Owls are often perceived as mysterious, solitary hunters of the night, leading to curiosity when two are spotted together. Seeing a pair of owls can feel like a rare event, and for many species, outside of a specific period, it is. The rarity of the sighting depends entirely on the particular owl species and the time of year the observation is made. A dual sighting is a temporary shift from a solitary existence, driven by the biological need to reproduce or, in some cases, to survive the winter.
The Social Spectrum: Solitary Hunters Versus Paired Species
Most large, commonly recognized owls, such as the Great Horned Owl, are highly territorial and lead solitary lives for much of the year. These species only tolerate the presence of a mate when the breeding season begins, vigorously defending their territory against any other owl, including their own offspring once they are independent. Seeing two adults perched together outside of the courtship period is indeed an unusual event for these raptors. Their primary social interaction involves establishing and maintaining a vast personal hunting range, which they advertise with their distinctive calls.
This solitary baseline contrasts with the behavior of certain other species, many of which maintain a pair bond year-round. Barred Owls, for instance, form long-term pairs, and while they may not always roost side-by-side, their home ranges overlap throughout the year. Similarly, Barn Owls often form strong, lasting bonds, occupying the same territory and even raising multiple broods if conditions allow. Smaller species like the Little Owl and the Tawny Owl are also known to be highly sedentary, with pairs remaining together for life in the same territory.
The Breeding Context: Courtship and Pair Maintenance
The most common reason for seeing two owls together is that they are a bonded pair engaged in pre-nesting or nesting activities. For many species, courtship begins surprisingly early, often in the late autumn or deep winter. For example, the Great Horned Owl starts its breeding season as early as December. This timing allows the young, which take longer to mature than songbirds, to be ready to hunt independently by the time prey is most abundant.
Courtship involves various observable behaviors that keep the pair close together, including mutual bill rubbing, preening, and head-bobbing displays. Males of many species will also perform courtship feeding, bringing the female prey to demonstrate their hunting prowess and ensure she has the resources to produce eggs. Established pairs of Barred Owls often engage in vocal duets, a back-and-forth calling that reinforces their bond and announces their presence. The presence of two owls signifies this temporary shift from individual survival to cooperative parental investment, which lasts until the young are fully fledged.
The duration of the pair bond varies significantly among species. Owls that are sedentary and defend their territory year-round, like the Tawny Owl and Barred Owl, often display high pair fidelity, sometimes remaining together for life. Conversely, dispersive or migratory species may only maintain their bond for the length of the breeding season. The sighting of two owls during this reproductive window is a strong indicator that a nest site is nearby, and the pair is actively defending their shared territory.
Beyond the Pair: Communal Roosts and Family Units
Sighting multiple owls together may also be an observation of a non-reproductive social grouping, specifically a temporary family unit or a communal roost. After the young fledge, which typically happens around 9 to 10 weeks of age for many species, they do not immediately leave their parents. These juvenile owls will remain near the adults for several weeks or even months, continuing to beg for food and hone their hunting skills.
This post-fledging period creates a window, often in late summer or early fall, where a family of three or more owls may be observed in close proximity. Eventually, the parents will drive the juveniles out of their territory to encourage them to establish their own range, returning the adults to their solitary state. Separately, some species, such as Long-eared and Short-eared Owls, are known to gather in communal roosts during the non-breeding winter months. This behavior is thought to offer benefits like increased safety from predators and shared body warmth during colder weather, allowing multiple individuals to be seen together in one localized area.