Owls are fascinating creatures that have captured the attention and curiosity of people for centuries. These birds of prey are known for their unique physical characteristics, such as their large heads, soft feathers, and forward-facing eyes. There are about 250 species of owls in the world, and each one has its own distinct features and behaviors.
In this article, we will explore ten different types of owls and learn more about their habitats, diets, and other interesting facts. Whether you are a bird enthusiast or simply curious about these amazing creatures, this article will provide you with a wealth of information about the diverse world of owls.
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10 Types Of Owls
Barn Owl
Barn Owl is a medium-sized owl and the most widely distributed species of owl in the world. It is also known as the common barn owl and is found almost everywhere except for the polar and desert regions, Asia south of the Himalayas, most of Indonesia, and some Pacific Islands.
Barn Owls are pale overall with dark eyes and have a mix of buff and gray on the head, back, and upperwings, and are white on the face, body, and underwings. They have long, rounded wings and short tails, which combine with a buoyant, loping flight to give them a distinctive flight style.
The legs are long, and the head is smoothly rounded, without ear tufts. Barn Owls are silent predators of the night world and are ghostly pale and normally strictly nocturnal.
They are birds of open country, such as farmland or woodland, groves, farms, barns, towns, cliffs, and typically in open or semi-open country in lowlands. Barn Owls are birds of prey, hunting and catching small mammals, mostly Field Voles here in the UK.
Eastern Screech-Owl
The Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) is a small owl that is relatively common in Eastern North America, from Mexico to Canada.
This species is native to most wooded environments of its distribution, and more so than any other owl in its range, has adapted well to manmade development, although it frequently avoids detection due to its strictly nocturnal habits.
Eastern Screech-Owls are short, stocky birds, with a large head and almost no neck. They have rounded wings and a short, square tail. Adults range from 16 to 25 cm (6+1⁄2 to 10 in) in length and weigh 121–244 g (4+1⁄4–8+5⁄8 oz). The
Eastern Screech-Owl is common over much of the east, including in city parks and shady suburbs, where many human residents are unaware they have an owl neighbor.
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The Eastern Screech-Owl’s vocalizations include a distinctive, whinny-like call and a low-pitched trill, given during nesting season to maintain pair and family bonds.
Snowy Owl
The Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) is a large, white owl of the true owl family, also known as the polar owl, the white owl, and the Arctic owl. Snowy Owls are native to the Arctic regions of both North America and the Palearctic, breeding mostly on the tundra.
Here are some interesting facts about Snowy Owls:
– Snowy Owls are the only owl with mainly white plumage.
– They are one of the largest species of owl, with a wingspan of 49.6-57.1 inches (126-145 cm) and a weight of 56.4-104.1 ounces (1600-2950 g).
– Snowy Owls are nomadic birds, rarely breeding at the same locations or with the same mates on an annual basis and often not breeding at all if prey is unavailable.
– They are largely migratory birds and can wander almost anywhere close to the Arctic, sometimes unpredictably irrupting to the south in large numbers.
– Snowy Owls are diurnal, hunting at all hours during the continuous daylight of an Arctic summer.
– They have keen eyesight and great hearing, which can help them find prey that is invisible under thick snow.
– Snowy Owls are carnivores and mainly eat lemmings, but they also prey on other small mammals and birds.
– They breed on the Arctic tundra, where females lay a clutch of 3 to 11 eggs.
– Snowy Owls are patient hunters that perch and wait to identify their prey before soaring off in pursuit.
– They are well-insulated and able to thrive in icy cold regions year-round.
Snowy Owls are magnificent birds that have adapted well to their harsh Arctic environment.
Northern Pygmy-Owl
The Northern Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium californicum) is a small owl native to western North America. Here are some interesting facts about the Northern Pygmy-Owl:
Appearance:
– Northern Pygmy-Owls are mostly dark brown and white, with long tails.
– They are small, standing just 16-18 centimeters tall.
Habitat:
– Northern Pygmy-Owls live in a number of different habitats, including temperate and tropical moist forest, wetlands, savannas, and open woodlands.
– They are found from southern Alaska to central Mexico.
Behavior:
– Northern Pygmy-Owls are aggressive hunters despite their small size, and they catch more birds than most small owls.
– They have a taste for songbirds and are known to prey on chickadees and other small songbirds.
– Northern Pygmy-Owls are also known to “mob” larger birds, such as crows and jays, to drive them away from their territory.
The Northern Pygmy-Owl may be small, but it is a fierce hunter and an important part of the ecosystem in its range.
Great Gray Owl
The Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) is the world’s largest species of owl by length, and it is distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. Here are some interesting facts about the Great Gray Owl:
Appearance:
– The Great Gray Owl is a large, gray owl with a round head and no ear tufts.
– It has a wingspan of 54-60 inches (137-152 cm) and can stand up to 33 inches (84 cm) tall.
– The Great Gray Owl has very thick, fluffy plumage that gives it the illusion of being even larger than it is.
Habitat:
– The Great Gray Owl is found in a variety of habitats, including boreal forests, taiga, and subalpine meadows.
– It is most commonly found in Alaska and Canada, but it can also be found in parts of the western United States.
Behavior:
– The Great Gray Owl is a nocturnal bird that hunts at night and roosts during the day.
– It feeds mainly on small mammals, such as voles and mice, but it will also eat birds and insects.
– The Great Gray Owl is a solitary bird that is rarely seen in groups.
– It has a distinctive hooting call that can be heard from a distance.
The Great Gray Owl is a magnificent bird that is well-adapted to its northern habitat.
Elf Owl
The Elf Owl (Micrathene whitneyi) is the smallest owl in the world, measuring only about the size of a sparrow. Here are some interesting facts about the Elf Owl:
Appearance:
– The Elf Owl is a small grayish-brown owl with pale yellow eyes highlighted by thin white “eyebrows”.
– It has a gray bill with a horn-colored tip.
– The Elf Owl is about 5 inches (13 cm) long and weighs only about 1.4 ounces (40 g).
Habitat:
– Elf Owls are found in the Southwestern United States, central Mexico, and the Baja California peninsula.
– They inhabit dry thorn forests, deserts, pine-oak forests, and riparian woodlands.
– Elf Owls frequently inhabit woodpecker holes in saguaro cacti and also nest in natural tree cavities.
Behavior:
– The Elf Owl is nocturnal and feeds primarily on insects, such as moths, beetles, and grasshoppers.
– They are known to hunt from perches or in flight.
– Elf Owls are monogamous and mate for life.
– They are cavity nesters and will use abandoned woodpecker holes or natural tree cavities for nesting.
– Elf Owls are not migratory and will remain in their territory year-round.
The Elf Owl may be small, but it is a fascinating bird that has adapted well to its desert habitat.
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
The Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium brasilianum) is a small owl that is common and widespread in the American tropics. Here are some interesting facts about the Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl:
Appearance:
– The Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl is a small, plump owl that is typically 15 cm (5.9 in) long.
– It has disproportionately large feet and talons.
– The crown has elongated white/buff streaks, the wing coverts have white spots, and the underparts are heavily streaked white.
Habitat:
– Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls are found in a variety of habitats, including open tropical woodland and edge, thorn forest, and riparian woodland.
– They are native to south-central Arizona and southern Texas in the United States, south through Mexico and Central America, to South America into Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina.
Behavior:
– Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls are fearless predators capable of tackling birds more than twice their size.
– They are diurnal and are often seen and heard during the daytime.
– Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls are generally monogamous and mate for life.
– They are cavity nesters and will use abandoned woodpecker holes or natural tree cavities for nesting.
– Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls are not migratory and will remain in their territory year-round.
The Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl may be small, but it is a fierce predator and an important part of the ecosystem in its range.
Long-Eared Owl
The Long-Eared Owl (Asio otus) is a medium-sized species of owl with an extensive breeding range across Europe, the Palearctic, and North America. Here are some interesting facts about the Long-Eared Owl:
Appearance:
– The Long-Eared Owl is a medium-sized owl with long “ear” tufts.
– It has an orange facial disk with a dark vertical line through each eye.
– The Long-Eared Owl has a wingspan of 35-39 inches (89-99 cm) and weighs 7.8-15.3 ounces (220-435 g).
Habitat:
– Long-Eared Owls are found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, conifer groves, and open country for hunting.
– They inhabit a wide variety of settings, including forests with extensive meadows, groves of conifers or deciduous trees in prairie country, and streamside groves in the desert.
Behavior:
– Long-Eared Owls are nocturnal hunters that roost in dense foliage, where their camouflage makes them hard to find.
– They forage over grasslands for small mammals and are nimble flyers, with hearing so acute they can snatch prey in complete darkness.
– Long-Eared Owls are generally monogamous and mate for life.
– They are cavity nesters and will use abandoned woodpecker holes or natural tree cavities for nesting.
– Long-Eared Owls are not migratory and will remain in their territory year-round.
The Long-Eared Owl may not be as well-known as some other owl species, but it is a fascinating bird that has adapted well to a variety of habitats.
Spectacled Owl
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The Spectacled Owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata) is a large tropical owl native to the neotropics. Here are some interesting facts about the Spectacled Owl:
Appearance:
– The Spectacled Owl is a large owl with a rounded head and no ear tufts.
– It has a dark face with contrasting “spectacles” made up of white feathers around its eyes.
– The Spectacled Owl has dark brown plumage on its upper parts and off-white or buff-colored plumage on its underparts.
Habitat:
– Spectacled Owls are found in forests from southern Mexico and Trinidad, through Central America, south to southern Brazil, Paraguay, and northwestern Argentina.
– They inhabit humid evergreen forests in tropical lowlands and foothills.
Behavior:
– Spectacled Owls are nocturnal and are often heard more than seen.
– They are territorial birds that occupy large home ranges in mature tropical forests.
– Spectacled Owls feed on small rodents, sleeping birds, or reptiles, and most hunting is done from a perch in the understory layer of the forest.
– They are monogamous and mate for life.
– Spectacled Owls nest in large tree cavities, which are often formed when the top of a tree snaps off during a severe windstorm.
The Spectacled Owl is a fascinating bird that is well-adapted to its tropical forest habitat.
Eurasian Eagle-Owl
The Eurasian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bubo) is a large species of owl that is native to much of Eurasia, including Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. Here are some interesting facts about the Eurasian Eagle-Owl:
Appearance:
– The Eurasian Eagle-Owl is one of the largest species of owl, with females growing up to 30 inches (75 cm) in length and a wingspan of 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm).
– It has distinctive ear tufts and mottled brown and tawny plumage on its upper parts.
– The Eurasian Eagle-Owl has a large, powerful beak and feathered talons.
Habitat:
– Eurasian Eagle-Owls are found in a variety of wooded habitats, including forests, taiga, farmlands, steppes, semi-arid areas, and grasslands.
– They are more commonly found in areas with rocky outcrops and cliffs, but they also live in open habitats that have some trees and rocky areas.
Behavior:
– Eurasian Eagle-Owls are nocturnal hunters that feed on a variety of prey, including rodents, hares, rabbits, and large game birds.
– They are territorial birds that occupy large home ranges in mature forests.
– Eurasian Eagle-Owls are monogamous and mate for life.
– They are cavity nesters and will use abandoned woodpecker holes or natural tree cavities for nesting.
– Eurasian Eagle-Owls are not migratory and will remain in their territory year-round.
The Eurasian Eagle-Owl is a magnificent bird that is well-adapted to its wooded habitat.
FAQS
1. How many species of owls are there?
There are about 250 species of owls in the world.
2. What do owls eat?
Owls are carnivores and mainly eat small mammals, such as rodents, but they also prey on other small animals, including birds, reptiles, and insects.
3. Are owls nocturnal or diurnal?
Most owl species are active at night, making them nocturnal birds.
4. What is a group of owls called?
A group of owls is called a parliament.
5. Where do owls live?
Owls live on every continent except for Antarctica and can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, deserts, and tundra.
6. How do owls hunt?
Owls are skilled hunters that use their sharp talons and curved bills to catch and kill their prey. They have excellent eyesight and hearing, which helps them locate prey in the dark.
7. What is the smallest owl in the world?
The Elf Owl is the smallest owl in the world, measuring only about the size of a sparrow.
8. What is the largest species of owl?
The Eurasian Eagle-Owl is one of the largest species of owl, with females growing up to 30 inches (75 cm) in length and a wingspan of 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) .
9. Are owls endangered?
Many owl species are threatened by habitat loss, climate change, and other human activities. However, the conservation status of each species varies, and some owl populations are stable or even increasing.
10. How can I help protect owls?
You can help protect owls by supporting conservation organizations, reducing your use of pesticides and other harmful chemicals, and preserving natural habitats.
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