OWLS

Barred Owl

Anatomy

Habitat

FoodSights &

Sounds

(Strix varia)

Barred Owl: Anatomy

The Barred Owl is a medium sized brown and gray colored owl, named for its distinct horizontal and vertical stripes (or bars) that cover its body.

Size: 16-25 inches in length

35-50 inch wingspan

weighs 17-37 ounces

Barred Owl: Habitat

Barred Owls prefer to live in moist areas such as damp forests, woodlands by water sources and woody swamps. A single bird’s territory can cover 213 to over 900 acres of land.

Barred Owl: FoodThe Barred Owl preys

mostly on meadow voles, deer mice and shrews. However, this bird is an opportunistic hunter and has been know to eat squirrels, small rabbits, moles, mink, bats, opossums and many other creatures. This owl will sometimes eat other birds as well, such as grouse, quail, jays and woodpeckers.

Meadow Vole

Barred Owl: Sights & Sounds

Hear the Barred Owl’s Call

Sounds:

Sights:Click HERE to see the Barred Owl call for a mate.

Burrowing Owl

Anatomy

Habitat

FoodSights & Sounds

(Athene cunicularia)

Burrowing Owl: Anatomy

This small owl is a light to dark brown color, often with white spots. It has a very round head with large bright yellow eyes. They also have uniquely long legs.

Size: 8.5-11inches in length

20-24 inch wingspan

weighs 6-7.5 ounces

Burrowing Owl: HabitatThe Burrowing Owl is a

ground dwelling bird (hence the name) that typically lives in wide open areas such as dry grasslands, deserts, range lands and agricultural areas. They are also known to live in some pined areas. Burrowing Owls normally live in informal colonies, working together to find food and avoid predators.

Burrowing Owl: FoodThe Burrowing Owl’s diet

tends to vary based on the availability of food. They feed primarily on large insects, grasshoppers and beetles. They also eat small mammals like gophers, mice and squirrels. When available they will also eat small reptiles, scorpions, amphibians, small rabbits and birds.

Burrowing Owl: Sights & Sounds

Hear the Burrowing Owl’s Call:

Sights:

Sounds:

Click HERE to see a video about Burrowing Owl conservation in Arizona

Great Horned Owl

Anatomy

HabitatFood

Sounds

(Bubo virginianus)

Great Horned Owl: Anatomy

The Great Horned Owl is perhaps the most well known owl in the world. It is certainly one of the largest. Named for the large tufts of feathers above its eyes, this owl is typically a reddish brown color, sometimes grayish to black as well.

Size: 18-25 inches in length 36-60 inch wingspan

weighs 32-63.5 ounces

Great Horned Owl: Habitat

Great Horned Owls can live in many different habitats. They prefer densely wooded areas, but have also been seen living in city parks. They often share the same area as the Red-Tailed Hawk.

Great Horned Owl: Food

The Great Horned Owl is not a picky eater. In fact, it is known to eat at least 253 different types of prey, some of them 2 to 3 times the weight of itself. Though this owl prefers rabbits and hares it has be known to eat armadillo, skunk, raccoon, mink, squirrel, porcupine, cats, dogs, moles, muskrats, bats and many other things.

Great Horned Owl: Sights & Sounds

Hear the Great Horned Owl’s Call:

Sights:

Sounds:

Click HERE to see the a video about the Great Horned Owl.

Snowy Owl

AnatomyHabitatFoodSounds

(Bubo scandiacus)

Snowy Owl: AnatomyThe snowy owl is known

for having a beautiful bright white color, often with thin black barring. Their feet are heavily feathered, their large eyes are bright yellow and their beaks are dark black.

Size: 20-27 inches in length

64-65 inch wingspan

weighs 40-70 ounces

Snowy Owl: HabitatThe Snowy Owl is an

arctic bird, residing mostly in the Arctic tundra and open grasslands. They can be found along northern coastlines, and sometimes even roosting in the buildings of Arctic towns.

Snowy Owl: FoodThe Snowy Owl is mostly

dependent on lemmings and voles as the main part of its diet. However, when these are hard to find they eat a variety of mammals and birds including: hare, squirrel, muskrat, mice, rabbit, prairie dogs and small birds.

Snowy Owl: Sights & Sounds

Hear the Snowy Owl’s Call:

Sounds:

Barn Owl

AnatomyHabitatFoodSounds

(Tyto Alba)

Barn Owl: AnatomyThe Barn Owl is a pale, long-

winged, long-legged owl with a short squarish tail. Its head and upperparts are a mixture of buff and grey feathers. Some are purer richer brown instead, and all have fine black-and-white speckles. The heart-shaped face is usually bright white.

Size: 25-45 inches in length

75-110 inch wingspan

weighs 40-70 ounces

Barn Owl: HabitatThe Barn Owl is the

most widely distributed species of owl, and one of the most widespread of all birds. Found almost anywhere in the world outside polar and desert regions.

Barn Owl: FoodBarn Owls specialize in

hunting small ground mammals, and the vast majority of their food consists of small rodents. Voles (field mice) are an important food item, as well as pocket gophers, shrews, mice and rats. Barn Owls breed rapidly in response to mouse plagues. Other prey may include baby rabbits, bats, frogs, lizards, birds and insects.

Pocket gopher

Barn Owl: Sights & Sounds

Hear the Barn Owl’s Call:

Sounds: