Owls have captured the human imagination for millennia. With their large, forward-facing eyes, rounded heads, and silent flight, owls seem mysterious and wise. Throughout history and across many cultures, owls have been associated with wisdom, intuition, and secret knowledge. But which owl is the most famous of them all?
The Significance of Owls in Mythology and Folklore
Owls feature prominently in the myths, legends, and folklore of cultures around the world. In Greek mythology, the owl was considered the sacred bird of Athena, the goddess of wisdom. The little owl was also the bird of Athena in ancient Greece and appeared on their silver coins. Athena’s association with the owl likely started because owls are nocturnal and Athena was known as the goddess who oversaw the night. Athena was also a warrior goddess, so perhaps the owl’s hunting abilities made it an apt symbol for her. The Romans later adopted Athena as their goddess of wisdom, Minerva, who was also symbolized by an owl.
In Celtic mythology, owls were linked to Blodeuwedd, a woman created from flowers who later turned into an owl as punishment for killing her husband. Celtic folklore also suggested that owls were messengers bringing warnings of death. To hear an owl hooting at night was considered an ominous sign. In Native American cultures, owls often symbolize death or are associated with witchcraft. The Aztecs considered the owl a symbol of death and destruction. However, among some Native American tribes like the Lakota Sioux, the owl was a protective spirit. Owl feathers and totems were thought to ward off bad luck.
In Africa, the owl is associated with witchcraft and sorcery. In Cameroon, owls are thought to be witches in disguise or a witch’s spies. The owl’s eerie nighttime calls are thought to represent evil witches cackling. In contrast, in the Ivory Coast, the owl is considered the king’s messenger and a symbol of wisdom. In Japan, owl images and carvings ward off evil and adversity. In India, owls represent wisdom but are considered bad omens if seen during the daytime.
This wide range of mythic associations shows the depth of human fascination with the owl across continents and throughout history. The owl’s connection to the mysterious darkness of night, its intelligence and watchfulness, and its sudden silent appearances have made this bird a powerful symbol in the legends and lore of many peoples.
Famous Owls in Literature
Owls have made memorable appearances and significant symbolic contributions to several works of classic literature over the centuries. From ancient Greek myths to Shakespeare to J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, owls have left their mark on some of the most enduring fictional works of all time.
In Ovid’s Metamorphoses from ancient Rome, the owl appears in the mythical story of Nyctimene, a girl turned into an owl as punishment for her sins. Nyctimene remains a figure of shame in classical mythology. Another famous ancient owl is the Owl of Athena or Owl of Minerva. As previously mentioned, the owl was the special companion of Athena/Minerva, goddess of wisdom in Greek and Roman mythology.
In Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth, owls foreshadow doom and warn that evil and darkness are taking over Scotland as Macbeth’s ambition drives him to seize the crown through murder. Their cries haunt the ominous night before King Duncan’s death. “It was the owl that shriek’d, the fatal bellman, Which gives the stern’st good-night,” says Lady Macbeth. Shakespeare uses the owl as a symbol of the disruption of moral order and coming judgment.
In Charles Dickens’ famous novel A Christmas Carol, the elderly miser Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the terrifying Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. This silent, hooded spirit reveals Scrooge’s lonely death to motivate redemption. Given its grim purpose, it’s fitting that the Ghost first appears as “a solemn Phantom, draped and hooded, coming, like a mist along the ground, towards him.” Dickens never names what animal the spectral hood is meant to represent, but illustrations commonly depict it as an owl-like hood.
More recently, in J.K. Rowling’s globally popular Harry Potter books, the snowy owl Hedwig is Harry’s loyal pet and messenger. Harry feels isolated and alone before discovering his identity as a wizard, so Hedwig provides him with companionship throughout his adventures at Hogwarts and battles against the evil Lord Voldemort. As a snowy owl, Hedwig was modeled after a real species, but achieved worldwide fame as Harry’s steadfast friend.
Famous Real-Life Owls
Beyond literary fame, some real owls throughout history have gained celebrity status as symbols, mascots, or due to their unique stories. From an owl who inspired a leading car manufacturer’s logo to an owl who delivered mail, here are some of the most famous real-life owls.
The Blitz Owl of Bath
A tawny owl called Ozzy brought hope and resilience to the people of Bath, England during World War II bombing raids. Ozzy took up residence in the rafters of Bath Abbey in late 1940, a time when Bath suffered heavy damage from Germany’s sustained aerial bombing campaign known as The Blitz. According to the abbey archives, Ozzy’s nighttime calls comforted and encouraged the abbey staff as they worked to assist victims. Ozzy survived two years of bombing, refusing to abandon his perch. Sadly he died in 1942 after flying into a window, possibly confused by searchlights outside. A memorial plaque now commemorates the courageous “blitzed but undaunted” owl who came to symbolize Bath’s spirit during wartime trauma.
Logie the Owl of London
During the peak of German bombing raids on London in 1944-45, another tawny owl named Logie took up residence in the steel framework of Big Ben’s bell tower in the Palace of Westminster. Despite the daily pounding the landmark endured, Logie stayed put and became a minor celebrity. People said his stoic presence embodied the determination of the British people. Logie’s story appeared in newspapers like the Sunday Pictorial. After the war ended, Logie was apparently sighted elsewhere in Westminster, but his ultimate fate is unknown.
The Molson Owl of Canada
The owl icon is part of the logo and identity of Molson Brewery, founded in Montreal in 1786. Company advertising posters in the early 1900s featured an owl perched on a beer bottle with the slogan “The owl and the pussycat went to sea, in a beautiful pea-green boat.” The reference was to Edward Lear’s nonsense poem “The Owl and the Pussycat”, but Molson also claimed the owl represented wisdom and offered a reminder to drink responsibly. Molson continues using the owl alongside its red triangle logo today, though now with the slogan “Made from Canada.”
Owls of the United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service (USPS) adopted uncrested screech owls and northern saw-whet owls in the early 1900s to help control the mice and rat infestations then plaguing postal facilities. The instinctive hunting skills of these small but mighty owls helped improve sanitation and safety at postal sites. The USPS installed specially designed owl nesting boxes to attract the highly effective raptors. While postal owls are no longer officially employed by the USPS, wild owls still frequent some postal buildings today like the Jonesboro Post Office in Arkansas, continuing the tradition.
Hogwarts Owls in Harry Potter Films
In the eight Harry Potter films released 2001-2011, numerous owls of multiple breeds worked on screen bringing J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world to life. Snowy owl Hedwig, Harry’s loyal companion, was portrayed primarily by a male snowy owl named Gizmo. In scenes showing Hedwig as a young owl, fledgling owlets were bodysuit-clad puppet owls manipulated by crew members. For generic owl post delivery, common barn owls, tawny owls, great grey owls, eagle owls, and others handled carrying letters on screen. These trained acting owls gained fame among Harry Potter fans around the world.
Who Has the Most Followers on Social Media?
Today owls achieve fame through social media popularity as much as through literature and symbolic roles. By far the most followed owl on platforms like Instagram is Hedwig the snowy owl. Though Hedwig is fictional, she has over 800,000 followers on her Instagram account run by a Harry Potter fan in her honor. Numerous fan accounts also share artistic dedications to the character.
Of non-fictional owls, perhaps the most famous and widely followed on social media are the Kakapo Recovery birds Sirocco, Ambrose, Blu, and Kororā. These four New Zealand birds are the rock stars of the endangered Kakapo owl parrot species. Their conservation stories and quirky adventures on Codfish Island have garnered them over 300,000 Instagram followers.
Owls like Western screech owl Baby Yoda, great horned owl Isabella, and elf owl Fig have followings in the low 10,000s. Local zoo owls sometimes gain small regional followings as well. But so far, no non-fictional owls have matched the broad social media fame of Harry Potter’s snowy owl.
Conclusion
Tracing owls through history, literature, popular culture, and social media shows that some key traits and roles have made certain owls rise to fame repeatedly. Myths and folklore grant mystical wisdom and prophetic qualities to these mysterious night birds. Literary owls symbolize darkness, secrets, isolation, judgment, and the unknown. Real-life famous owls epitomize courage, resilience, and service. And social media gives a platform to extraordinary conservation stories.
Considering all these spheres, the most famous owl in the world is likely Harry Potter’s fictional snowy owl, Hedwig. Across the books, films, and internet fan culture, Hedwig has reached a wider global audience than any other owl. This beloved pet and magical messenger combines the wisdom, mystery, and companionship that have made owls iconic for millennia. Through her devotion to Harry, Hedwig represents strength, love, hope, and inspiration.
