owls are outstanding

A sleepy Barred Owl in a tree hollow at Bryn Coed Preserve in winter. Photo by Matthew Hennessey

By Tianna Godsey, events coordinator

Owls are often a symbol of wisdom and knowledge. Let’s gain a little wisdom ourselves and learn more about these remarkable birds.

• There are 200 species of owls worldwide. Pennsylvania is home to eight species, seven of which breed here (the Snowy Owl only winters in our region). Those species are: Great Horned, Barred, Barn, Long-eared, Short-eared, Northern Saw-whet, and Eastern Screech.
• Owls are apex predators, meaning they are at the top of food chain. They hunt at night and are sometimes considered “hawks of the night.” They are carnivores and eat live food only (no carrion).
• Their adaptations provide advantages for hunting and include:
  • increased depth perception
  • large eyes for the size of their bodies with more rods than cones to better see in low light
  • eyes are fixed in their sockets, so they have 14 neck vertebrae (seven more than humans) to allow them to rotate their heads up to 270 degrees
  • large talons to grasp prey and a sharp, hooked beat to tear flesh.
  • large, forward-facing ears that are asymmetrical for better prey detection
  • feather tufts near their ears help filter and triangulate sound; an owl can hear moving prey a football field away
  • dull colors to blend in to their surroundsings
  • broad wings with serrated edges of their flight feathers, which reduce turbulence for silent flight
• They range in size from one ounce and five inches tall (the Elf Owl) to 10 pounds and 26 inches tall (the Eagle Owl).
• Owls don’t build their own nests but rather take over abandoned crow or hawk nests, or use cavities within hollow trees. They’ll take to human-made owl boxes, but it may take a few years for them to do so.
• Owls are early nesters, sometimes even laying their eggs at the end of winter. This timing means that, by the time the owlets are ready to hunt for themselves, their prey have had spring babies that are easy targets.
• A group of owls is called a parliament.

Here is some more information about the owls found in Pennsylvania:

Snowy Owl

• Generally found in polar regions, Canada, and northern Asia. They are nomadic and travel to our region when winters either cause lack of food or a population boom.
• Size: 20–28 inches long, 49–57-inch wingspan, 3.5–6 pounds
• Prefers open habitats
• Makes a deep barking or quacking call

Great Horned Owl

• The most widespread owl of the Americas
• Size: 17–25 inches tall, 3–5-foot wingspan, 3 pounds
• The largest owl in Pennsylvania; able to apply 300 pounds of pressure per square inch with its talons
• Makes a low-pitched, loud “hoo hoo hoo” call

Barred Owl

• one of only a few eastern U.S. owls with brown eyes
• Size: 16–25 inches tall, 36–49-inch wingspan, 2 pounds
• The second largest owl in Pennsylvania
• Prefers dense forests and nests in tree cavities
• Makes a melodic call: “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?”

Short-eared Owl

• Endangered in Pennsyvlania; some from other areas migrate into PA during winter
• Prefer open habitat and are ground-nesters
• Makes a scratchy, barking call

Long-eared Owl

• Listed as threatened in Pennsylvania
• prefer coniferous forests
• Size: 12–16 inches tall, 34–39-inch wingspan, 0.75 pounds
• Makes a classic “who, who, who” call

Barn Owl

• Worldwide distribution but their numbers are decreasing due to habitat loss and climate change
• Size: 13–15 inches tall, 33–37-inch wingspan, about 1 pound
• Nests in barns, abandoned buildings, and chimneys
• Mates for life and can have 11 eggs in one brood
• Makes a screaming shriek call

Eastern Screech Owl

• The second smallest owl in Pennsylvania
• Size: 7–10 inches tall, 18–24-inch wingspan, 0.5 pounds
• Prefer to hunt in semi-open landscapes
• There are both red and gray morphs
• Are monogamous and both sexes care for their young
• Makes a “whinny” call

Northern Saw-whet Owl

• The smallest owl in Pennsylvania
• Size: 6–8 inches tall, 16–22-inch wingspan, 2.5–4 ounces
• Prefers mixed deciduous and coniferous forests
• A cavity nester
• Makes a repeating, tooting whistle call