Fossil Reveals Daytime-Active Owl From 47 Million Years Ago
Researchers identified Masillastrix blattophaga from fossils at Germany's Messel Pit, a bird that hunted during the day.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Bird Watching
Scientists have identified Masillastrix blattophaga, a daytime-active owl that lived about 47 million years ago, from fossils discovered at Germany's Messel Pit. The find suggests owls were not always nocturnal.
Why it matters
The fossil offers evidence that owls did not become predominantly nocturnal until much later in their evolutionary history. It helps researchers understand how owl anatomy and behavior changed over tens of millions of years.
The owl's stomach contained the remains of an iridescent cockroach, and its stout upper-wing bones (humeri) differ from those of modern nocturnal owls, which generally have more elongated, slender humeri. Iridescence is commonly associated with daylight-active insects, though researchers have not confirmed the owl's exact feeding pattern beyond this single stomach sample.
The players
Current Biology
Current Biology is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by Cell Press that covers research across the biological sciences.
The details
Researchers examined a skeleton with much of its skeleton preserved but no skull, and identified the cockroach in its stomach by comparing it with a similar, exceptionally preserved specimen found nearby in the sediments. The owl's feather appearance and wing-bone structure were assessed alongside the stomach contents.
Timeline
Masillastrix blattophaga lived about 47 million years ago during the Eocene epoch.
Ogygoptynx wetmorei, the oldest known owl, dates to about 60 million years ago.
The earliest known owl fossils with modern nocturnal features date to about 35 million years ago.
The study was published in Current Biology on November 2, 2026.
Legacy Record
The new fossil sits between Ogygoptynx wetmorei, the oldest known owl at about 60 million years, and the earliest nocturnal-featured owl fossils at about 35 million years. It fills a gap showing owl behavior and anatomy were still changing across that period.
For bird watchers, the find is a reminder that owl behavior has changed over deep time, so modern owl sightings reflect a long evolutionary history. It does not change how to identify or observe owls today.
The takeaway
Owl behavior is not fixed, and fossils like this one show that species can shift between day and night activity over millions of years. Observers today see the result of that long process in the nocturnal habits of most owls.
Further reading
For more on owls and the wider world of birds, explore Bird Watching.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times of India.
