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{{Pottermore}}
 
{{Youmay|the creature|the [[Ordinary Wizarding Level]] exams}}
  
{{Youmay|the creature|the [[Ordinary Wizarding Level]] exams}}
 
{{Creature infobox
  
{{Creature infobox
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*[[Owl Post Office]]<ref name="PoA">''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]''</ref><br>
  
*[[Owl Post Office]]<ref name="PoA">''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]''</ref><br>
 
*Individual [[Wizards]]
  
*Individual [[Wizards]]
−
|class=XX
 +
|class=
 
|status=
  
|status=
 
}}
  
}}
 
{{Quote|Owls are magical creatures most often used for delivering post and parcels in the wizarding world. They are known for their speed and discretion and can find recipients without an address.|Description.|Pottermore}}
  
{{Quote|Owls are magical creatures most often used for delivering post and parcels in the wizarding world. They are known for their speed and discretion and can find recipients without an address.|Description.|Pottermore}}
−
'''Owls''' are birds of prey. They belong to the families Strigidae (typical owls) and Tytonidae (Barn Owls), and there are at least 200 species. They normally feed on small mammals, insects, fish, and other birds. They do not make nests, instead sheltering inside trees, ground burrows, caves, and barns, or using other birds' old nests. Owls do not live in flocks, but the term for a group of owls is a parliament. The study of owls is a branch of ornithology. Fossil records show that owls arose early after the extinction of the dinosaurs.
 +
'''Owls''' are birds of prey. They belong to the families of Strigidae (typical owls) and Tytonidae (Barn Owls), and there are at least 200 species. They normally feed on small mammals, insects, fish, and other birds. They do not make nests, instead sheltering inside trees, ground burrows, caves, and barns, or using other birds' old nests. Owls do not live in flocks, but the term for a group of owls is a parliament. The study of owls is a branch of {{wplink|ornithology}}.
   
−
Normally, some owls are nocturnal, and owls keep to themselves, but in the [[wizarding world]] they serve many needed functions and have many sorts of personalities.
 +
Normally, most owls are nocturnal, and owls generally keep to themselves, but in the [[wizarding world]] they serve many needed functions and have many sorts of personalities.
   
 
==Postal workers==
  
==Postal workers==
 
[[File:Owlpost.jpeg|thumb|left|Owl post]]
  
[[File:Owlpost.jpeg|thumb|left|Owl post]]
−
Owls are enlisted to aid communication between wizards. Letters, parcels, and [[Howler]]s are all delivered by owls. Soft edges on an owl's flight feathers reduce the noise of flight, coupled with their natural camouflage, making them ideal for delivering letters.<ref name="PS">''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]''</ref>
 +
Owls are enlisted to aid communication between wizards. Letters, parcels, and [[Howler]]s are all delivered by owls. Soft, hair-like edges on an owl's flight feathers reduce the noise of flight, coupled with their natural camouflage, making them ideal for delivering letters.<ref name="PS">''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]''</ref>
   
  +
Owls must be trained to carry letters. Owls have a natural affinity to magic, (unlike [[pig]]s, which are thouroughly non-magical), and are thus able to locate the recipient of a letter without an address. Because owls are able to locate any witch or wizard for whom a letter is addressed, those who do not wish to be contacted must cast Repelling, Disguising, or Masking spells, of which a wide variety exists.
−
Owls must be trained to carry letters. Possibly only certain owls with attunement to magic can be trained for this purpose. They are possibly trained by wizards who can talk to animals.
  
   
  ⚫
Owls are used for commercial purposes, such as the [[Owl Post Office]] in Hogsmeade, and delivering newspapers and magazines such as the ''[[Daily Prophet]]'' and ''[[The Quibbler]]''. The [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]] formerly used owls for [[interdepartmental memo]]s, but switched to enchanted paper aeroplanes because owls made too much mess with their droppings and shed feathers.
−
Owls are able to find any wizard, wherever he may be, to deliver his mail. In the Goblet of Fire, Harry sends many letters to Sirius Black, even while the Ministry of Magic is unable to hunt him. It is unclear why they can do it, and why no Wizard can follow them to their quarry.
  
   
  ⚫
Postal owls all have different jobs, but it is the duty of a [[wikipedia:Scops Owl|Scops Owl]] for local deliveries only, as they are small and weak fliers.
⚫
Owls are used for commercial purposes, such as the [[Owl Post Office]] in Hogsmeade, and delivering newspapers and magazines such as the ''[[Daily Prophet]]'' and ''[[The Quibbler]]''. The [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]] formerly used owls for [[interdepartmental memo]]s, but switched to enchanted paper airplanes because owls made too much mess with their droppings and shed feathers.
  
−  
⚫
Postal owls all have different jobs, but it is the duty of a {{Wplink|Scops Owl}} for local deliveries only, as they are small and weak fliers.
  
   
 
==Species==
  
==Species==
  +
[[File:Errol_2.jpg|250px|thumb|right|[[Errol]] in flight]]
 
The smallest owl is the {{Wplink|Elf Owl}} (''Micrathene whitneyi''), which lacks the feathers for silent flying. The {{Wplink|Pygmy Owl}} (''Glaucidium passerinum'') is slightly larger than the Elf Owl, but with serrated feathers. The {{Wplink|Eurasian Eagle Owl}} (''Bubo bubo'') has curvy feathers on its brow and ears; this is possibly the species of the "hawk-like owl" which was part of the [[Lovegood family]]. The {{Wplink|Snowy Owl}} (''Nyctea scandiaca'') is native to the Arctic.
  
The smallest owl is the {{Wplink|Elf Owl}} (''Micrathene whitneyi''), which lacks the feathers for silent flying. The {{Wplink|Pygmy Owl}} (''Glaucidium passerinum'') is slightly larger than the Elf Owl, but with serrated feathers. The {{Wplink|Eurasian Eagle Owl}} (''Bubo bubo'') has curvy feathers on its brow and ears; this is possibly the species of the "hawk-like owl" which was part of the [[Lovegood family]]. The {{Wplink|Snowy Owl}} (''Nyctea scandiaca'') is native to the Arctic.
   
 
===List of species===
  
===List of species===
−
*{{Wplink|Barn Owl}} (''Tyto alba'')
 +
*[[Barn Owl]]
−
*[[Eagle owl|Eagle Owl]] (''Bubo bubo'')
 +
*[[Eagle owl|Eagle Owl]]
 
*[[Scops owl|Scops Owl]]
  
*[[Scops owl|Scops Owl]]
  +
*[[Snowy Owl]]
−
*{{Wplink|Western Screech Owl}} (''Otus kennicotti'')
  
  +
*[[Tawny Owl]]
−
*Eastern Screech Owl (''Megascops asio'')
  
  +
*[[Brown Owl]]
−
*Northern Saw-whet Owl (''Aegolius acadicus'')
  
  +
*[[Grey owl]]
−
*{{Wplink|Snowy Owl}} (''Nyctea scandiaca'')
  
−
*Great Horned Owl (''Bubo virginianus'')
  
−
*[[Wikipedia:Tawny Owl|Tawny/Brown Owl]] (''Strix aluco'')
  
−
*Great Grey Owl (''Strix nebulosa'')
  
−
*Elf Owl (''Micrathene whitneyi'')
  
−
*Burrowing Owl (''Speotyto cunicularia'')
  
   
 
==Known owls==
  
==Known owls==
−
[[File:Errol_2.jpg|250px|thumb|right|[[Errol]] in flight]]
 +
[[File:Screenshot 969.png|thumb|200x200px|Owl of [[Minerva McGonagall]]]]
−
*[[Hedwig]] - Snowy Owl, companion to [[Harry Potter]]<ref name="PS"/>
 +
*[[Hedwig]] - Snowy Owl, companion to [[Harry Potter]]<ref name="PS" />
−
*[[Errol]] - a very old Great Gray Owl owned by the Weasley family
 +
*[[Errol]] - a very old Great Grey Owl owned by the Weasley family
 
*[[Hermes]] - Western Screech Owl, belongs to [[Percy Weasley]]<ref name="CS">''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]''</ref>
  
*[[Hermes]] - Western Screech Owl, belongs to [[Percy Weasley]]<ref name="CS">''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]''</ref>
−
*[[Pigwidgeon]] also known as "Pig" - Scops Owl, owned by [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]]<ref name="PoA"/>
 +
*[[Pigwidgeon]] also known as "Pig" - Scops Owl, owned by [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]]<ref name="PoA" />
−
*[[Hawk-like owl|Hawk-like (Eagle?)&nbsp;owl]] - presumably companion to the [[Lovegood family|Lovegoods]]
 +
*[[Hawk-like owl|Hawk-like (possibly Eagle) owl]] - presumably companion to the [[Lovegood family|Lovegoods]]
−
*[[Draco Malfoy's Eagle Owl ]]- companion to [[Draco Malfoy]] and/or his [[Malfoy family|family]].
 +
*[[Draco Malfoy's Eagle Owl ]] - companion to [[Draco Malfoy]] and/or his [[Malfoy family|family]].
 
*[[Longbottom family]]'s Barn Owl
  
*[[Longbottom family]]'s Barn Owl
−
*[[Termeritus Shanks's owl|Termeritus Shanks's Snowy Owl]]
 +
*[[Termeritus Shanks's owl|Termeritus Shanks's Snowy Owl]]
  +
*[[Brodwin]] - belonged to the [[Prime Minister]].
 
*The numerous post owls from [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]
  
*The numerous post owls from [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]
 
*The numerous post owls from the Owl Post Office in [[Hogsmeade]]
  
*The numerous post owls from the Owl Post Office in [[Hogsmeade]]
  +
*The members of the [[Egyptian Owl Union]]
   
 
==See also==
  
==See also==
Line 78: Line 75:
 
*During the production of the [[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)|film adaptation]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'', an attempt was made to train bats to carry letters, but this was abandoned because bats urinate during flight.
  
*During the production of the [[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)|film adaptation]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'', an attempt was made to train bats to carry letters, but this was abandoned because bats urinate during flight.
 
*It took trainers three months to train owls to carry letters for the [[Harry Potter films|films]].
  
*It took trainers three months to train owls to carry letters for the [[Harry Potter films|films]].
−
*In [[April]] [[2009]], a falconer whose owls starred in the ''Harry Potter'' films admitted a string of animal cruelty offenses.<ref>''[http://harrypotterupdate.multiply.com/journal/item/235/Harry_Potter_falconer_admits_animal_cruelty_offences Harry Potter falconer admits animal cruelty offences]''</ref>
 +
*In [[April]] [[2009]], a falconer whose owls starred in the ''Harry Potter'' films admitted a string of animal cruelty offences.<ref>''[http://web.archive.org/web/20121230074242/http://harrypotterupdate.multiply.com/journal/item/235/Harry_Potter_falconer_admits_animal_cruelty_offences Harry Potter falconer admits animal cruelty offences]''</ref>
−
*In many legends, owls represent death. But in other legends like in Greece, owls are a symbol of wisdom. In India, owls are birds of ill omen.
 +
*In many legends, owls represent death. But in other legends, like those of Ancient Greece, owls are a symbol of wisdom. In India, owls are birds of ill omen.
 
*In reality, the Brown Owl and the Tawny Owl are the same species (''Strix aluco''), but the Harry Potter books treat them as different types of owl.
  
*In reality, the Brown Owl and the Tawny Owl are the same species (''Strix aluco''), but the Harry Potter books treat them as different types of owl.
  +
*In an issue of The Quibbler seen in the [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|film adaptation]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'', an advertisement offering Owl-training can be seen, suggesting this is a [[Owl Training|business]] in the Wizarding World.
  +
*At some point following the publication of the [[Harry Potter (book series)|''Harry Potter'' books]], there was a series of media reports regarding an upswing the popularity of owls as pets, allegedly as a result of people having read about them in the books. Author [[J. K. Rowling]] stated on her [[J. K. Rowling Official Site|official website]] "If it is true that anybody has been influenced by my books to think that an owl would be happiest shut in a small cage and kept in a house, I would like to take this opportunity to say as forcefully as I can: please don't."<ref name="rowlingowls">[http://web.archive.org/web/20110623034956/http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/extrastuff_view.cfm?id=20 J. K. Rowling Official Site - Owls, available via Internet Archive]</ref>
   
 
==Appearances==
  
==Appearances==
Line 104: Line 103:
 
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1]]''
  
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1]]''
 
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2]]'' {{Portrait}}
  
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2]]'' {{Portrait}}
  +
*''[[Quidditch Through the Ages (real)|Quidditch Through the Ages]]'' {{Mention}}
 
*''[[Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book]]''
  
*''[[Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book]]''
  +
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Building the Magical World]]''
  +
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Characters of the Magical World]]''
 
*''[[The Queen's Handbag]]''
  
*''[[The Queen's Handbag]]''
 
*''[[The Wizarding World of Harry Potter]]''
  
*''[[The Wizarding World of Harry Potter]]''
 
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]''
  
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]''
 
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7]]''
  
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7]]''
  +
*''[[Harry Potter for Kinect]]''
 
*''[[Pottermore]]''
  
*''[[Pottermore]]''
 
*''[[Harry Potter Trading Card Game]]''
  
*''[[Harry Potter Trading Card Game]]''
  +
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter|Harry Potter LEGO Sets]]''
   
 
==Notes and references==
  
==Notes and references==
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{{Creatures by classification}}
  
{{Creatures by classification}}
 
[[de:Posteule]]
  
[[de:Posteule]]
−
[[fr:Hiboux]]
 +
[[fr:Hibou]]
  +
[[it:Gufo]]
  +
[[ru:Почтовые совы]]
  +
[[pl:Sowa]]
 
[[Category:Owls| ]]
  
[[Category:Owls| ]]
 
[[Category:XX Creatures]]
  
[[Category:XX Creatures]]
  +
[[Category:Birds]]

Revision as of 04:01, 29 June 2015

Pottermore2 Warning!

At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in the latest update of Pottermore. As such, spoilers will be present within the article. Please take care when reading this article if you have not yet been through the latest update.

"Point me!"
This article is about the creature. You may be looking for the Ordinary Wizarding Level exams.

"Owls are magical creatures most often used for delivering post and parcels in the wizarding world. They are known for their speed and discretion and can find recipients without an address."
— Description.[src]

Owls are birds of prey. They belong to the families of Strigidae (typical owls) and Tytonidae (Barn Owls), and there are at least 200 species. They normally feed on small mammals, insects, fish, and other birds. They do not make nests, instead sheltering inside trees, ground burrows, caves, and barns, or using other birds' old nests. Owls do not live in flocks, but the term for a group of owls is a parliament. The study of owls is a branch of ornithology.

Normally, most owls are nocturnal, and owls generally keep to themselves, but in the wizarding world they serve many needed functions and have many sorts of personalities.

Postal workers

Owlpost

Owl post

Owls are enlisted to aid communication between wizards. Letters, parcels, and Howlers are all delivered by owls. Soft, hair-like edges on an owl's flight feathers reduce the noise of flight, coupled with their natural camouflage, making them ideal for delivering letters.[2]

Owls must be trained to carry letters. Owls have a natural affinity to magic, (unlike pigs, which are thouroughly non-magical), and are thus able to locate the recipient of a letter without an address. Because owls are able to locate any witch or wizard for whom a letter is addressed, those who do not wish to be contacted must cast Repelling, Disguising, or Masking spells, of which a wide variety exists.

Owls are used for commercial purposes, such as the Owl Post Office in Hogsmeade, and delivering newspapers and magazines such as the Daily Prophet and The Quibbler. The Ministry of Magic formerly used owls for interdepartmental memos, but switched to enchanted paper aeroplanes because owls made too much mess with their droppings and shed feathers.

Postal owls all have different jobs, but it is the duty of a Scops Owl for local deliveries only, as they are small and weak fliers.

Species

Errol 2

Errol in flight

The smallest owl is the Elf Owl (Micrathene whitneyi), which lacks the feathers for silent flying. The Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium passerinum) is slightly larger than the Elf Owl, but with serrated feathers. The Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) has curvy feathers on its brow and ears; this is possibly the species of the "hawk-like owl" which was part of the Lovegood family. The Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca) is native to the Arctic.

List of species

Known owls

Screenshot 969

Owl of Minerva McGonagall

See also

Behind the scenes

OWL carrying a message

Owl carrying a message.

  • During the production of the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, an attempt was made to train bats to carry letters, but this was abandoned because bats urinate during flight.
  • It took trainers three months to train owls to carry letters for the films.
  • In April 2009, a falconer whose owls starred in the Harry Potter films admitted a string of animal cruelty offences.[4]
  • In many legends, owls represent death. But in other legends, like those of Ancient Greece, owls are a symbol of wisdom. In India, owls are birds of ill omen.
  • In reality, the Brown Owl and the Tawny Owl are the same species (Strix aluco), but the Harry Potter books treat them as different types of owl.
  • In an issue of The Quibbler seen in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, an advertisement offering Owl-training can be seen, suggesting this is a business in the Wizarding World.
  • At some point following the publication of the Harry Potter books, there was a series of media reports regarding an upswing the popularity of owls as pets, allegedly as a result of people having read about them in the books. Author J. K. Rowling stated on her official website "If it is true that anybody has been influenced by my books to think that an owl would be happiest shut in a small cage and kept in a house, I would like to take this opportunity to say as forcefully as I can: please don't."[5]

Appearances

Wiki
The Harry Potter Wiki has 355 images related to Owl.

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
  3. ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
  4. ↑ Harry Potter falconer admits animal cruelty offences
  5. ↑ J. K. Rowling Official Site - Owls, available via Internet Archive
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