Category:Owls

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This article is about owls (animals). If you're looking for the exams that have to be taken by fifth-year Hogwarts students, see OWLs.

Creature profile
Owl
Appearance	depends on breed
Known specimens	Hedwig, Hermes, Pigwidgeon, Errol
First appearance in canon	The Boy Who Lived (PS)

Owls are birds that are very commonly kept as pets by and used for communication between wizards. While owls are thus not strictly magical creatures in themselves, they have an important place in the wizarding world. They are faithful, reliable and clever messengers and deliver everything from simple letters to newspapers (for which they will even collect the fee) and heavy parcels (PS5, PA1). Furthermore, they are usually able to track down the recipient of their message without an address (GF2), given that he is not unplottable (JKRW).

Several breeds of varying sizes and colours have been domesticated by wizards, from the tiny Scops owl to the majestic snowy owl (PS5, PA14). One can buy them in special shops such as Eeylops Owl Emporium in Diagon Alley (PS5).

Wizards who do not own their own owl can use one from a wizarding post office such as the Hogsmeade post office (PA14). Hogwarts students can take one of the school owls, which live in the owlery together with the students' personal owls (PS8).

Important owls

Harry Potter owns a beautiful snowy owl named Hedwig. She is a faithful and useful companion to him for six years until she is hit by the Killing Curse in the Battle of the Seven Potters (DH4).

Errol is the Weasleys' ancient pet owl. He is hardly able to make deliveries any more and usually collapses when he has arrived at his destination (CS4, CS6, PA1, GF2). Although his exact species is never mentioned, his description matches that of a Great Grey Owl.

Hermes is Percy Weasley's screech owl. Percy gets him from his parents when he becomes a prefect (PS6).

Pigwidgeon, often called simply Pig, is Ron Weasley's tiny grey owl, given to him by Sirius Black (PA22). He is about the size of a Snitch (PA22) or a tennis ball (GF3). Pigwidgeon is a very lively owl that is constantly moving and twittering. He annoys most other owls (PA22, GF5).