Several studies suggest that species' mortality rates are positively related with local population abundances. Because owls have shown both high road mortality rates and road avoidance behaviours, we hypothesize that road‐kill likelihood is not always directly linked to their occurrence. In this study, we examined the relationship between the likelihood of species occurrence in the vicinity of major roads and the road‐kill risk for barn owls Tyto alba, tawny owls Strix aluco and little owls Athene noctua. Specifically, we address: (1) the role of road‐related features on spatial patterns of species' occurrence and road kills; (2) the composition of road kills and their distribution throughout the year; (3) the relationship between species' occurrence likelihood and mortality risk. Our findings show that changes in movement patterns is probably the main behavioural mechanism that threatens owls in roaded landscapes. The... Palabras clave: Mortality