Owls without feathers are a rare and unusual sight, typically resulting from natural molting, stress, illness, injury, or genetic factors. Feathers are essential for owls not only for flight but also for insulation, camouflage, and their silent hunting ability. When owls lose feathers, they may look quite shocking and alien-like, resembling a plucked bird with visible skin and bone structures, but in the wild, owls almost never lose all their feathers because such conditions usually lead to death before complete feather loss occurs.
There is no species of owls naturally featherless; however, there are species like the Bare-legged Owl which naturally has unfeathered legs, but this is only a small part of the body. Photos and images of completely featherless owls mostly come from digital recreations, sick or deceased birds, or owls in captivity experiencing severe health issues.
In summary, owls without feathers can exist temporarily due to health or environmental stress but are not a natural or sustainable state for these birds. They are highly dependent on their feathers for survival.
