Owls are mysterious creatures of the night that capture our imagination. When you spot their large, unblinking eyes, you may wonder – what do owls eat? Rodents and small mammals are well-known menu items, but do owls also feast on crawling bugs? Let’s take a closer look at an owl’s insectivorous tendencies.
An Owl’s Typical Diet: Meat and More
Before examining if owls eat bugs specifically, it’s helpful to understand their diet broadly. Owls are carnivorous birds meaning they subsist mostly on other animals.
Small mammals like mice, voles, rats, and the occasional squirrel or rabbit make up the bulk of most owls’ nutrition. Some larger owl species prey on bigger game including small deer, foxes, cats, and even seals!
Aside from mammals, birds are also on the owl dinner plate. Other avian creatures like ducks, pheasants and yes, even other smaller owl species can get snatched up by powerful raptors.
So while owls have a clear preference for meat and flesh, some of these resourceful raptors supplement their diet in surprising ways – including with bugs…
Do Owls Really Eat Bugs? Short Answer – Yes!
The main question remains – with their appetite for substantial protein sources, do owls eat bugs too?
The answer is yes, owls are known to eat insects and other buggy critters! Several species, especially screech owls and saw-whet owls are frequent insectivores – meaning bugs make up a significant portion of their regular diet.
Why Bugs? Added Nutrition!
In the wild, owls take an opportunistic approach to eating. Raptors survive by consuming whatever prey is reasonably abundant and available to them.
While mammals may be an owl’s first choice, during certain seasons, insects offer handy nutrients when step one options are scarce. Crunchy bugs can provide extra energy, protein and fat.
Beetles, grasshoppers, scorpions, moths and buttery insects are owl favorites. These winged creatures often emerge at dusk, prime owl hunting time! Plus bugs tend to multiply fast – an easy feast.
Bug Buffets: Which Owls and How Often
Most owls across the dozens of global species eat bugs here and there. However, these varieties tend to incorporate insects and invertebrates most often:
- Burrowing Owls
- Short-eared Owls
- Northern Saw-whet Owls
- Eastern Screech Owls
- Western Screech Owls
For these bug-loving owls, experts estimate upwards of 50-60% of their diet can consist of various insects, depending on seasonal availability of small mammal prey.
That’s a whole lot of crunch! For other owl species, occasional snacking on crawling critters likely satisfies 5-10% of caloric requirements.
Hunting Techniques: Talons,Vision & Hearing
When spying bugs bustling about, owls rely on their ace predator skills:
- Low-light vision spotting movement
- Acute hearing pinpointing faint rustling
- Specialized stealth feathers enabling silent swooping
- Sharp talons clutched in mighty grip mid-flight
With these innate abilities, owls scout, dive and snatch unsuspecting beetles, centipedes, scorpions and more right from tree branches, holes and grassy fields.
Crunchy exoskeletons and gooey bug insides get gobbled up as owls obtain extra fuel. Circle of life for the wild food chain!
The Verdict: Yes, Owls Hunt and Feast on Bugs!
While small rodents and birds make up most of an owl’s carnivorous diet, insects provide opportunistic nutrients, fat and energy between bigger catches. Specific owl species like screech owls integrate bugs into 50% or more of their regular dietary intake. Others treat creepy-crawly creatures as occasional snack substitutes. Either way, the answer remains – yes, owls do eagerly eat bugs!
Mark Thompson, a seasoned pest controller, is renowned for his expertise in keeping homes and businesses free from unwanted intruders. With a passion for environmental sustainability and a deep understanding of pest behavior, Mark has become a trusted authority in the industry.