Photo: Mousam ray / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Himalayan Owl
Strix nivicolum
Himalayan Owl (Strix nivicolum) — Owls of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Himalayan Owl (Strix nivicolum) is a member of the Strigidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 472 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Strigiformes
- Family Strigidae Owls
- Genus Strix
- Species nivicolum
Quick facts
- Weight
- 472 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Himalayan Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Himalayan Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Himalayan Owl (Strix nivicolum) is a species of bird in the Strigidae family, part of the order Strigiformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers PAL, OR Himalayas to e Asia.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 472 g, with a wing length of about 29.2 cm and a tail of around 16.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 4.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Himalayan Owl?
The Himalayan Owl is a large bird that weighs around 472 g.
Where does the Himalayan Owl live?
The Himalayan Owl is found across Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering PAL, OR Himalayas to e Asia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Himalayan Owl belong to?
The Himalayan Owl (Strix nivicolum) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Himalayan Owl eat?
The Himalayan Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Himalayan Owl migrate?
The Himalayan Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Himalayan Owl endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Himalayan Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Himalayan Owl — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Himalayan Owl's range?
The Himalayan Owl has a mapped global range of about 4.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Strigidae
A field guide to the Strigidae family — 236 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.