Owlman, from the United Kingdom: what it is and what people believe

The Owlman is a legendary owl-like being from Cornish folklore. It emerged from reports in 1976 involving sightings near a church in Cornwall, United Kingdom. Some view it as a misidentified barn owl, while others suspect the story was fabricated.

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Tony Shiels promoted the legend starting in 1976.
Reports mention a creature with glowing eyes and claws.
Barn owls are proposed as the real cause of sightings.
Critics claim the story was a fabrication by Shiels.
The figure appears in modern horror films and TV shows.

What it is

The Owlman is a mythical creature described as a large, feathered bird-man with an owl-like appearance. It is a staple of modern Cornish folklore. The entity is typically depicted with glowing eyes and black, pincer-like claws. Reports describe it hovering or flying near church towers. Some accounts compare its size to that of a man. The figure represents a blend of avian and humanoid traits found in local legend.

Where it comes from

The legend began in April 1976 in Mawnan, Cornwall. Tony Shiels claimed two young girls saw the creature above St Mawnan and St Stephen's Church. He later promoted the story through pamphlets and media. Another report involved two teenagers camping nearby in July 1976. Sporadic sightings were recorded in subsequent years, including 1978, 1979, 1989, and 1995. A sound resembling an owl call was reported in Mullion churchyard in 2000. Critics argue Shiels fabricated the entire narrative for attention.

Owlman, drawn and placed

Emblem black, with the hand shape. Drawn from this page, not a photograph.

Living
Revived
Fading
Historical
Legendary
Performed

Standing: Legendary Known from myth, story and legend rather than from recorded practice. This says whether people still do it, not whether it works.

An open hand with an eye: the hamsa, or hand of Fatima, a protective sign in Jewish, Muslim and wider North African and Middle Eastern custom.

Lineage: Cornish folklore

Where it sits The tradition it belongs to, and when it is done.

Peoples and places

The tale is rooted in Cornish culture. It gained traction in the United Kingdom during the late twentieth century. References also appear in Irish contexts within broader folklore discussions. The story spread through local pamphlets and national media coverage. It remains a specific regional legend rather than a widespread global myth.

At a glance: who, where and when

Peoples

Cornish

What people believe

Skeptics suggest the Owlman is a hoax orchestrated by Tony Shiels. He had a history of promoting similar monster stories. Witnesses often communicated only with him or his associates. Naturalists propose the sightings were misidentifications of barn owls, which nest in churches. The belief in the creature persists despite these rational explanations.

How scholars and sceptics see it

Author Joe Nickell attributes the sightings to barn owls nesting in church structures. Occult historian Gareth Medway argues the story was a deliberate hoax by Shiels. Medway notes that witnesses were either connected to Shiels or never independently verified. The lack of independent corroboration supports the skepticism. Fortean TV presenter Reverend Lionel Fanthorpe suggested a different avian origin.

Compare and confuse

The Owlman shares traits with other cryptid legends like Mothman and Spring-heeled Jack. It differs from the Morgawr, another Cornish monster, by its avian features. Unlike traditional spirits, it lacks religious significance. It is often grouped with modern UFO and monster lore rather than ancient mythology.

Today

The Owlman appears in popular culture, including television series and films. Episodes of Lost Tapes and The Secret Saturdays featured the creature. A Scottish horror film, Lord of Tears, incorporated the legend. These adaptations keep the name alive but detach it from its original folk context.

Questions people ask about Owlman

What is the Owlman?

It is a legendary owl-like humanoid from Cornish folklore. Descriptions include glowing eyes and black claws. It is said to hover near church towers in Cornwall.

Where did the story originate?

The legend began in Mawnan, Cornwall, in 1976. Reports followed sightings near St Mawnan and St Stephen's Church. Tony Shiels played a key role in spreading the tale.

Is the Owlman a real animal?

No living creature matches the full description. Experts suggest barn owls or eagle-owls were misidentified. Many believe the story was a hoax created by Tony Shiels.

Good reading and sources

Horse Piss for BloodThe Guardian, Article

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Owlman", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryJaadu rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes. Names and customs differ from one community to the next, and some knowledge is closed to outsiders and left out here. This page describes belief and practice. It does not say that any of it works, it is not a how-to, and it is not medical advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-06.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

Eight Immortals: Fanghong, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

King Arthur: William Morris, Public domain, source

Matthew Hopkins: Unknown author, CC BY 4.0, source

Excalibur: Unknown author, Public domain, source

Lilith: Photographs by Ardon Bar Hama, author of original document is unknown., Public domain, source

Owlman