Owls are one of the most feared creatures in the world because of their reputation as skilled predators, their appearance, which may be described as terrifying, and their spooky hooting at night.
But what exactly does the flavor of this nocturnal species consist of? Owls are a rather repulsive species.
Their food consists mostly on rodents, reptiles, and birds, all of which are not exactly the most hygienic of creatures.
This indicates that owl meat is often infected with parasites, which does not provide for a pleasurable eating experience since the flesh is otherwise delicious.
Whether you are here out of simple interest or because you are contemplating eating an owl, you may be wondering how the meat of an owl tastes.
Wait, is it even allowed? And more importantly, is it safe to consume an owl? Let’s go into the weeds of this article, shall we?
Contents
What is Owl?
Owls are birds that are classified under the Strigiformes order, and the Romans thought of them as portending bad luck.
As a consequence of this, they have a tight genetic relationship with other nocturnal predators including hawks, eagles, and kites.
There are over 225 different species of owls across the globe, and with the exception of Antarctica, you can find them on every continent.
With a gigantic wing span that may reach up to 6 feet, the Blakiston Fish owl is the rarest and biggest species of owl that can be found anywhere in the globe.
The consumption of owl meat is disliked by a significant portion of the general population.
In spite of this, the Guangdong province of South China is home to a thriving market for the consumption of these nocturnal birds.
In the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and even Canada, owls are considered a protected species under the laws of each country.
As a result, it is against the law to kill or consume them.
If you are caught with owl meat, you face the possibility of being sent to jail as well as a hefty fine.
Consequently, proceed with extreme caution.
What Does Owl Taste Like?
The flavor of owl flesh is similar to that of chicken, however it has a more powerful taste.
It has a distinctive odor that has the potential to turn away a lot of people.
Consequently, the addition of a substance such as rice wine may assist in eliminating the odor.
Despite the fact that they aren’t the greatest meats to eat, the way in which you prepare them may significantly improve their flavor.
There are occasions when the meat is so flavorless that it cannot be consumed.
The flesh of owls is low in carbohydrates but rich in protein content.
In addition to that, it has a few minerals inside of it, including phosphorus, calcium, and iron.
These may assist in maintaining healthy bones and muscles.
The nutritional value of owl meat is quite comparable to that of chicken.
Therefore, you are free to use one of these two kind of beef in place of the other.
In certain cases, the flesh of wild animals may be a delectable treat to feast on, but this is not the case with owls.
Why? mostly due to the fact that the flavor lacks any distinguishing characteristics.
One is unable to help but ponder the many different kinds of prey that they must have consumed over the course of their life.
The flavor may be improved or diminished, depending on what they’ve consumed before.
Additionally, birds often do not have a lot of flesh on their bodies.
Therefore, you will need several owls of an average size to extract all of the nutrients that your body requires.
As a result, they do not constitute a meal that is helpful to one’s health.
After all, the most protein and fat that can be obtained from them is a little amount, both of which are readily available from other sources of food.
When compared to other types of meat, owl meat’s most distinguishing feature is the fact that there are other types of meat that are superior to it.
How to Cook and Use Owl Meat?
Are you thinking about giving owl meat and its taste a go now that you’ve gained so much knowledge on eating owl meat? If that’s the case, we have some tips and recipes that could come in handy.
It’s possible that you won’t discover much information on how to prepare owl meat if you search for suggestions on the internet.
It is not a common meal, and very few people eat it on a regular basis.
On the other hand, you may use your ingenuity and look for a dish that uses chicken.
Since an owl is essentially the same as any other bird, we may categorize the meat it produces as “poultry.”
Therefore, you may use a dish that calls for chicken but use owl meat in its place instead of the chicken.
You may, for instance, create roasted owls, curry, owl soup, or fried owl meat. Other possible preparations include these:
Just put some thought into it, and be willing to give new experiences a go.
Before using the owl meat in any dish, it is important to ensure that it has been well cleaned.
Be careful to get rid of all of its feathers, its skin, its organs, and anything else that is abnormal in appearance or texture.
In addition to this, it is important to cook owl flesh completely.
This is due to the possibility that it is contaminated with parasites, the presence of which may lead to food poisoning.
To eliminate any possibility of food poisoning, the meat should be cooked until the center is no longer pink.
You may learn how to prepare owl meat properly by watching this video that is hosted on YouTube.
FAQs
Who eats owls?
Owls are prey for relatively few other species of predators (except sometimes other owls). In point of fact, owls consume a variety of different predators, including weasels, bats, shrews, and even birds that feed on insects. As a consequence of this, owls are located at the very top of the food chain.
Can you eat owls UK?
The Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 stipulates that the protection of all wild birds in the United Kingdom. In theory, it is permissible for people to consume certain kinds of birds provided they killed the birds while in possession of a valid permit; but, with the exception of the wood pigeon, these birds are never allowed to be commercially marketed for consumption by humans.
Are owls good at smelling?
They have no sense of smell. Owls are skilled predators, but they do not depend on their sense of smell to locate unexpected prey. Instead, they use their keen eyesight and hearing. According to The Owl Trust, their sense of smell is really somewhat lacking in comparison to other animals (Opens in a new window). Instead, they depend on their acute listening ability to help them track down their prey.
Are owls edible?
The consumption of owl meat is disliked by a significant portion of the general population. In spite of this, the Guangdong region of South China is home to a thriving market for the consumption of these nocturnal birds. In the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and even Canada, owls are considered a protected species under the laws of each country.
Final Thought
It is possible that you should avoid eating owl meat if you do not like the experience of searching for information about a kind of meat that is uncommon and not often consumed.
There is no way to put a positive spin on the reality that the flesh of this bird, which had a substandard diet, does not have a flavor that stands out in any manner.
However, in the end, it all comes down to the seasonings that you choose to use and the modifications that you make.
They have a flavor that is comparable to that of chicken, are quite difficult to get, and in certain societies may even be seen as immoral.
Therefore, it is in your best interest to keep this meat aside so that you may add it to your list of foods to try but not so that it can become a regular part of your diet.
