker back feathers to obscure the owl’s outline. This aids owls in stealthily approaching prey without detection. So if you spot an owl with a white belly, consider yourself lucky to observe one of these remarkable nocturnal hunters.
Owl Species Table
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Snowy Owl | Bubo scandiacus | North America, Eurasia |
| Barn Owl | Tyto alba | Worldwide |
| Eastern Screech Owl | Megascops asio | North America |
| Great Horned Owl | Bubo virginianus | North and South America |
| Long-eared Owl | Asio otus | North America, Eurasia, Africa |
| Short-eared Owl | Asio flammeus | Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa |
| Burrowing Owl | Athene cunicularia | Americas |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Aegolius acadicus | North America |
| Flammulated Owl | Psiloscops flammeolus | Western North America |
| Eastern Grass Owl | Tyto bargali | South America |
| Madagascar Red Owl | Tyto soumagnei | Madagascar |
| Rufous Owl | Strix rufipes | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Spotted Wood Owl | Strix seloputo | Southeast Asia |
| Pallid Scops Owl | Otus brucei | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Japanese Scops Owl | Otus semitorques | Japan |
| Celebes Owl | Otus manadensis | Indonesia |
| Australian Masked Owl | Tyto novaehollandiae | Australia, New Guinea |