100 Instagram Hashtags for Owls

I haven't had as much time for wildlife photography as I'd like recently, but when I do post on Instagram, having a good list of hashtags to hand saves so much time. This page is that list: 100 owl and wildlife hashtags, sorted into groups, plus ready-made sets you can copy with one click.

It's written with owls in mind, but most of these work just as well for any wildlife photography.

How to choose your five hashtags

Here's the simple recipe I use. Pick one tag from each of these:

1. The species. #BarnOwl, #TawnyOwl and so on. This tells Instagram exactly what's in the picture.
2. The type of photo. #OwlInFlight, #OwlPortrait or #TrailCam.
3. The wider subject. #BirdsOfPrey or #WildlifePhotography.
4. The place. #UKWildlife, #PeakDistrict or wherever you took it.
5. A community tag. Something like #WildlifeWednesday, or your own tag. I use #PeakyWildlife for mine.

Tip: smaller, more specific tags usually beat huge ones. On a tag with millions of posts, your photo disappears within seconds. On a tag with a few thousand, the right people actually see it. Search a tag in Instagram first to see how busy it is.

Ready-made sets of five

Click a button to copy a set, then paste it into your caption.

All 100 owl and wildlife hashtags

Click any hashtag to copy it.

Owl species

Name the species first. It's the most useful tag you can add.

Owls in general

Good for reaching people who love owls of every kind.

Birds and birds of prey

Wider bird tags for when an owl shares the stage.

Wildlife photography

Tags that photographers and photo fans browse.

UK and places

Where was it taken? Local tags reach local people.

Night-time and trail cameras

For night shots, infrared and camera traps.

Conservation and nest boxes

Show you care about the birds, not just the picture.

Community and fun

Weekly themes and friendly community tags.

About #BarnOwlLive: that's our own tag. Please use it if you share a screenshot or clip from our live cameras. We love seeing them!

Getting seen beyond hashtags

Hashtags matter less than they used to. Instagram now looks at the whole post to work out what it's about and who might like it. These help just as much:

• Write a descriptive caption. Instagram search reads your words, so "Barn owl hunting at dusk over a Peak District meadow" works much harder than "Look at this!"
• Add a location. People browse places as well as tags.
• Fill in the alt text. It's in the advanced settings when you post. It helps people using screen readers, and it tells Instagram what's in the photo.
• Post your best shots. Saves and shares count for far more than any hashtag. A sharp, well-edited photo is still the best way to be seen. My list of free photo editing software might help there.

Questions people ask

How many hashtags can I use on Instagram?

Five. Since December 2025, Instagram limits every post and Reel to five hashtags, and it recommends choosing a few targeted tags rather than lots of general ones.

What are the best hashtags for owl photos?

Start with the species, such as #BarnOwl or #TawnyOwl, then add a photo type like #OwlInFlight, a wider tag like #BirdsOfPrey, and a place such as #UKWildlife.

Should hashtags go in the caption or the first comment?

Either works the same, but they all count towards your five, so don't add five in each.

Do hashtags still help on Instagram?

Yes, but mainly to tell Instagram what your post is about. A good photo, a descriptive caption and a location often make more difference.

Want to see some of my owl photos? Take a look at the Peak District wildlife gallery or follow @peakywildlife on Instagram.

Paul