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{{Spoiler|HM|PAS|MA|HL}}
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{{Real world subject}}
 
{{Youmay|the creature|the [[Ordinary Wizarding Level]] exams}}
  
{{Youmay|the creature|the [[Ordinary Wizarding Level]] exams}}
 
{{Creature infobox
  
{{Creature infobox
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|image=[[File:Harry Potter and Hedwig.jpg|250px]]
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|image = Harry Potter and Hedwig.jpg
  ⚫
|name = Owl
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|bgcolor1=
  
  ⚫
|skin =
−
|bgcolor2=
  
  ⚫
|eyes =
⚫
|name=Owl
  
  ⚫
|hair =
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|sentience=Semi-sentient
  
  ⚫
|feathers = Various
⚫
|skin=
  
  ⚫
|related =
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|eyes=
  
  +
|native = Various, including [[Great Britain]]<ref name="Owl"/>
⚫
|hair=
  
  ⚫
|alias =
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|feathers=Various
  
  ⚫
|height =
⚫
|related=
  
  ⚫
|length =
−
|native=Various
 +
|wingspan = Various
⚫
|alias=
  
  +
|mortality = Mortal<ref name="DH4">{{DH|B|4}}</ref>
⚫
|height=
  
  +
|distinction = Used in postal services<ref name="POA1"/><ref name="POA22"/> and companionship<ref name="PS5"/>
⚫
|length=
  
  +
|affiliation = *[[Owlery]]<ref name="PS">{{PS|B}}</ref>
−
|wingspan=Various
  
  ⚫
*[[Owl Post Office]]<ref name="POA1">{{POA|B|1}}</ref>
−
|distinction=Used in Postal Services and companionship
  
  +
*[[Wizardkind]]<ref name="Owl"/>
−
|affiliation=*[[The Quibbler]]
  
  ⚫
|class =
⚫
*[[Owl Post Office]]<ref name="PoA">''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]''</ref><br>
  
  ⚫
|status = Extant
−
*Individual [[Wizards]]
  
⚫
|class=
  
⚫
|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}}
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{{Quote|Owls are [[magic]]al [[creature]]s 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}}
  +
An '''owl''' was a [[magic]]al [[bird]] of prey.<ref name="Owl"/>
−
'''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 generally keep to themselves, but in the [[wizarding world]] they serve many needed functions and have many sorts of personalities.
 +
Normally, most [[Great Britain|British]] owls were nocturnal, and owls generally keep to themselves, but in the [[wizarding world]] they served many needed functions and had many sorts of personalities. Owls also appeared to understand magical people speaking English and could communicate with [[wizardkind|wizards and witches]].<ref name="POA1">{{POA|B|1}}</ref><ref name="Owl"/>
   
 
==Postal workers==
  
==Postal workers==
−
[[File:Owlpost.jpeg|thumb|left|Owl post]]
 +
[[File:HPPS 2014 Bk Cvr.jpg|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 were enlisted to aid communication between wizards.<ref name="PS3">{{PS|B|3}}</ref> Letters,<ref name="PS3"/> parcels,<ref name="PS10">{{PS|B|10}}</ref> and [[Howler]]s<ref name="COS6">{{COS|B|6}}</ref> were all delivered by owls. Soft, hair-like edges on an owl's flight feathers reduced the noise of flight, coupled with their natural camouflage, making them ideal for delivering letters.<ref name="PS8">{{PS|B|8}}</ref><ref name="COS2">{{COS|B|2}}</ref><ref name="OOTP2">{{OOTP|B|2}}</ref>
   
  +
Owls had to be trained to carry letters. Owls had a natural affinity to [[magic]] (unlike [[pig]]s, which were thoroughly non-magical), and thus could find the recipient of a letter without an address. Because owls could find any witch or wizard whom a letter was addressed to, those who did not wish to be contacted must cast [[Repelling Spell|Repelling]], [[Disguising Spell|Disguising]], or [[Masking Spell|Masking]] [[spell]]s, of which a wide variety existed.<ref name="Owl">{{WW|owls}}</ref>
−
Owls must be trained to carry letters. Possibly only certain owls with attunement to magic can be trained for this purpose. Owls are able to find any wizard, wherever he may be, to deliver his mail.
  
   
  ⚫
[[File:OWL carrying a message.gif|thumb|right|An owl carrying a message|240x240px]]
−
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 were used for commercial purposes, such as those used for the [[Owl Post Office]] in Hogsmeade, and for 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 [[Charm|enchanted]] paper aeroplanes because owls made too much mess with their [[Faeces|droppings]] and shed feathers.<ref name="OOTP7">{{OOTP|B|7}}</ref>
   
−
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.
 +
Postal owls all had different jobs, but [[scops owl]]s were enlisted for local deliveries only, as they were small and weak fliers.<ref name="POA14">{{POA|B|14}}</ref>
   
  +
It was not merely wizards who could use owls to send and receive post - some goblins, such as [[Lodgok]], also made use of these mail carriers.<ref name="HL">{{HL}}</ref>
−
==Species==
  
−
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.
  
   
  +
Several types of owls were possible [[Patronus Charm|Patronus]] forms, such as the [[little owl]], [[eagle owl]] and [[snowy owl]].<ref name="PM-patronus">{{PM}} [[Patronus quiz]]</ref>
⚫
===List of species===
  
  +
−
*[[Barn Owl]]
  
  ⚫
==Known species==
−
*[[Eagle owl|Eagle Owl]]
  
−
*[[Scops owl|Scops Owl]]
 +
*[[Barn owl]]<ref name="PS9"/>
  +
*[[Barred owl]]<ref name="MA">{{MA}}</ref>
−
*[[Snowy Owl]]
  
  +
*[[Brown Fish owl]]<ref name="MA" />
−
*[[Tawny Owl]]
  
−
*[[Brown Owl]]
 +
*[[Brown owl]]<ref name="GOF26">{{GOF|B|26}}</ref>
−
*[[Grey owl]]
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*[[Eagle owl]]<ref name="PS9" />
  +
*[[Eastern screech owl]]<ref name="PAS">{{PAS}}</ref>
  +
*[[Great grey owl]]<ref name="COS3" />
  +
*[[Little owl]]<ref name="PM-patronus"/>
  +
*[[Red Owlet]]<ref name="MA" />
  +
*[[Scops owl]]<ref name="POA22" />
  +
*[[Screech owl]]<ref name="COS3" />
  +
*[[Snowy owl]]<ref name="PS5" />
  +
*[[Spectacled owl]]<ref name="MA" />
  +
*[[Tawny owl]]<ref name="PS1">{{PS|B|1}}</ref>
   
 
==Known owls==
  
==Known owls==
−
[[File:Errol_2.jpg|250px|thumb|right|[[Errol]] in flight]]
 +
[[File:McGonagall's owl PSG.png|thumb|220x220px|An own used by [[Minerva McGonagall]]]]
−
*[[Hedwig]] - Snowy Owl, companion to [[Harry Potter]]<ref name="PS"/>
 +
*[[Artemis (owl)|Artemis]]<ref name="HM68">{{HM|6|8}}</ref>
  +
*[[Hedwig]]<ref name="PS5">{{PS|B|5}}</ref>
−
*[[Errol]] - a very old Great Grey Owl owned by the Weasley family
  
  +
*[[Errol]]<ref name="COS3" />
−
*[[Hermes]] - Western Screech Owl, belongs to [[Percy Weasley]]<ref name="CS">''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]''</ref>
  
  +
*[[Hermes]]<ref name="COS3">{{COS|B|3}}</ref>
−
*[[Pigwidgeon]] also known as "Pig" - Scops Owl, owned by [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]]<ref name="PoA"/>
  
  +
*[[Pigwidgeon]]<ref name="POA22">{{POA|B|22}}</ref>
−
*[[Hawk-like owl|Hawk-like (possibly Eagle) owl]] - presumably companion to the [[Lovegood family|Lovegoods]]
  
  +
*[[Hawk-like owl]]<ref name="DH20">{{DH|B|20}}</ref>
−
*[[Draco Malfoy's Eagle Owl ]] - companion to [[Draco Malfoy]] and/or his [[Malfoy family|family]].
  
  +
*[[Draco Malfoy's eagle owl]]<ref name="PS9">{{PS|B|9}}</ref>
⚫
*[[Longbottom family]]'s Barn Owl
  
  +
*[[Temeritus Shanks's owl]]<ref name="OOTG">{{OOTP|G}}</ref>
−
*[[Termeritus Shanks's owl|Termeritus Shanks's Snowy Owl]]
  
  ⚫
*[[Longbottom family]]'s [[barn owl]]<ref name="PS9" />
−
*[[Brodwin]] - belonged to the [[Prime Minister]].
  
  +
*[[Brodwin]]<ref name="QH">{{QH}}</ref>
−
*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 [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]<ref name="PS3">{{PS|B|3}}</ref>
  +
*The numerous post owls from the Owl Post Office in [[Hogsmeade]]<ref name="POA14" />
−
*The members of the [[Egyptian Owl Union]]
  
  +
*The members of the [[Egyptian Owl Union]]<ref name="HPLEG">{{HPLE|G}} (see [[:File:DailyProphetWeasleysEgypt.png|this image]])</ref>
−  
  +
*The [[Owl Airforce]]<ref name="HM633hm">{{HM|6|33|hm}}</ref>
⚫
==See also==
  
⚫
*List of known [[:Category:Letters|letters]]
  
⚫
*[[Eeylops Owl Emporium]]
  
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
  
==Behind the scenes==
  ⚫
*During the production of {{PS|FA}}, an attempt was made to train bats to carry letters, but this was abandoned because bats urinate during flight.
⚫
[[File:OWL_carrying_a_message.gif|175px|thumb|right|Owl carrying a message.]]
  
  ⚫
*It took trainers three months to train owls to carry letters for the [[Harry Potter (film series)|films]].
⚫
*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.
  
  ⚫
*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>
⚫
*It took trainers three months to train owls to carry letters for the [[Harry Potter films|films]].
  
  +
*It is unknown if, like humans, some owls are born with magical abilities, or if there is any other special requirement for an owl to be trained as a delivery owl. It is a popular fan theory, however, that the delivery owls are magical owls, which would explain their apparent greater intelligence (such as their understanding of addresses spoken in English and their occasional character quirks,) though they admittedly do little to demonstrate sentience in the series proper.
⚫
*In [[April]] [[2009]], a falconer whose owls starred in the ''Harry Potter'' films admitted a string of animal cruelty offences.<ref>''[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 those of Ancient 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 {{HBP|FA}}, an advertisement offering Owl-training can be seen, suggesting this is a [[Owl Training|business]] in the [[wizarding world]].
−
*There was a [[Owl Training|business]] which specialised in training owls.
  
−
*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>
 +
*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 in 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's 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's official site - Owls, available via Internet Archive]</ref>
  +
*In {{PS|FA}}, there are many owls trying to bring Harry Hogwarts letters. In the book, Harry first learns that owls carry letters when Rubeus Hagrid uses one in the Hut on the rock.
  +
*In real life, owls are no smarter than any other bird; with some considering them to be of low intelligence, as a large portion of the head is taken up by the eyes. However, intelligence is not solely determined by brain size, and owls are arguably indeed clever in their own right.
   
 
==Appearances==
  
==Appearances==
 
{{Imagecat|Images of owls}}
  
{{Imagecat|Images of owls}}
  +
*{{PS}} {{1st}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'' {{1st}}
  
  +
*{{PS|F}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)]]''
  
  +
*{{PS|G}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)]]''
  
  +
*{{COS}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]''
  
  +
*{{COS|F}}
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)]]''
  
  +
*{{COS|G}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)]]''
  
  +
*{{POA}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]''
  
  +
*{{POA|F}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)]]''
  
  +
*{{POA|G}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)]]''
  
  +
*{{GOF}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]''
  
  +
*{{GOF|F}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)]]''
  
  +
*{{OOTP}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''
  
  +
*{{OOTP|F}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)]]''
  
  +
*{{OOTP|G}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)]]''
  
  +
*{{HBP}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]''
  
  +
*{{HBP|F}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)]]''
  
  +
*{{HBP|G}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)]]''
  
  +
*{{DH}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]''
  
  +
*{{DH|F1}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1]]''
  
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2]]'' {{Portrait}}
 +
*{{DH|F2}} {{Portrait}}
  +
*{{CC|P}}
−
*''[[Quidditch Through the Ages (real)|Quidditch Through the Ages]]'' {{Mention}}
  
  +
*{{CC}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book]]''
  
  +
*{{FB|F}} {{Portrait}}
−
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Building the Magical World]]''
  
  +
*{{COG}}
−
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Characters of the Magical World]]''
  
  +
*{{SOD}}
−
*''[[The Queen's Handbag]]''
  
  +
*{{SODMM}} {{Mention}}
−
*''[[The Wizarding World of Harry Potter]]''
  
  +
*{{QTA|R}} {{Mention}}
−
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]''
  
  +
*{{PM}}
−
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7]]''
  
  +
*{{WW}}
−
*''[[Pottermore]]''
  
  +
*{{QH}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter Trading Card Game]]''
  
  +
*{{TCG}}
−
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter|Harry Potter LEGO Sets]]''
  
  +
*{{WWHP}}
  +
*{{HPV|CH}}
  +
*{{HPV|CR}}
  +
*{{HPPU}}
  +
*{{TWC}} {{Mention}}
  +
*{{LEGO}}
  +
*{{LEGO|B}}
  +
*{{LEGO|C}}
  +
*{{LEGO|C1}}
  +
*{{LEGO|C2}}
  +
*{{LEGO|Y1}}
  +
*{{LEGO|Y2}}
  +
*{{HPK}}
  +
*{{WBS}}
  +
*{{HM}}
  +
*{{WU}}
  +
*{{PAS}}
  +
*{{MA}}
  +
*{{HL}}
  +
*{{HPWA}}
   
 
==Notes and references==
  
==Notes and references==
 
{{Reflist}}
  
{{Reflist}}
   
  ⚫
==See also==
−
{{Creatures by classification}}
  
  ⚫
*List of known [[:Category:Letters|letters]]
  ⚫
*[[Eeylops Owl Emporium]]
 
[[de:Posteule]]
  
[[de:Posteule]]
  +
[[et:Öökull]]
 
[[fr:Hibou]]
  
[[fr:Hibou]]
−
[[it:Gufo]]
+
[[it:Gufo]]
  +
[[pl:Sowa]]
  +
[[pt-br:Coruja]]
 
[[ru:Почтовые совы]]
  
[[ru:Почтовые совы]]
−
[[Category:Owls| ]]
 +
[[zh:猫头鹰]]
−
[[Category:XX Creatures]]
 +
[[Category:Foundables]]
−
[[Category:Birds]]
 +
[[Category:Owls]]
  +
[[Category:Patronus forms]]

Latest revision as of 06:21, 4 March 2024

Hand pointing right transparent Warning!

At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery & Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells & Harry Potter: Magic Awakened & Hogwarts Legacy.
As such, spoilers will be present within the article.

Mirror of Erised "Is this all real? Or has this been happening inside my head?"

The topic of this article is of a real-life subject that has been mentioned "in-universe" in a canon source. The Harry Potter Wiki is written from the perspective that all information presented in canon is true (e.g., Hogwarts really existed), and, as such, details contained in this article may differ from real world facts.

"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]

An owl was a magical bird of prey.[1]

Normally, most British owls were nocturnal, and owls generally keep to themselves, but in the wizarding world they served many needed functions and had many sorts of personalities. Owls also appeared to understand magical people speaking English and could communicate with wizards and witches.[3][1]

Postal workers

HPPS 2014 Bk Cvr

Owl post

Owls were enlisted to aid communication between wizards.[7] Letters,[7] parcels,[8] and Howlers[9] were all delivered by owls. Soft, hair-like edges on an owl's flight feathers reduced the noise of flight, coupled with their natural camouflage, making them ideal for delivering letters.[10][11][12]

Owls had to be trained to carry letters. Owls had a natural affinity to magic (unlike pigs, which were thoroughly non-magical), and thus could find the recipient of a letter without an address. Because owls could find any witch or wizard whom a letter was addressed to, those who did not wish to be contacted must cast Repelling, Disguising, or Masking spells, of which a wide variety existed.[1]

OWL carrying a message

An owl carrying a message

Owls were used for commercial purposes, such as those used for the Owl Post Office in Hogsmeade, and for 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.[13]

Postal owls all had different jobs, but scops owls were enlisted for local deliveries only, as they were small and weak fliers.[14]

It was not merely wizards who could use owls to send and receive post - some goblins, such as Lodgok, also made use of these mail carriers.[15]

Several types of owls were possible Patronus forms, such as the little owl, eagle owl and snowy owl.[16]

Known species

Known owls

McGonagall's owl PSG

An own used by Minerva McGonagall

Behind the scenes

  • 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.[29]
  • It is unknown if, like humans, some owls are born with magical abilities, or if there is any other special requirement for an owl to be trained as a delivery owl. It is a popular fan theory, however, that the delivery owls are magical owls, which would explain their apparent greater intelligence (such as their understanding of addresses spoken in English and their occasional character quirks,) though they admittedly do little to demonstrate sentience in the series proper.
  • 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 in 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."[30]
  • In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, there are many owls trying to bring Harry Hogwarts letters. In the book, Harry first learns that owls carry letters when Rubeus Hagrid uses one in the Hut on the rock.
  • In real life, owls are no smarter than any other bird; with some considering them to be of low intelligence, as a large portion of the head is taken up by the eyes. However, intelligence is not solely determined by brain size, and owls are arguably indeed clever in their own right.

Appearances

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Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Owls" at Wizarding World
  2. ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 4 (The Seven Potters)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 1 (Owl Post)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 22 (Owl Post Again)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 5 (Diagon Alley)
  6. ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 3 (The Letters from No One)
  8. ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 10 (Hallowe'en)
  9. ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 6 (Gilderoy Lockhart)
  10. ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 8 (The Potions Master)
  11. ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 2 (Dobby's Warning)
  12. ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 2 (A Peck of Owls)
  13. ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 7 (The Ministry of Magic)
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 14 (Snape's Grudge)
  15. ↑ Hogwarts Legacy
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Pottermore Patronus quiz
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 9 (The Midnight Duel)
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
  19. ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 26 (The Second Task)
  20. ↑ Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 3 (The Burrow)
  22. ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 1 (The Boy Who Lived)
  23. ↑ Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 8 (Owl Prowl)
  24. ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 20 (Xenophilius Lovegood)
  25. ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
  26. ↑ The Queen's Handbag
  27. ↑ Harry Potter Limited Edition - A Guide to the Graphic Arts Department: Posters, Prints, and Publications from the Harry Potter Films (see this image)
  28. ↑ Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 33 (Imitation Game) - History of Magic Lesson "Owl Airforce"
  29. ↑ Harry Potter falconer admits animal cruelty offences
  30. ↑ J. K. Rowling's official site - Owls, available via Internet Archive

See also

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