People are learning that baby owls sleep face down and the photos are adorable

Baby owls have big heads. In fact, they’re so big that sometimes they can’t hold them upright when they fall asleep – so instead, they lay on their bellies (and sometimes their faces).

Journalist Mark Rees caused quite a stir on Twitter recently by reposting an old photo of a baby owl conked out face-down. In less than a week, it’s been retweeted over 44,000 times!

I’ve just discovered that baby owls sleep face down like THIS because their heads are too heavy. Also, I don’t think I’ve seen owl legs before…. pic.twitter.com/dfKii2JtS8

— Mark Rees (@reviewwales) June 21, 2020

Hilarious, right?

The Audubon Society confirms that owlets do indeed sleep on their stomachs, but mostly with their heads turned (and owls have a wide range of motion when it comes to their heads).

So while they don’t all sleep with their faces pointed down, they do a belly flop into their naps.

And they are a whole mood right now.

Here are 10 sleepy little owls that simply can’t keep their heads up any longer.

1. People are feeling it

Well, if you needed more proof, here’s a whole collection of baby owls sleeping on their bellies.

Some of them look a little annoyed about being roused for a photo though.

just discovered that baby owls sleep face down and are the biggest mood i’ve ever seen pic.twitter.com/nN4t68sCjM

— some art, mostly acnh (@ROBINS) March 15, 2020

2. Positively pooped

We hate seeing these beautiful creatures behind bars.

But this little guy isn’t depressed at the moment, he’s just catching a few zzzs.

フクロウの子供って枝にうつ伏せになって寝るのかw pic.twitter.com/vFk7FPufEH

— 佐倉創 (@Sacra_Sow) June 12, 2016

3. Sweet dreams

How adorable is this little one?!

He looks like he lives in a magical forest.

Today I learnt that baby owls sleep on their front because their heads are too heavy 🥺 pic.twitter.com/l0Ie0kHlm8

— Cat⁷ ⟭⟬ ⟬⟭ (@googiethebun) June 26, 2020

4. They’re alive, we promise!

We’re not sure how they breathe that way, but here are two more owls that don’t even bother to turn their heads when they conk out.

That’s some serious slumber!

え！？こんな格好で寝るの!?と思ったら、フクロウの雛は脚力弱いのでうつ伏せで寝るそうな。きゃわわ pic.twitter.com/OY7DWuuXd4

— パプ (@papucon365) February 28, 2014

5. Drowsy baby

Aww, those droopy eyelids look much cuter on this baby owl than they ever would on us.

Just let the little guy take a nap!

きなこ「今日もおつかれさまでした！おやすみなさい･･･Ｚｚｚ」#ふくろうの城　 #原宿　 #ナンベイヒナフクロウ　 #きなこ　 #フクロウカフェ　 #アヒル寝 pic.twitter.com/FWKanPtRv9

— ふくろうの城　原宿店 (@fs_harajukuinfo) July 5, 2017

6. Faceplant

We’re not sure why the owl is in a cage, but we’re going to hope it’s a rescue operation.

At least it’s getting some undisturbed slumber.

大丈夫か？(^∇^)心配するほどペシャンコでお昼寝中❗ユーラシアワシﾐﾐｽﾞｸのヒナ🎵ここまでのアヒル寝が見られるのも今の時期だけですお時間ある方はあうるぱーく池袋にお立ち寄り下さいね✨ #池袋 #フクロウカフェ #アヒル寝 #ヒナ pic.twitter.com/Z9O2Spga7f

— あうるぱーく　フクロウカフェ池袋 (@owlparktokyo) May 20, 2016

7. Like a bump on a log

He looks like he wants to fly like Superman.

Maybe that’s what this baby is dreaming about.

8. It becomes a habit

This owl looks a bit older, but maybe it’s used to snoozing like this and just finds it more comfortable.

Even biologists are asking for confirmation of this phenomenon because it looks so strange.

I haven’t found the original source for this pic, but it‘s also suggests owls sometimes sleep laying down.

Although I haven’t found any other ground face-plants or science articles on teenagers being top-heavy unstable sleepers…

Any bird peeps want to confirm or debunk? pic.twitter.com/i1r98mIoJN

— Mika McKinnon (@mikamckinnon) June 3, 2019

9. Exhausted but in motion

This video is just too cute.

You can see that it’s clearly the best position for a nap – the owl is just trying to find the most comfortable angle for its head.

#アフリカオオコノハズク雛ちゃん
溶けていきます…😳

眠いとどこでもアヒル寝しちゃう子です！
わたわたのべた慣れちゃんは早い者勝ち✨#フクロウ #雛 #べた慣れ #かわいい #お迎え募集中 #最高のパートナー pic.twitter.com/y8LT2dGlr9

— 鳥のいるカフェ谷中本店 (@toricaferoppong) June 19, 2020