These are powerful birds at roughly 28 inches long with a wingspan of 57 inches. Their dense plumage makes them weightier, but it also allows them to withstand the cold temperatures of the Arctic tundra. Snowy owls are the heaviest owls, with adults averaging between 3 and 5 pounds. The second set of feather tufts sitting on top of their heads gives them their iconic long-eared appearance These are lanky birds that have tan faces with variegated plumage in shades of brown, tan, gray, and white. The tufts of feathers that make up their face disks surround bright orange eyes, giving them a surprised expression. But a closer inspection reveals that long-eared owls possess a distinctive V-shaped feather pattern on their faces. How to IdentifyĪt first glance, the long-eared owl greatly resembles the great horned owl. But if you are lucky enough to spot a long-eared owl, keep your eyes peeled for more - long-eared owls roost in groups of 6 to 50. Because these birds can be skittish, they can be tough for birdwatchers to track down. When confronted, most long-eared owls simply fly away. Unlike most owls, long-eared owls are not very territorial and prefer to rely on their camouflage to hide from potential predators. And, unfortunately, its population has declined 91% since 1970. This somewhat elusive owl can be tough to find, preferring to seek shelter in dense woodlands. Western Screech-Owl Range & Migration MapĪt 15 inches in length and with an impressive wingspan of 39 inches, the long-eared owl has been known to steal nests away from jays and crows to raise their own young. Instead, they use short whistles and trills to communicate with each other. Contrary to what their name would lead you to believe, western screech-owls usually don’t screech. Western screech-owls have small, round heads with ear tufts and vivid yellow eyes. They have gray and brown plumage with no hint of red. Western screech-owls look much like eastern screech-owls, with adult morphs in Great Plains, Mexican, Mojave, brown Pacific, and gray Pacific colorations. These are opportunistic predators who like an easy meal, but, when determined, they will also chase their prey down, sometimes grabbing birds and insects midflight. Western screech-owls like to sit close to where limbs meet the tree trunk, so they can huddle up against them in order to camouflage themselves from predators and prey. While western screech-owls feed on rodents, small birds, earthworms, and other bugs, they’ve also been seen preying on rabbits. These birds are serious predators, regularly seeking out prey many times their own size. But, don’t let their small stature deceive you. These are small owls, maxing out at just 9 inches in length and with wingspans of roughly 24 inches. This acts as a defense mechanism, tricking potential predators into thinking they’re much bigger than they really are. The flammulated owl has a much lower-pitch call than you would expect from such a small owl. The best way to find a flammulated owl is by listening to its call. How to Identifyįeaturing feathers in shades of gray and brown with rust red tips along its wings, and distinctive flame-like markings on its face (hence its name), this owl is incredibly well-camouflaged. Unlike most owls, who prefer to keep to themselves, flammulated owls form loose colonies - likely for protection since they’re so small. Mated pairs raise 2 to 4 owlets at a time in nests that are not lined with any sort of bedding material. Flammulated owls are monogamous, choosing one mate for life. In fact, this proclivity for insects may account for why these owls migrate south during the winter months. These owls eat bugs almost exclusively, preferring moths and butterflies above other insects. Their long, powerful wings enable them to fly quickly between the treetops of their forest homes. Though these owls only measure around 6 inches in length, they have a large wingspan for their size, measuring 14-inches from wingtip to wingtip.
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