Can owl rotate their neck 360 degree? Watch video shared by IFS officer to find out

There is widely believed notion that owls can spin their heads all the way around like a scene from a horror movie. But how much is it true? Has anyone seen the nocturnal bird rotating its head 360 degrees?

It is seen as more of a fiction than fact. But, a video shared by Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Ramesh Pandey has busted the myth.

These incredible birds do have a unique ability—they can rotate their necks up to 270 degrees without damaging their blood vessels or nerves. This rare skill allows them to scan their surroundings without moving their bodies, making them master hunters in the wild.

Sharing a video on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, IFS Pandey wrote “Owls can rotate their neck 360 degree is actually a myth. It is said that they can considerably rotate their neck 270 degrees without damaging blood vessels or nerves.”

Owls can rotate their neck 360 degree is actually a myth. It is said that they can considerably rotate their neck 270 degrees without damaging blood vessels or nerves.
VC: Shared pic.twitter.com/LiqsWRnf5U

— Ramesh Pandey (@rameshpandeyifs) April 4, 2025

The video, which is not gaining traction on the social media platform, showcases an owl demonstrating its remarkable flexibility. Social media users were both amazed and amused, with many admitting they had believed the 360-degree rotation myth for years.

So, while owls might not have supernatural neck-twisting abilities, their near-complete head rotation is still nothing short of nature’s magic!