Gifts for owl lovers that bring them closer to real owls

Gifts for owl lovers: a Cornell Lab owl course, binoculars for dusk, a screech-owl nest box, a research adoption, owl books and Charley Harper art.

12 researched picks
$15 to $450
Updated September 2026
By Considered Gifts editorial desk

Before you shop

Owls are harder to get to know than most birds, because they do most of their living at night. So owl lovers tend to know them by sound first: a screech-owl trilling after dark, a Barred Owl calling at dusk, a Great Horned Owl hooting on a winter evening. Many keep a shelf of owl books and a little owl art, and the keen ones join guided owl prowls. The gifts that land help them hear, see and understand real owls, or put money behind the people who study them.

The usual mistake is more owl stuff. Mugs, pillows and figurines pile up fast once friends know someone likes owls. The better angle is to connect them with the living bird: a Cornell Lab course on owl calls, binoculars that stay usable at dusk, a nest box sized for screech-owls, or an adoption that funds field research. Skip anything that disturbs wild owls, from call-playback gadgets to baiting owls for photos.

Picks run from a $15 owl prowl ticket to $450 binoculars, and eight of the 12 cost $50 or less. The first half covers learning about, watching and housing owls; the second half is books, art and one playful puppet. Regional picks, like the nest box and the Minnesota owl prowl, say where they work.

How we chose

Helps them hear, watch or understand real owls, rather than just display them.
Low impact on wild owls: nothing that relies on playback, bait or flash, and nest boxes only where the species actually nests.
Specs checked against authorities, such as Cornell Lab NestWatch box plans and the Cornell Lab’s review of 8x42 binoculars.
Money goes to owl people where possible: research groups, an owl center’s shop, and makers who sell from their own sites.

Quick comparison

All 12 picks at a glance

Jump to any pick for the reasoning, who should skip it, and where to find it.

01What an Owl Knows by Jennifer Ackerman, paperbackAny owl lover who wants the science behind the mystique$19 02Cornell Lab Bird Academy: The Wonderful World of Owls online courseOwl fans who want to recognize owls by their calls and find them in the wild$60 03Maven C.1 8x42 binocularsOwl watchers who go out at dusk and are ready to upgrade from basic binoculars$450 04Barn Owl Box Company Screech Owl Nest BoxOwl lovers with mature trees in a yard within screech-owl range$129 05Owl Research Institute symbolic owl adoptionOwl lovers who would rather fund field research than own another owl object$50 06Owl: A Year in the Lives of North American Owls by Paul BannickOwl lovers who want a big photo book they will read, not just display$35 07Motawi Tileworks 6x6 Family Owlbum tile (Charley Harper design)Owl lovers who like midcentury design and want one good piece of owl art$105 08Owls of the World: A Photographic Guide by Heimo Mikkola, softcoverSerious owl fans and traveling birders who want every species in one book$45 09Owls of the Eastern Ice by Jonathan C. Slaght, paperbackOwl lovers who like adventure writing and stories of real fieldwork$18 10International Owl Center Owl Prowl ticket, Houston, MinnesotaOwl lovers in or visiting southeast Minnesota who have never heard wild owls call$15 11Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr, hardcoverOwl-loving parents and grandparents, and children ages 3 to 7$19 12Folkmanis Snowy Owl hand puppetFamilies, teachers and owl fans who want one playful piece$44

The picks

Each gift, and who it suits

Science bookAbout $19
What an Owl Knows by Jennifer Ackerman, paperback
Best for Any owl lover who wants the science behind the mystique
It gives them the current science on the birds they already love, in one readable book. Jennifer Ackerman draws on recent research into how owls use their calls, hunt, court, raise young and migrate, and how their senses work. It was an instant New York Times bestseller and a New York Times Notable Book of 2023, and the paperback runs 352 pages. It suits a casual fan and a serious birder alike, which makes it a safer bet than a field guide when you don’t know how deep their interest goes.
Skip it if
They read it when it came out in 2023; it was a bestseller, so many owl fans already own it.
Before you buy
The audiobook is read by Ackerman herself and runs about 9 hours 15 minutes.
See it at penguinrandomhouse.comOr compare prices on
Google Shopping
Online courseAbout $60
Cornell Lab Bird Academy: The Wonderful World of Owls online course
Best for Owl fans who want to recognize owls by their calls and find them in the wild
It teaches them to recognize owls by ear, the skill that turns a night walk into an owl encounter. Ornithologist Kevin McGowan leads five self-paced lessons, from how owls hunt with 3D hearing and feathers built for silent flight to a full lesson on listening for owls, with interactive tools that test whether a sound is an owl or not. The last lesson covers finding owls and observing them respectfully. It takes about three hours, never expires and has a 60-day refund guarantee. Unlike a book, it plays the calls.
Skip it if
They already identify owls by ear with confidence, or they would rather learn in person on a guided walk.
Before you buy
The course page has a Give as Gift option, so you can send access without enrolling yourself.
See it at academy.allaboutbirds.orgOr compare prices on
Google Shopping
BinocularsAbout $450
Maven C.1 8x42 binoculars
Best for Owl watchers who go out at dusk and are ready to upgrade from basic binoculars
They give an owl watcher a brighter view in the half-light when owls start moving. The 8x42 C.1 has a 5.3 mm exit pupil, the objective size divided by the magnification; Maven’s 10x42 version drops to 4.2 mm, so the 8x is the one for dusk. It uses ED glass, dielectric prism coatings and phase correction, and it is waterproof and fogproof with a lifetime warranty. Cornell Lab’s review of 8x42 binoculars lists the C1 in its mid-range tier, which it says typically handles challenging light.
Skip it if
They already own a good 8x42 or 8x32, or they mostly go on guided prowls, where listening matters more than optics.
Before you buy
Maven sells direct at $450, with a neoprene strap, lens caps and a microfiber bag. Choose the 8x, not the 10x or 12x, for low light.
See it at MavenOr compare prices on
Google Shopping
Owl nest boxAbout $129
Barn Owl Box Company Screech Owl Nest Box
Best for Owl lovers with mature trees in a yard within screech-owl range
It gives screech-owls, which the maker says adapt readily to suburban yards, a safe place to raise young. The box matches the key numbers in Cornell Lab NestWatch’s Eastern Screech-Owl plan: a 3-inch entrance, mounted 10 to 30 feet up. It is molded plastic, weighs 5.5 pounds and adds rainproof vent wings, a rain guard, an interior ladder up to the hole and a 6-by-8-inch access panel for cleaning. The maker says it suits eastern and western screech-owls, and mounting hardware is included.
Skip it if
They have no sizable trees or live outside screech-owl range; check the species range on NestWatch before buying.
Before you buy
NestWatch suggests adding 2 to 3 inches of wood shavings and using a predator guard on pole mounts. Pole kits and cameras cost extra.
See it at Barn Owl Box CompanyOr compare prices on
Google Shopping
Research adoptionAbout $50
Owl Research Institute symbolic owl adoption
Best for Owl lovers who would rather fund field research than own another owl object
It puts their gift toward long-term research on wild owls. The Owl Research Institute, a nonprofit in Charlo, Montana, offers symbolic adoptions of six species, including Snowy, Great Gray, Long-eared and Northern Saw-whet Owls. It runs what it calls the longest-running Long-eared Owl study in North America, and its Snowy Owl research takes place in Utqiagvik, Alaska. The institute keeps no owls and is not a rehab center, so the money pays for fieldwork: travel, equipment, staff and data management.
Skip it if
They want something to unwrap beyond paperwork; the institute describes a printed or PDF adoption packet, not a plush.
Before you buy
Every species costs $50. The printed packet, mailed by USPS, can carry your gift message; the instant PDF version can’t be personalized.
See it at Owl Research InstituteOr compare prices on
Google Shopping
Photography bookAbout $35
Owl: A Year in the Lives of North American Owls by Paul Bannick
Best for Owl lovers who want a big photo book they will read, not just display
It shows them owls doing things most people never see, from courtship to the first flights of young owls. Photographer Paul Bannick follows North American owls through one year, season by season, across forest, grassland, boreal and Arctic habitats, with a closer look at the Northern Pygmy-Owl, Great Gray, Burrowing and Snowy Owls. The 224-page hardcover holds 200 images and covers all 19 owl species found in the United States and Canada. Bannick sells it on his own site.
Skip it if
They want an identification guide; this is a photo-led natural history, not a field reference.
Before you buy
Braided River is the conservation imprint of Mountaineers Books. At 11.25 by 9.75 inches, the book belongs on a coffee table, not in a pack.
See it at paulbannick.comOr compare prices on
Google Shopping
Art tileAbout $105
Motawi Tileworks 6x6 Family Owlbum tile (Charley Harper design)
Best for Owl lovers who like midcentury design and want one good piece of owl art
It gives them owl art made by hand rather than printed on a pillow. Motawi adapted the design from Charley Harper’s 1972 lithograph of an owl family, Harper’s caption included, and glazes each tile in its Ann Arbor, Michigan studio, where it has worked since 1992. The tile is about 5 7/8 inches square, and the glaze varies slightly from piece to piece. It can stand on an easel, hang in a frame or be set into a kitchen backsplash or fireplace surround.
Skip it if
Their home runs to a different style, or they already have more owl decor than wall space.
Before you buy
Motawi says in-stock tiles ship within 1 to 10 business days. It also sells steel easels and oak frames by Dard Hunter Studios for display.
See it at Motawi TileworksOr compare prices on
Google Shopping
Owl field guideAbout $45
Owls of the World: A Photographic Guide by Heimo Mikkola, softcover
Best for Serious owl fans and traveling birders who want every species in one book
It is the reference that settles which owl is which, anywhere in the world. The current edition covers 268 owl species, 19 more than the original, with photos of plumages and subspecies and look-alike species included for comparison. Each account gives identification notes, habitat, population status, voice, food, distribution and a range map. Buying it from the International Owl Center’s online store also helps the center, which says a significant portion of each purchase supports its work.
Skip it if
They only watch the owls near home; a regional bird field guide covers those for less.
Before you buy
The softcover measures 7 by 9.75 inches and is 1.5 inches thick, so it works as a home reference more than a pocket guide.
See it at owlcenterstore.orgOr compare prices on
Google Shopping
Nature memoirAbout $18
Owls of the Eastern Ice by Jonathan C. Slaght, paperback
Best for Owl lovers who like adventure writing and stories of real fieldwork
It gives them a true field-research adventure built around one extraordinary owl. Jonathan C. Slaght tells the story of his fieldwork tracking Blakiston’s fish owl, a rare, endangered owl with a 6-foot wingspan, and the patient, rigorous work it took to protect it. It was a New York Times Notable Book of 2020, was longlisted for the National Book Award and won the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award. It was even a finalist for a travel-book prize, so it suits readers who skip science books.
Skip it if
They want owl biology rather than a personal story; What an Owl Knows is the science pick.
Before you buy
Barnes & Noble listed the paperback in stock at $18 when this guide was updated. The International Owl Center’s online store also lists it.
See it at barnesandnoble.comOr compare prices on
Google Shopping
Guided owl walkAbout $15
International Owl Center Owl Prowl ticket, Houston, Minnesota
Best for Owl lovers in or visiting southeast Minnesota who have never heard wild owls call
It gives them an evening listening for wild owls with people who teach about owls for a living. Each prowl starts with a 30- to 45-minute indoor session on identifying owls by size, shape, silhouette and sound. The group then drives to three or four roadside stops within 10 miles of Houston to listen for Eastern Screech-Owls, Barred Owls and Great Horned Owls, with very little walking. Expect about 2.5 hours in all. A led prowl is an easier first night out than a solo search.
Skip it if
They live far from southeast Minnesota, can’t stand quietly in the cold for 10 minutes, or are under 12; the center doesn’t recommend prowls for younger kids.
Before you buy
Tickets are $15, or $10 for members, plus a small fee. Remaining dates are Oct. 24, Nov. 21, Dec. 26 and Jan. 23, 2027, with 30 spots each.
See it at International Owl CenterOr compare prices on
Google Shopping
Picture bookAbout $19
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr, hardcover
Best for Owl-loving parents and grandparents, and children ages 3 to 7
It shares the quiet thrill of owling with a child, or brings it back for an adult. A girl and her father walk into the woods on a still winter night to look for an owl, and the story is honest that sometimes there isn’t one. John Schoenherr’s illustrations won the 1988 Caldecott Medal. The hardcover has 32 pages for ages 3 to 7, and it pairs naturally with a first owl prowl. A picture book this good gets read for years, unlike an owl toy.
Skip it if
There’s no young child in their life and they don’t collect picture books.
Before you buy
A board book edition for toddlers costs $14.99.
See it at penguinrandomhouse.comOr compare prices on
Google Shopping
Hand puppetAbout $44
Folkmanis Snowy Owl hand puppet
Best for Families, teachers and owl fans who want one playful piece
This is the fun pick: an owl they can make turn its head. A post inside the Folkmanis Snowy Owl lets them rotate the head a full 360 degrees, and the wings move too. It measures about 21 inches across, and it won two Dr. Toy awards in 1997. It works for storytime, a classroom talk or a desk at work, and it gets more use than an owl figurine that only sits on a shelf.
Skip it if
They want something serious or useful, or there are no kids or classrooms in their life.
Before you buy
The International Owl Center’s online store sells a Folkmanis snowy owl puppet for the same $43.99 and says a significant portion of each sale supports the center.
See it at FolkmanisOr compare prices on
Google Shopping

Before you buy

Where this gift can go wrong

Owl-call gadgets and playback apps. Indiana Audubon asks owl watchers not to use owl calls or recordings because they can disrupt natural behavior; a course on owl sounds teaches listening instead.
Photo setups that bait, flash or flush owls. Indiana Audubon warns that feeding owls or using live bait leads to habituation and collision risks, and that flash can disorient them.
A nest box for an owl that doesn’t live there. NestWatch gives the Eastern Screech-Owl’s nesting range as eastern North America; check the species and habitat before buying a box.
More owl-print clutter. Mugs, pillows and figurines pile up quickly once friends know someone likes owls; one good piece of art beats five novelty items.

Useful answers

Questions people ask

What is a good gift for someone who loves owls?

Something that connects them to living owls. What an Owl Knows ($19) covers current owl science, Cornell Lab’s Wonderful World of Owls course ($60) teaches owl calls, and an Owl Research Institute adoption ($50) funds field studies of wild owls. For a bigger gift, 8x42 binoculars stay usable at dusk, and a screech-owl nest box gives backyard owls a place to raise young where the species lives.

Can you put up an owl nest box in a backyard?

Yes, if the right owl lives nearby. Cornell Lab NestWatch’s Eastern Screech-Owl plan calls for a 3-inch entrance hole, a box 10 to 30 feet up on a tree or pole, and 2 to 3 inches of wood shavings inside. It lists the nesting range as eastern North America, with nesting peaking from March through June, so install a box well before spring. Western screech-owls use similar boxes.

What binoculars are best for watching owls at dusk?

Choose 8x42 over 10x42. Exit pupil, the objective size divided by the magnification, sets how wide a beam of light reaches the eye: about 5.3 mm for an 8x42 versus 4.2 mm for a 10x42. Cornell Lab’s 8x42 review says mid-range models, $240 to $650 in its survey, typically handle challenging light, while budget pairs shine in strong light. The Maven C.1 8x42 costs $450 direct.

How can they watch owls without disturbing them?

Keep distance and keep quiet. Indiana Audubon recommends staying at least 100 yards away, never flushing a roosting owl, skipping owl calls, recordings and flash photography, and never feeding owls. A guided owl prowl, like the International Owl Center’s, is an easy way to learn good habits, and Cornell Lab’s owl course ends with a lesson on observing owls respectfully.

Research record

What we read

The sources that shaped this list, beyond the product pages linked with each pick. Last reviewed September 2026.

01Cornell Lab NestWatch: Eastern Screech-Owl nest box specificationsnestwatch.org 02Indiana Audubon: A guide to responsible owl viewingindianaaudubon.org 03Cornell Lab: Review of affordable full-size 8x42 binocularsallaboutbirds.org 04International Owl Center: Owl prowlsinternationalowlcenter.org 05Owl Research Institute: Adopt an owlowlresearchinstitute.org

What an Owl Knows by Jennifer Ackerman, paperback

Cornell Lab Bird Academy: The Wonderful World of Owls online course

Maven C.1 8x42 binoculars

Barn Owl Box Company Screech Owl Nest Box

Owl Research Institute symbolic owl adoption

Owl: A Year in the Lives of North American Owls by Paul Bannick

Motawi Tileworks 6x6 Family Owlbum tile (Charley Harper design)

Owls of the World: A Photographic Guide by Heimo Mikkola, softcover

Owls of the Eastern Ice by Jonathan C. Slaght, paperback

International Owl Center Owl Prowl ticket, Houston, Minnesota

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr, hardcover

Folkmanis Snowy Owl hand puppet

Where this gift can go wrong

Questions people ask

New guides and seasonal deadlines, occasionally.