Owls are a species of bird which featured throughout the Harry Potter book series. They were used in the wizarding world for sending and receiving mail. In the Muggle world, they were just a nocturnal, predatory animal. They were intelligent and capable of understanding people. An owl could be owned by a family or employed in the role of a postal owl.
About[]
An owl is a very valuable part of everyday life in the wizarding world. Witches and wizards do not use Muggle technology, and in order to communicate without the need for a phone, many witches and wizards own an owl. Owls can be bought in shops including Eeylops Owl Emporium.[1] In the Muggle world, owls are understood to be typically nocturnal and rarely appear in the day. When they do appear in daylight, this is often due to events in the wizarding world and that always has a knock on effect on the Muggles, which has led to the British superstition that it is unlucky to spot an owl during the day.[2]
Although wizards have developed over means of long distance communication over the years, the traditional owl remains a popular choice for correspondence. They have proven to be reliable messengers over their centuries of service, and are preferred for their agility, stealthiness, protectiveness and ability to work under darkness with excellent night vision. It is likely that every owl worldwide is employed by a wizarding company or owned by wizards.[2]
They can be fed with an Owl Treat.[3]
Magical abilities[]
Owls possess magical abilities of their own, but it is unknown if it is natural or the result of centuries of domestication and training by wizards.[2]
Readers of the Harry Potter book series noticed that Hedwig frequently hoots and chirrups throughout the series, despite the fact that Snowy Owls are virtually mute. J. K. Rowling resolved this by suggesting these are signs that she has magically enchanced abilities.[2]
Owl Post[]
The mystical ability to associate a name with the human that bears it is a magical trait that Wizardkind of all cultures understand, and this is also a trait of wizarding creatures including owls. Owls have a natural understanding of this connection between name and name-bearer, although wizards do not yet understand how. They can easily trace and find their owner or recipient of the post without an address. It is possible to sever, or hamper, this connection with Repelling, Masking, or Disguising Spells, of which the variety is vast. However, only strong protective magic can truly prevent an Owl Post delivery.[2]
Newspaper companies have their own delivery owls. They put a pouch around the owl's leg for the customer's payment to be placed, and they request this upon delivery.[4] Hogsmeade has a post office where customers can hire an owl to send their post. There are at least two-hundred and they are colour-coded to show how fast that owl can deliver the post.[5] It is likely that owls have a code of conduct when delivering their post, because Hedwig disapproves of Pigwidgeon zooming around as though it is unprofessional when he celebrates a successful delivery.[1]
History[]
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry have used owls for a very long time to send correspondence to students including acceptance letters, a list of supplies to older student and the results of the Ordinary Wizarding Levels. The acceptance letter informs the student they can choose to bring an owl with them to Hogwarts.[6] There is also an Owlery on the grounds of Hogwarts Castle that houses the owls of the students.[7]
While the wizarding world celebrates the downfall of Voldemort, witches and wizards send many owls to each other throughout the day. The sudden increase in the number of owls flying around in broad daylight is noticed by the Muggle world and is reported on in their news.[8]
Starting on his eleventh birthday, Hogwarts repeatedly sends letters to Harry Potter when his post is intercepted by the Dursleys. In the end, Rubeus Hagrid is sent to deliver it in person. When he succeeds, he sends an owl to Albus Dumbledore to tell him Harry has finally opened his letter.[6]
While he is on the run after fleeing Hogwarts Castle, Sirius Black finds a very eager owl called Pigwidgeon to deliver a letter to Harry Potter. Pigwidgeon is very proud of doing a successful delivery and flies around the train compartment to a dignified Hedwig's disapproval. Ronald Weasley has to stop Crookshanks eating it.[1]
Known owls[]
| Type of owl | Name of owl(s) | Owner(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Barn owl | Unknown | Neville Longbottom |
| Eagle owl | Unknown | Draco Malfoy |
| Great grey owl | Errol | Weasley family |
| Snowy Owl (also the Ghost Owl)[2] | Hedwig | Harry Potter |
| Little Owl | Pigwidgeon | Ronald Weasley |
| Unknown | Hermes | Percy Weasley |
Trivia[]
- After writing the Harry Potter book series, J. K. Rowling realised she had made a few errors with her depiction of Hedwig. Snowy Owls fly by day, not night. They are also mute, despite Hedwig's ability to hoot and chirrup, and she eats bacon rind in one scene even though owls do not eat bacon. Rowling has resolved Hedwig's ability to make noises by suggesting it is due to her magically enhanced nature.[2]
Notes and sources[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 22
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Wizarding World: Owls by J. K. Rowling
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 10
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 5
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 8
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 4
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 8
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 1