Owls are fascinating birds that have long been associated with wisdom and mystery. They are found all over the world and come in a wide variety of species, each with its own unique characteristics and behaviors. There is a wide range of owl trivia questions that can be asked, whether you're a bird watcher or someone who is simply interested in these intriguing animals.
Here are some examples of owl trivia questions you might come across: What is the largest owl species in the world? How do owls locate their prey? What is the average lifespan of an owl? What is the name of the smallest owl species in the world? These questions cover a wide range of owl's physical characteristics, behavior, and habitat.
In addition to the physical characteristics of owls, there are also many fun and interesting facts to learn about them. For example, did you know that the largest owl species in the world is the Eurasian eagle-owl? Or that some owls have asymmetrical ears, which helps them locate prey more accurately in the dark? These trivia questions will not only test your knowledge, but also give you a glimpse into the many fascinating aspects of owls, their unique adaptations, hunting habits and their place in different cultures and myths.
1. "Delightfully tacky, yet unrefined" is the slogan of what restaurant chain with an owl in its logo?
Answer: Hooters
2. Hedwig the owl from Harry Potter is what species of owl? The species gets its name from its white coloration, and from living in arctic climates.
Answer: Snowy Owl
3. The wise owl on the label could tell you: Hatachino Nest Japanese Classic Ale is brewed in cedar casks previously used to brew what rice-based alcoholic drink?
Answer: Sake
4. Owl City is an electronic music project featured on the soundtrack of what 2012 Disney animated film about a video game character who's tired of always playing the bad guy against Fix-It Felix?
Answer: Wreck-It Ralph
5. One of the types of contour feathers, remiges are feathers that cover what spreadable part of an owl's anatomy?
Answer: Wings
6. A reincarnation of the sage Rauru, the owl Kaepora Gaebora appears in the "Ocarina of Time" and "Majora's Mask" editions of what video game franchise?
Answer: The Legend of Zelda
7. As of the "Robin War" storyline, the Court of Owls became the Parliament of Owls and continued to be a menace to what Wayne Industries comic book city?
Answer: Gotham City
8. The Little Owl, sometimes called the Owl of Athena, is the national bird of which Mediterranean country?
Answer: Greece
9. Some of the earliest known depictions of owls come are drawings on the walls of the Chauvet Cave, in the southeastern portion of what European country?
Answer: France
10. The Tasmanian masked owl's scientific name is Tyto novaehollandiae castanops. The "castanops" comes from its facial resemblance to what roasted holiday nut?
Answer: Chestnut
11. It sounds like the “floppy” you used to put in a computer back in the day, but which part of an owl’s feathery facial anatomy is what allows them to adjust their hearing?
Answer: Disk
12. “Mr. Big” is the animated green owl mascot of what American educational tech company that was founded in 2011 and specializes in training its users how to speak different languages?
Answer: Duolingo
13. Striking Owls Head Light near the town of Owls Head, so named because explorers thought the promontory on which it was built resembled an owl's head, can be found in what state?
Answer: Maine
14. Reminiscent of something that might be used by someone with alopecia, what was the name of the snowy owl which Harry Potter received as an eleventh birthday present from Hagrid?
Answer: Hedwig
15. Owls are divided into two families. The Strigidae family are common, or typical, owls. The Tytonidae family, however, share their common name with what farm building?
Answer: Barn
16. Ornimegalonyx is an extinct genus of flightless owl, believed to be the largest owl to have ever existed, that lived in which country whose main island is the largest in the Caribbean?
Answer: Cuba
17. Owls live in lots of different habitats all around the world, but there is one continent on which they are not naturally found - which one?
Answer: Antarctica
18. Like many other birds, the feathers on an owl’s body replace themselves about once a year. What’s the name of the process?
Answer: Molting
19. A legendary 1970 TV commercial features an owl who helps to answer the question, "How many licks does it take to get the center" of what candy brand?
Answer: Tootsie Pop
20. The eyes of owls are fixed in their sockets, forcing them to turn their heads around. This is what “B” type of two-lensed vision, the singular of an optical enhancer used by birdwatchers, or maybe people at the baseball game?
Answer: Binocular
21. What “A” Masked Owl species, themselves named after an archipelago between India and Myanmar, appear to have some relation to the common barn owl?
Answer:
22. Like other birds, owls can carry diseases that can make humans sick. One fairly common example is which bacteria that you might associate with food poisoning from runny eggs or occasionally peanut butter?
Answer: Salmonella
23. The Owls are the sports teams of what public Philadelphia university?
Answer: Temple University
24. A large-eyed owl face, outlined in black on a bright green circular background, is the logo of what travel ratings company?
Answer: TripAdvisor
25. A story of an owl who frightens anyone who ventures into a barn where it has nested appears in the 1857 collection of fairytales by Jacob and Wilhelm, two brothers with what last name?
Answer: Grimm
26. What is the most widely distributed owl species in the world? It is found on all continents except Antarctica, everywhere except polar and desert regions.
Answer: Barn owl
27. Archimedes is a talking pet owl who lives with the elderly wizard Merlin in what 1963 animated movie?
Answer: The Sword in the Stone
28. A saxophone-playing owl named Hoots was a recurring character on what show, until removed for its 32nd season in 2001?
Answer: Sesame Street
29. Lakshmi is one of the principal goddesses in a certain religion, and her vahana (mount) in that religion is an owl. What is this religion?
Answer: Hinduism
30. Hermes, Errol, and Pigwidgeon are three of the many pets in a famous series of books. What type of animal are all of these named companions?
Answer: Owls
31. Sexual dimorphism is a physical difference between males and females of a species. Which sex of owls are typically larger?
Answer: Females
32. In Winnie the Pooh, the character Owl has (of course) black pupils. What color are Owl's eyes around the pupils? In humans this is called the sclera and is white.
Answer: Yellow
33. In 2020, a Saw-Whet owl with what name was accidentally taken along with a tree for the NYC Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, but was rescued, as seen in Kimberly Dwyer’s children’s book about his “Christmas Journey?” His name is a shortened version of the famous Center where the tree went.
Answer: Rocky
34. What medium to large sized owls can be found in Australia, New Zealand, and Flinders Island? Its dark colors, with little pockets of white, makes it look it was covered with some dark stuff, maybe from a chimney.
Answer: Sooty Owl
35. "Grey Owl" was the name of a conservationist famous for his work as a caretaker at Riding Mountain National Park and Prince Albert National Park in what country?
Answer: Canada
36. Owls' flight feathers are serrated, like a comb, which greatly reduces what "t"-named phenomena, which reduces sound when the owl is flying, making their flight almost silent?
Answer: Turbulence
37. The last widely-accepted sighting of a certain bird species was in 1662 on the island nation of Mauritius. Intriguingly, due to the bird's remote home, the creature was considered mythological for a period of time. What is this bird?
Answer: Dodo
38. There is a species of owl which frequently has simple tufts of feathers on the top its head mistaken as ears. In fact, this species has its ears on the sides of the head in the usual locations for owls. What is this species?
Answer: Great Horned Owl
39. Prolific author Carl Hiaasen wrote more than a dozen humor-inflected novels dealing with crime, environmentalism, and political corruption in his native Florida. In 2002, he made his first foray into young adult fiction with what four-letter owl-centric novel that was named a Newbery Medal honor book?
Answer: Hoot
40. Not all owls hoot. What type of owl, that sounds like it belongs on the farm, is known to hiss?
Answer: Barn Owl
41. Even if they're unelected non-smokers, a group of owls is known by what collective name that anagrams to PERT ANIMAL?
Answer: Parliament
42. "The owl defense" or "owl theory" was used in a famous murder trial by attorney Larry Pollard to explain the head wound of the female victim. This is highlighted in the true crime series "The Staircase," but who was the alleged HUMAN murderer in the case?
Answer: Michael Peterson
43. Big Mama is the kindhearted owl who first finds Tod, an orphaned kit, in what 1981 Disney film whose title characters are best friends despite their species being natural enemies of each other?
Answer: The Fox and the Hound
44. In 2022, British researchers theorized that the tail of what “B” owl may be adapted into the tail of drone designs?
Answer: Barn Owl
45. The serrated edges on the edge of the flight feathers for most owls confer what evolutionary advantage that aids in hunting?
Answer: Muffles sound (makes them silent flyers)
46. The collective name for a group of owls is a parliament. The term originated in what series of children's books written by author C.S. Lewis?
Answer: The Chronicles of Narnia
47. According to the Washington Post, owls are increasingly used to serve in what role in weddings?
Answer: Ring bearer
48. In Greek mythology, the owl was the symbol of what goddess of wisdom?
Answer: Athena
49. The great horned owl is the official bird of what landlocked Canadian province at the top of the Rockies?
Answer: Alberta
50. Owl is the straightforward name of the talkative "elder" in what children's book? He often presents himself as a teacher who has wisdom to share with the younger characters.
Answer: Winnie the Pooh
51. Ancient writer Pliny the Elder wrote that owl's eggs were a common cure for what condition? Other animal-adjacent cures for this condition might include the "hair of the dog."
Answer: Hangover
52. What is the name of the owl who finds Tod as a baby in "The Fox and the Hound?"
Answer: Big Mama
53. The preserved body of Athena the owl is on display at a London museum to what bird-named founder of modern nursing?
Answer: Florence Nightingale
54. The Burrowing Owl is the National bird of which Caribbean country, which start and end with same letter and is technically part of the Netherlands?
Answer: Aruba
55. An owl’s eye looks shiny due to a light-catching layer called the tapetum lucidum that is behind what structure that’s full of rods?
Answer: Retina
56. The vermiculated, Pel’s, and Rufous are all species of what shy owl that lives near bodies of water where it can do a lot of what its name suggests would be its favorite food-related activity?
Answer: Fishing
57. What was the name of the Eurasian eagle owl that escaped from the Central Park Zoo in February 2023 and has been flying free ever since?
Answer: Flaco
58. Funny, it doesn't look like David Bowie: a barn owl is one of the forms of Jareth the Goblin King in what twisty 1986 fantasy film?
Answer: Labyrinth
59. Sammy the Owl is the official mascot for the athletic teams of what private research university in Houston, Texas?
Answer: Rice University
60. Otus bengalensis is the scientific name for a type of eagle-owl collected in the northern part of what giant Southwest Asian country?
Answer: India
61. Hedwig gets all the credit as far as owls of the “Harry Potter” universe goes, but what was the name of Rob Wesley’s first (annoying) owl, nicknamed “Pig?”
Answer: Pigwidgeon
62. There is a series of Canadian children's books that was adapted into a late 1990s TV show about an anthropomorphic turtle. This turtle attended a school in which the character Mr. Owl worked. What is the name of this show?
Answer: Franklin
63. In Greek mythology, Ascalaphus was transformed into a short-eared owl as punishment for telling the gods that what deity, the daughter of Demeter, had eaten pomegranate seeds in Hades, and thus was forced to return there for half the year?
Answer: Persephone
64. As with other birds, an owl’s feathers are nourished as they grow by a blood supply to the feather sheaths. What term is used to describe feathers that are still developing inside the sheaths?
Answer: Pin feathers
65. There is a Native American tribe that viewed owls as a protective symbol from danger. This tribe share its name with the setting of the TV show "Parks and Recreation." What is this tribe?
Answer: Pawnee
66. Which large owl that’s one of the most common in North America has a signature call that sounds like it’s asking, “Who cooks for you?”
Answer: Barred Owl
67. Some night owls have two sensing organs on their head set at different heights to better pinpoint the location of their prey. What are these offset organs?
Answer: Ears
68. Which part of an owl’s body is not a “true” organ in the sense that it can’t move? (It’s also not shaped as you’d expect—it’s tubular instead of round).
Answer: Eye
69. What university in Houston, Texas had its mascot, Sammy the Owl, named after an incident in which the large canvas owl was kidnapped (owl-napped?) by Texas A&M?
Answer: Rice
70. The stage in a young owl's life between hatching and leaving the nest goes by what totally acceptable F-word?
Answer: Fledgling
71. Not related to Gandalf, the tallest North American owl is a "Great" owl named for what color of its plumage?
Answer: Grey
72. Hoots the Owl is a jazzy saxophone-playing bird on what alliteratively named kids' TV show?
Answer: Sesame Street
73. A white owl is featured prominently on the cover of "Fly By Night," a 1975 album from what Canadian progressive-rock band?
Answer: Rush
74. What is the "double M" name of the large owls found in Indian gardens and forests easily detected by their eerie calls at dawn and dusk? If you're looking for the scientific name, it's Strix ocellata.
Answer: Mottled Mood Owls
75. What five-letter word can either mean a young owl of any species, or a specific type of owl found in Asia and Africa?
Answer: Owlet
76. Following his successful album "City to City," "Night Owl" was a 1979 album from what Scottish singer-songwriter?
Answer: Gerry Rafferty
77. First from Greek mythology, which metaphorical owl "flies only at dusk" according to G.W.F. Hegel? The phrase was symbolic of Hegel's belief that conversations of wisdom and philosophy were best held at night after the day was through. In the bird world, this is the nickname of the Little Owl.
Answer: Owl of Minerva
78. Who was Sonic's owl caregiver in the "Sonic the Hedgehog" movie? She was "basically Obi-Wan Kenobi, if Obi-Wan Kenobi had a beak and ate mice."
Answer: Longclaw
79. An owl can tell when it’s caught prey thanks to special bristle-like, barbed feathers on its feet and beak. What’s the name for these feelers?
Answer: Filoplumes
80. Sometimes called “The Phantom of the North,” which breed of owl is known as the largest in the world by length, wears a white “bow-tie” under their beaks, and has such powerful ears that they can hear prey even under several feet of snow? (Hint: Their scientific name is Strix nebulosa)
Answer: Great Grey Owl
81. What type of owl, species name A. noctua, is sometimes called the owl of Athena or owl of Minerva, and gets its common name from its small stature?
Answer: Little Owl
82. What type of owl, whose name could be related to its colour or typical habitat, is also known as the Arctic Owl?
Answer: Snowy Owl
83. Which species of owl is one of the only ones you’re likely to spot during the day and has a name that references the tufts of feathers on their head that makes it look like they have human hearing organs? (Hint: This owl’s “long” relative is more likely to fly at night than during the day)
Answer: Short-eared
84. Glimfeather, a talking owl from the 1953 children's novel The Silver Chair, lives in what fictional land?
Answer: Narnia
85. Ninox strenua is the largest owl on the continent of Australia and a territorial hunter. The males of the species are strong and dominant, thus living up to the owl’s common name—which is what?
Answer: Powerful
86. Owls have three of what ocular structure? (Hint: One is for keeping the eye clean, one is for sleeping, and one is for blinking)
Answer: Eyelid
87. What author and Civil War vet wrote "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," one of the most famous American short stories of the 19th century?
Answer: Ambrose Bierce
88. Which screech owl species has a spicy name thanks to its warm red-brown coloring?
Answer: Cinnamon
89. In Oregon, the Spotted Owl is threatened by which other owl that used to be mostly in the eastern U.S., but has moved west in the last few decades?
Answer: Barred Owl
90. Which type of woods-dwelling screech owl makes a series of fast “ho ho hos” hoots when it calls? (though, if you’ve ever heard it, you’re lucky since this species is becoming less and less common in the U.S. each year).
Answer: Whiskered
91. You’ve got your fastest-flying owl (Great Horned), your quietest practically silent owl (barn owl), and then there’s which owl that is the heaviest in the world at about 10 pounds?
Answer: Eurasian Eagle Owl
92. What owl is informally known as the cat owl? This owl can be found in Europe, Asia, and North America.
Answer: long-eared owl
93. The “Congo bay owl (Phodilus prigoginei)” used to be classified as an Oriental bay owl before scientists learned more about them. Now, it goes by what name and is a member of the barn owl family?
Answer: Itombwe owl
94. Which species of pygmy owl is known for its skillful nest-building, going so far as to overtake a woodpecker’s hole and spruce it up with fixtures from the forest floor?
Answer: Ferruginous
95. Also known as the Desert Eagle Owl, Savigny's Eagle Owl or the Sahara Eagle Owl, which eagle owl that shares a name with ancient Egyptian rulers are found in the rocky deserts of northwestern Africa and the Middle East?
Answer: Pharaoh Eagle Owl
96. A now-extinct owl species called the laughing owl, scoundrel owl, white-faced owl, or whekau, lived on what island nation where the introduction of pests like the kiore (Pacific rat) has destabilized many native species populations?
Answer: New Zealand
97. What owl was the center of a controversy about the logging of old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest in the 1980s and 90s?
Answer: Spotted Owl
98. What widespread owl has the best ability to locate prey only by sound, better than any other animal tested?
Answer: Barn Owl
99. In what Shakespeare history play did the Bard write "Thou ominous and fearful Owl of Death" and "An Owl shriek'd at thy birth, an evil sign"?
Answer: Henry VI
100. Warner Brothers' "I Love to Singa," a cartoon from 1936 tells the story of an owlet who bills himself under what name when he enters a singing contest?
Answer: Owl Jolson
101. If feline relates to a cat, and canine relates to a dog, what word relates to an owl?
Answer: Strigine
102. According to the poet Ovid, the little owl that was the companion of the goddess Athena was originally a princess of Lesbos called what, until Athena turned her into an owl so she could escape an abusive father?
Answer: Nyctimene
103. "What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Birds," a book filled with photographs and facts about, well, owls, that came out in June 2023, was authored by what science writer?
Answer: Jennifer Ackerman
104. Known to nest in saguaro cacti, the Elf Owl is only found in the wild in which two countries?
Answer: USA and Mexico
105. In a famous poem by Edward Lear, and Owl and a Pussy-cat go to sea in a boat, described as being the color of what green vegetable?
Answer: Pea
106. Many owls of the genus "Ninox," found in Asia and Australasia, are known by what repetitive-sounding name, which comes from their distinctive two-note call?
Answer: Boobook
107. In ancient Greece, owls were often seen as a symbol of good fortune, but other cultures saw them as more foreboding. In a Shakespeare play, we hear an owl hooting in a scene leading up to what title character's death?
Answer: Julius Caesar
108. The Great Grey Owl is the official provincial owl of what Canadian province, thanks to its abundance within the province's boreal forests?
Answer: Manitoba
109. While most owls are opportunists, what species of owl is the only one in North America that builds their own nests?
Answer: Short-eared owl
110. What Hindu goddess of wealth, fortune, power, beauty, fertility and prosperity is often depicted as riding an owl for a mount?
Answer: Lakshmi
111. Which scops owl, one of the rarest in the world, doesn’t have ear tufts, has a “toot” whistle call, and lives on the island of Grande Comore?
Answer: Karthala
112. There are three species of screech owls found in the USA, of which the Eastern screech owl and the Western screech owl are two. What sensitive tactile facial hairs (also known as vibrissae), used by mammals for navigation and locomotion, name the third species of screech owl found in the USA?
Answer: Whiskers (the Whiskered screech owl)
113. Standing a slightly disconcerting for a bird 22 inches high, on average, what owl is the tallest in North America?
Answer: Great Gray
114. While owls were traditionally seen as bad omens in Eastern culture, which Asian country’s affinity for owls has led to their creation of “owl cafes,” places for locals and tourists to mingle with these winged creatures?
Answer: Japan
115. The Socotra scops owl is endemic to the island of Socotra, which is part of what Middle Eastern country? The owls can be found on 45% of the island.
Answer: Yemen
116. Many native Mesoamerican populations, including the Aztecs and Maya, considered the owl a symbol of what dark ideas?
Answer: Death and destruction
117. The O.W.L.s (Ordinary Wizarding Levels) are a set of standardized tests in the wizarding world that are traditionally taken at Hogwarts at the end of which school year?
Answer: Fifth year
118. Blathers is the name of the nocturnal, museum-curating owl in what series of Nintendo video games?
Answer: Animal Crossing
119. Nite Owl is one of the fictional superheroes in what postmodern graphic novel series by Alan Moore, published in the 1980s by D.C. Comics?
Answer: Watchmen
120. Although they may be unlikely to collaborate with rock band Funkadelic in the near future, a group of owls is officially known as a what?
Answer: Parliament
121. Eastern screech owls usually bring dead prey to their nestlings, but they bring Leptotyphlops dulcis live. Some of them are eaten, but some live in the nest, ridding it of vermin. What kind of reptile is Leptotyphlops dulcis?
Answer: (Blind) Snake
122. Stonehead McGurney and Sir Harry the Muse are owls in what colorfully-named fantasy novel series by Brian Jacques?
Answer: Redwall
123. Kathryn Lasky’s "Guardians of Ga’Hoole" book series is over 30 deep chronicling the adventures of what type of birds?
Answer: Owls
124. Mictlantecuhtli was the god of death in what Mesoamerican culture? This god was often depicted with images of owls as they were considered a sign of death and destruction in this culture.
Answer: Aztecs
125. Located in the city of Sheffield, "The Owls" is the nickname of an English soccer team with which day of the week in its name?
Answer: Wednesday
126. The Blind Owl, a novel by Sadegh Hedayat about a murderer who confesses to the shadow of an owl on his wall, is considered a modern Persian-language classic from what country?
Answer: Iran
127. "Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap" is a quote from the King James Bible. Who was the speaker of the quote?
Answer: Jesus
128. Owls are zygodactyl, which means that two of what body part face forward, and two face back?
Answer: Toes
129. It's commonly known that most owls are nocturnal; however, some are in fact crepuscular. What does it mean for an animal to be crepuscular?
Answer: Awake and active during twilight and dawn (rather than night or day)
130. Feeding almost entirely on insects (rare for an owl), what is the small "F" owl with a 14-inch wingspan that gets its name from ember-like markings on its face that is found across Canada, the United States, and Mexico?
Answer: Flammulated Owl
131. The primary prey of breeding Snowy Owls is what rodent, which lives in the tundra and doesn't actually jump off cliffs, as an urban legend suggests?
Answer: Lemming
132. OWL (Online Writing Lab) is a common internet resource used for bibliography and MLA formatting when writing research papers. The Online Writing Lab is a part of the College of Liberal Arts at what Midwestern university?
Answer: Purdue
133. Although its sports teams are named the Judges, what Massachusetts university named for a former Supreme Court Justice has a mascot named Ollie the Owl?
Answer: Brandeis University
134. Margarobyas lawrencii is better known by which common name that makes it sound like the species is not wearing pants? (Hint: It’s also called the goggle-eyed Cuban screech owl—a name that is not related to its featherless lower limbs.)
Answer: Bare-legged owl
135. Chickens, parrots, and most raptors, but not owls, have what special expanded portion of the alimentary track used to store food prior to digestion?
Answer: Crop
136. Remiges and retrices are both names for what body part of an owl?
Answer: Feathers
137. Group names for animals are a common trivia fact since they can be so...peculiar. There's a cackle of hyenas, a pandemonium of parrots, and a conspiracy of lemurs. What is the legislative name for a group of owls?
Answer: Parliament
138. What is the hybrid fictional creature in Dungeons & Dragons that is a cross between an owl and one other animal? This creature attacks with its beak and also "hugs" its enemies.
Answer: Owlbear
139. Temple University’s live great horned owl mascot shares its name with the name famously screamed by Stanley Kowalski in the Tennessee Williams play “A Streetcar Named Desire”?
Answer: Stella
140. What color is in the name of the endangered Madagascar Owl (Tyto soumagnei) that was believed to be extinct until it was rediscovered in 1993?
Answer: Red
141. The eye of an owl appears in the logo of what snack food brand, which makes Ridgies potato chips and Cheez Doodles cheese snacks?
Answer: Wise
142. In the Harry Potter series, what was the five-letter name of the elderly grey owl that served Ron Weasley and his family?
Answer: Errol
143. In the Harry Potter novels, after Ron Weasley's rat Scabbers turned out to be one of Lord Voldemort's followers, Sirius Black gifted him what owl, nicknamed "Pig" for short?
Answer: Pigwidgeon
144. The only owl that the International Ornithological Committee recognizes as having a single word name, the morepork (scientific name Ninox novaeseelandiae) is native to which two island countries?
Answer: Australia and New Zealand
145. What is the common name for the small, long-legged own found in North and South America that often make their home in holes previously excavated by prairie dogs?
Answer: Burrowing owl
146. A relatively unknown Boca Raton school whose sports teams go by the Owls made an unexpected run to the Men’s Final Four in March 2023. What is the name of that university?
Answer: Florida Atlantic University
147. "Bless Me, Ultima" is a famous coming-of-age novel by Rudolfo Anaya centering on a young Antonio and his mentor Ultima along with her pet owl. The book is one of the most widely read and critically acclaimed novel in the Chicano literary canon. In what U.S. state is the book set?
Answer: New Mexico
148. Which species of fish owl has a name that refers to its color, not a certain ‘90s teen vampire slayer?
Answer: Buffy
149. In the world of Harry Potter, the standardized tests taken in the 5th year of schooling are known as O.W.L.s (Ordinary Wizarding Levels) - what semi-aquatic animal gives its name to the standardized tests taken in the final year of schooling?
Answer: N.E.W.T.s (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests)
150. Already the mascot for Rice University, Sammy the Owl took on mascot duties for the titular private school in what 1998 Wes Anderson comedy?
Answer: Rushmore
151. What large owl, distributed across the Northern Hemisphere, is the only Strix owl that is found in both the Eastern and Western hemispheres? It gets its name from a mix of black and white colors.
Answer: Great Gray Owl
152. Better recognized by its owl logo, “OVO” is short for what clothing line launched by Drake in 2008?
Answer: October's Very Own
153. The Blakiston's fish owl is named for naturalist Thomas Blakiston, who picked up the first sample of the species on what second-largest Northern Japanese island?
Answer: Hokkaido
154. First described in 1801 and noted for its relatively small size, the Southern Boobook owl is native to which continent?
Answer: Australia
155. Four snowy owl owlets, or "snowlets," named Sukki, Nokki, Lekki, and Tsukki served as the mascots for the 1998 Winter Olympics in what Japanese city?
Answer: Nagano
156. X the Owl was a character on what beloved children's television show? X lives in the knot of a tree, and takes courses with Owl Correspondence School.
Answer: Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood
157. Give a hoot, don't pollute! What's the name of the U.S. Forest Service's owl mascot, created by the same publishing company as Smokey Bear?
Answer: Woodsy Owl
158. What tube-like organ (generally more ball shaped on a human) makes up one to five percent of an owl's bodyweight, depending on species?
Answer: The eye
159. What small owl is sometimes called “Tengmalm’s Owl” in Sweden or “Richardson’s Owl” in the UK? It gets its US name from a “B” word meaning “of the Northern climates.”
Answer: Boreal Owl
160. The owl is a recurring motif in the sketches, paintings, and sculptures of which 20th century avant-garde Spanish artist?
Answer: Pablo Picasso
161. What kind of sharp projection for pipping (i.e., breaking shells) will usually fall off a baby owl’s beak when they’re about a week old?
Answer: Egg tooth
162. It was believed that owls were a symbol of death or ill health among the Kikuyu people in what East African nation? The belief remains widespread today. especially when one sees an owl or hears its hoot.
Answer: Kenya
163. In May 2022, Kenyon College announced that its sports teams would henceforth be referred to as the Owls replacing what PAIRED nickname that had been used for many decades?
Answer: Lords and Ladies
164. The genus Micrathene, a combination of the Greek word for small and the Goddess Athene, was introduced specifically for what is currently the world's smallest owl. Taking its name from a similarly small mythical humanlike being, which owl is the only one that belongs to the Micrathene genus?
Answer: Elf Owl
165. A 2022 study from researchers at Xi’an Jiaotong University in China looked at owls' wings to find out how to reduce what in airplanes?
Answer: Noise
166. Mrs. Brisby, the mouse, goes to see the wise, yet terrifying, Great Owl for advice in what Don Bluth film, based on a classic children's book? (Hint: The book has a different title from the film, and in it, Mrs. Brisby is known as Mrs. Frisby.)
Answer: The Secret of NIMH
167. What type of owl with the scientific name Pseudoscops grammicus is named after the main Caribbean island it is endemic to?
Answer: Jamaican Owl
168. The Pernambuco pygmy owl is one of the rarest and most critically endangered owls in the world. What country is the only place where it lives?
Answer: Brazil
169. The pueo, a subspecies of short-eared owl with the Latin name Asio flammeus sandwichensis, is endemic to what U.S. state?
Answer: Hawaii
170. Which species of pygmy owl shares a name with a precious stone you’d find under the sea, and is native to sub-Sahara Africa?
Answer: Pearl-Spotted
171. A group of crows is a murder, and a group of owls is a parliament, but what is the name for a group of flamingos?
Answer: Flamboyance
172. The collective name for owls is parliament. This noun arose because of a description of a meeting of owls in what author's works?
Answer: C.S. Lewis
173. In the poem, "The Owl and the Pussycat" by Edward Lear, the Owl obtained a ring for the Pussycat from the nose of what animal?
Answer: Piggywig
174. Whose fish owl native to China, Japan, and Russian Far East is also known as Keptupa blakistoni, and is the biggest (living) species of owl?
Answer: Blakiston's
175. What is the bare spot on a female owl's abdomen that occurs when she has a nestful of eggs she is keeping warm?
Answer: Brood patch
176. "Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls" is a bestselling collection of narrative essays published in 2013 by what American humorist and author?
Answer: David Sedaris
177. What North American owl of the genus Strix, sometimes called the Hoot Owl, has a name which corresponds to it being marked with bands of color?
Answer: Barred Owl
178. What word follows each of “Vermiculated,” “Pel’s,” and “Rufous” in the name of three species of owl native to Africa? This word is a particular type of hunting activity.
Answer: Fishing
179. What dark-feathered owl in the Asio genus gets its name from an adjective meaning "of or related to the River Styx?"
Answer: Stygian Owl
180. What is the name of the group of owls found in the Old World that is the largest genus of owls with 45 living species? These owls have a five-letter name that starts and ends with the same letter, they are colored in various brown hues, and they are small and agile predators.
Answer: Scops Owls
181. What legendary songwriter and musician recorded "Night Owl," a song written by her then-boyfriend James Taylor, on her 1972 album No Secrets?
Answer: Carly Simon
182. Although humans and owls typically live in relatively close quarters harmoniously, there are instances of owls attacking humans such as photographer Eric Hosking losing an eye. Hosking later titled his 1970 autobiography "An Eye for a Bird." What type of orange-brown owl attacked him?
Answer: Tawny owl
183. What is the most specific taxonomic classification that all owls belong to? As an example, all plants are within the same kingdom, all insects are within the same phylum, and all elephants are in the same family.
Answer: Order
184. In the poem, "The Owl and The Pussycat," by Edward Lear, who lived on a hill and married the couple?
Answer: The Turkey
185. What owl is named for the mask around its eyes, which is dark on light plumage in young birds and light on dark plumage in adults? These owls can be found in Mexico and Central America and throughout the northern two-thirds of South America.
Answer: Spectacled
186. Although owls aren't the only zygodactyl birds, they are the only ones that can pivot the body part that zygodactyl describes. What is this body part?
Answer: Toes
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