Most people know that owls like to sleep during the day and become active at night. But do they stay awake the whole night?
Owls stay awake the whole night unless they are diurnal, which means that they are active during the day as well. They usually wake up at dusk and only return to their nesting places when the sun starts rising.
Why Do Owls Stay Awake At Night?
Owls stay awake at night because they are nocturnal. This means that they have highly developed hearing and eyesight.
Some owls are nocturnal because it’s a chance to avoid the heat of the day, limit competition for prey, and avoid predation.
I’ll discuss these points in more detail below.
They Are Nocturnal
Most owls are nocturnal and wake up when the sun sets, then return to their nests when the sun rises.
Nocturnal creatures have highly-development characteristics to help them hunt effectively in the dark, which include excellent vision, large eyes, and sensitive hearing.
An owl’s vision is highly adapted to low light or dark conditions.
They are large in order to admit as much light as possible, and their far-sightedness allows them to see even the tiniest objects from a far distance.
Their excellent hearing also helps them to hunt accurately. Owls have symmetrical outer ears, allowing them to hear sounds from many different angles.
And their flat-shaped faces help feed sound waves directly into their ears so that they can hear accurately.
Owls have such an advanced hearing sense that they can find a prey animal, even if it is hidden in a bush, or in a hole in the ground.
Rabbits and squirrels are especially prone to be found this way.
They Like To Avoid Heat
Owls have thick feathers that cover their entire body, which keep them warm but also absorb sound waves so that they can hunt silently.
As nocturnal creatures, they thrive in cooler conditions and like to avoid the heat.
Sleeping during the day in a cool and shady spot helps owls avoid the day’s main heat.
There Is Less Competition for Prey
One of the reasons that owls stay awake during the night is less competition for prey.
Many other large birds, including hawks, falcons, and eagles, don’t have good night vision and hunt during the day.
Owls like to hunt for the following prey animals:
- Mice
- Rats
- Fish
- Small reptiles
- Voles
- Large insects
If owls hunted at the same time as other large birds, there would be much more competition for food.
Larger birds also tend to hunt owls, which is why owls prefer to hunt at night.
They Avoid Predation
Owls are powerful and stealthy birds that are high up on the food chain. However, they have a few predators, including:
- Skunks
- Honey badgers
- Foxes
- Goshawks
- Large eagles
Large birds can be cannibalistic and eat smaller birds if they are desperate for food.
Being nocturnal and ensuring that they have safe and well-camouflaged nests helps to keep owls safe from their predators.
Why Can You Sometimes See Owls Flying During the Day?
Owls are active during the night because they are nocturnal, but why can you sometimes see owls flying around and active during the day?
You can sometimes see owls flying during the day because some are diurnal or crepuscular.
Owls can be active during the day if they are disturbed, have owlets, or need more food during the winter.
Read further for an in-depth explanation of these points.
Some Owls Are Diurnal
Not all owls are nocturnal, and a few owl species are diurnal. Diurnal creatures usually sleep at night and hunt during the day.
However, they can occasionally hunt or breed at night but prefer daytime hunting.
Diurnal owls include:
- Pearl-Spotted
- Pygmy
- Northern Pygmy
If you see an owl active during the day, it could be one of the above species.
Owls living in extreme northern or southern regions have well-adapted senses for hunting during the winter when it is mostly dark.
However, they also need to leave their nests in the continuous summer light, which is one of the reasons why diurnal owls typically live at the poles.
Some Owls Are Crepuscular
A limited number of owls are crepuscular, which means they are the most active at dawn and dusk and will sleep at night.
During the day, they enjoy resting in a cool place and will only become active if they need to.
Here are a few examples of crepuscular owls:
- Great Horned
- Spotted Eagle
- Cape Eagle
- Barn
Spotting an owl hunting or flying around at sunrise or sunset could mean that it’s one of these birds.
Owls Are Active if They’re Disturbed
One of the disadvantages of being a nocturnal creature is that most animals and humans are active when you’re trying to sleep.
Owls try their best to find concealed, quiet, and remote nesting places, but they can still sometimes be disturbed.
An owl flying around during the day could mean that it was flushed from its nesting place.
The owl will circle the area and return to its nest when the disturbance has gone and when it feels safe.
They Have Owlets
Owlets (baby owls) need to be fed every few hours to keep their energy levels up and to help them grow properly.
When owls have owlets in the nest, they usually wake up every few hours in the day and go hunting for food.
Most owls breed in the late winter or early spring, and if you see one hunting during the day, it might be because the owl has babies.
They Need More Food During the Winter
Although owls have thick feathers and can withstand cold temperatures well, they need more energy during the winter months.
Eating more during the winter allows them to add body weight, and maintain their energy levels for body temperature regulation.
Owls can leave their nests two or three times to hunt briefly and eat on winter days.