Halloween Owl Coloring Page

This Halloween owl coloring page shows a plump owl perched on a thick branch with a witch hat on its head. The hat tips a little to one side, and a purple band wraps around it. Behind the bird, a huge yellow moon fills most of the sky. Two bats pass by, and small stars sit in the corners.

Look closely at the owl's chest. Rows of small curved feathers run down the middle, and two dark wings fold along the sides. Each eye has rings inside rings, which gives the face that wide awake stare owls are known for.

Coloring your Halloween owl coloring page

Start with the moon, since it is the biggest shape. A strong yellow will make the owl stand out, and a touch of orange near the edge gives it a warm glow. For the sky, go with dark blue.

Barn owls are pale, and great horned owls are brown, so either one works. We like a warm brown body with a lighter tan belly. The wings can be a shade darker. Save your brightest orange for the eye rings and beak. The hat looks best in black or deep purple with a band that matches the sky.

• Color each chest feather from the top down, so the strokes look soft.
• Leave a white dot in each eye.
• Press harder under the wings to add shadow.

Owl facts for curious kids

Owls hunt at night, and they are built for it. Soft edges on their wing feathers help them fly with almost no sound. Their eyes cannot move in the same way ours do, so they turn their heads instead. An owl can twist its head about three quarters of the way around. It can also hear a mouse moving under snow. You can read more about the owl on Wikipedia.

Try a small test with your child. Keep your eyes straight ahead and turn only your head. See how far you can look behind you. Then talk about how much farther an owl can go.

Why owls belong to Halloween

Night creatures have always fit this holiday. Owls, bats and black cats all come out when it gets dark, and old stories often gave them to witches as helpers. In truth, an owl is a shy hunter that eats mice and bugs. That makes it a friend to farmers. It is a nice fact to share if your child feels unsure about spooky animals.

The hat on this bird keeps things light. Ask why an owl might wear one. Maybe it is on its way to a party. Maybe it stole the hat from a sleepy witch.

Art ideas with this page

Older kids can try a night effect. Color the whole page in light shades, and then shade the left side of the owl and the branch with a soft dark blue. It will look as if the moon is shining from behind. Younger children can glue small torn paper feathers onto the chest. Brown paper bags work well for this.

A gel pen helps on the moon and the eyes. A white one adds a tiny glint to each pupil, and a gold one gives the moon a soft edge.

For a fall bulletin board, cut out each owl and sit them all along a long paper branch. The class will have a funny row of hat wearing birds looking down at them.

More night animals

If you liked this Halloween owl coloring page, try the plain owl coloring page or the bat coloring page. The witch hat coloring page has a hat just like this one. Older colorists may enjoy the owl mandala coloring page, and you can see the full set on our Halloween coloring pages hub.

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