Can Owls Swims? Netizens Label Viral Video Showing The Bird Effortlessly Floating Through Waters As ‘AI-Generated’

Can owls swim? That’s the question keeping the internet busy lately after a video showing the bird gliding smoothly through water went viral. The clip, shared by an Instagram page, sparked discussion among viewers — many of whom believed it was AI-generated — while others grew curious to find out if the nocturnal creature is actually capable of swimming.

Calling it “a very rare sight, the Instagram page ‘Owl Sanity’ posted the video and asked followers whether they knew owls could swim.

The footage appeared to show an owl swimming with a natural up-and-down motion. Was that filmed during a real event or simply produced with an AI prompt?

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AI-generated video?

In the clip, sharp-eyed netizens observed that the wings didn’t seem soaked or heavy, nor was there much splashing. These details, along with unawareness about the bird’s ability to swim, led many viewers to question the clip’s authenticity. Some concluded it was likely edited or generated by AI.

As the video gained traction, one user commented, “Bro it's AI owls can't swim, the reason is because they do not have waterproof feathers and no membrane between the fingers to help them swim, and there are other things too but I am bored to explain now, pls don't believe everything you see on social media”.

Another noted, “Wing looks wounded… I’m not sure it is swimming.”

A third pointed out, “AI video – there is no splashing water as it beats wings against water.”

Can owls swim? Answered.

Despite the skepticism, swimming owls can’t be confirmed as entirely fictional.

A 2017 video by National Geographic suggested that owls can swim, though they do so only rarely. Similarly, a 2011 blog by Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation in Barrington, US, confirmed that Great Horned Owls are indeed capable of swimming — but it’s not something they typically do unless absolutely necessary.

Published on: Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 12:44 PM IST