You’ve seen them on greeting cards. Or maybe you've heard the haunting, synchronized hooting coming from the old oak tree behind your house at 2:00 AM. Owls are solitary, right? Mostly, yeah. They are the "lone wolves" of the bird world. But occasionally, these feathered predators gather in a bunch, and when they do, they have one of the coolest names in the English language.
So, what is a group of owls called?
The short answer is a parliament.
It sounds fancy. It sounds dignified. It sounds like a bunch of feathered elders sitting around in robes debating the geopolitical implications of the local field mouse population. But where did this name come from? Is it actually used by scientists? And what do you call them when they aren't acting like a bunch of politicians?
The C.S. Lewis Connection and Why Language Is Weird
Language is a funny thing. Most people assume that "parliament" is some ancient, biological term used by naturalists since the dawn of time.
Actually, we probably owe it to a chronicler of Narnia.
While the term has roots in older folk traditions, C.S. Lewis popularized the phrase "a parliament of owls" in his 1953 book The Silver Chair. In the story, the owls literally meet at night to discuss the affairs of the land. It stuck. Hard. Before Lewis, people were more likely to use different collective nouns, but the whimsy of a "parliament" captured the public imagination so thoroughly that it became the standard answer to every pub quiz question on the planet.
But here’s a secret.
If you walk into an ornithology lab at Cornell or the Smithsonian and ask a researcher about the local "parliament," they might give you a side-eye. Scientists are boring. They usually just say "a group." Or maybe a "colony" if they’re feeling spicy.
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It’s Not Just Parliaments: Other Names You Should Know
We like to box things in. We want one word for one thing. Nature doesn't work like that. Depending on the species or what the birds are doing, you might hear a few other weird terms tossed around by birders who’ve had too much coffee.
- A Stare: This one is incredibly accurate. If you’ve ever walked under a tree and had six Great Horned Owls swivel their heads 270 degrees to glare at you with unblinking yellow eyes, you know why it’s called a "stare." It’s unsettling. It’s heavy. It feels like you're being judged for every life choice you've ever made.
- A Wisdom: This is a bit more poetic. Because owls have been symbols of Athena and general braininess for millennia, "a wisdom of owls" pops up in older literature.
- A Study: This one is rarer, but it refers to the quiet, observant nature of the birds.
- A Bazaar: Specifically used sometimes for a group of owls that are particularly noisy or active.
Honestly, the collective noun often depends on the "vibe." A parliament feels formal. A stare feels like a threat.
Do Owls Actually Hang Out Together?
This is the real kicker. Owls are famously territorial. A Great Horned Owl will basically fight anything that breathes if it gets too close to its nesting site. So, seeing a group of owls—a parliament—is actually pretty rare for many species.
However, there are exceptions.
Take the Short-eared Owl. During the winter, when food gets scarce, these birds will sometimes roost together in tall grass or evergreen thickets. You might find a dozen of them huddled up to stay warm. That’s your parliament.
Then you have the Burrowing Owl. These little guys are the social butterflies of the owl world. They live in underground tunnels (often stolen from prairie dogs) and hang out in loose colonies. You’ll see them standing on mounds, nodding at each other like tiny, feathered security guards. If any owl deserves a collective noun, it’s these dudes.
The Evolutionary Reason for the "Parliament"
Why would a predator that relies on stealth ever want to hang out with a crowd? Usually, it's about survival, not friendship.
Communal roosting happens for two main reasons:
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- Thermoregulation: It’s cold out there. Huddling saves energy.
- Safety in numbers: Even though owls are top-tier hunters, they have enemies. Hawks, eagles, and even larger owls will snack on them. Having ten pairs of eyes watching for a Goshawk is better than one.
In the winter months, if you find a dense grove of pine trees near an open field, look at the ground. If you see hundreds of "owl pellets" (those grey, furry lumps of undigested bone and fur), look up. You might be standing right underneath a sleeping parliament of Long-eared Owls. They are masters of camouflage, looking just like broken branches.
Why We Are Obsessed With Collective Nouns
The obsession with terms like "a parliament of owls" or "a murder of crows" actually dates back to the Book of Saint Albans, printed in 1486. This was essentially a handbook for gentlemen on how to hunt, hawk, and use the "proper" language of the court.
Back then, if you didn't know the specific term for a group of animals, you were considered uneducated. It was a class thing. You didn’t just see a group of ducks; you saw a "paddling." You didn't see a group of foxes; you saw a "skulk."
Most of these terms were never meant to be scientific. They were linguistic flair. They were a way for hunters and nobles to show off their vocabulary. "Parliament" fits right into that tradition of giving animals human-like social structures.
The Darker Side of the Parliament
In many cultures, a group of owls isn't a sign of wisdom or a "parliament" of leaders. It’s an omen.
In some Native American traditions, particularly among the Apache and Seminole, owls are associated with the spirits of the dead. Seeing a group of them together could mean a transformation or a coming death. In ancient Rome, an owl hooting from the top of a public building predicted the death of a statesman.
Imagine a "parliament" appearing before a literal parliament. That’s the stuff of nightmares for the superstitious.
Identifying Your Own Parliament
If you're out looking for a group of owls, don't just look for the birds. Look for the signs.
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- Whitewash: This is the polite term for owl poop. It looks like white paint splashed down the trunk of a tree.
- Pellets: Check the base of the tree. Owls swallow their prey whole and barf up the bones and fur later.
- Mobbing: If you hear a bunch of crows or blue jays screaming their heads off in a specific tree during the day, they are likely "mobbing" an owl. They’ve found a parliament member sleeping and are trying to harass it into leaving.
Real-World Examples: The Long-eared Owl "Mega-Roost"
Every year in certain parts of Serbia, specifically in the town of Kikinda, something incredible happens. Hundreds of Long-eared Owls descend on the town square. They fill the trees.
It is the largest parliament of owls in the world.
Locals and tourists walk under them every day. The birds just sit there, blinking. It’s a perfect example of how these birds, usually so solitary, find safety and community in the middle of human civilization when the conditions are right. They aren't there to debate laws; they’re there because the town stays a few degrees warmer than the frozen countryside.
What to Do If You Find One
Finding a group of owls is a peak nature moment. But there’s a "code" you should follow.
Don't use flash photography. Owls have incredibly sensitive eyes, and a bright flash in the dark is like a flashbang to a human. Keep your distance. If the birds start "scolding" (making a clicking sound with their beaks) or if they start shifting nervously, you're too close.
A parliament is a fragile thing. If you flush them out of their roost during the day, they become vulnerable to hawks and other predators.
Next Steps for the Aspiring Owl-Spotter
If you're serious about finding a group of owls, start by downloading the eBird app. It’s run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. You can search for recent sightings of "Short-eared Owls" or "Long-eared Owls" in your area. These are the species most likely to form groups.
Winter is the best time to look. Focus on "edge habitats"—places where a forest meets a field. If you find one, stay quiet. Just sit and watch. There is nothing quite like the feeling of being part of a silent, feathered parliament under a winter moon.