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| Great Horned Owl |
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| Eastern Screech Owl |
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| Barred Owl |
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| Barn Owl |
Owls are among Ohios most interesting wildlife residents. Although more often heard than seen, there are plenty of opportunities within our silent winter woodlands to hear and, with a little luck, see these spectacular birds of prey.
Owls and other raptors, such as eagles, hawks and falcons, have highly specialized features setting them apart from other birds. Hooked beaks, sharp talons with strong legs and feet, and excellent eyesight combine to make them fearsome hunters.
Size is another notable feature. In most bird species, males are larger than females, but with raptors like owls the reverse is most often true.
Owls are found on every continent except Antarctica. In the Buckeye State, we have four owl species that live here year round: the great horned owl, screech owl, barred owl and barn owl. Except for the barn owl, they all can be found in most counties across the state.
Did you know owls are the only night hunters among birds of prey? Their night vision is superior to that of other raptors, which see no better at night than humans. Owls eyes are so large that they are fixed in place, making it impossible for them to look side-to-side or up-and-down. To make up for that, owls can rotate their heads 270 degrees.
A keen eye is a must for Ohios largest owl, the great horned owl. As large as two feet in length, with a wingspan of up to 60 inches, this beautiful bird hunts during the darkest hours of the night. While preferring to live in open country, its also one of our most urban owls. And with a voracious appetite, they do their part in keeping rodent populations under control.
Because owls hunt mostly at night, they also have a highly developed sense of hearing. This ability to track movement by sound leaves scurrying prey even that concealed by leaf or snow cover little chance of escaping the owls sharp talons. Hidden from the human eye, owls ears are located on the side of their heads and are covered by feathers.
Screech owls favor patches of woodlands broken up by large, open meadows where they hunt from dusk till dawn for a variety of prey, such as field mice, small snakes, lizards and a range of insects. Screech owls are also urban dwellers, frequently found living in older neighborhoods with lots of mature trees. Averaging 8-9 inches in length and a 22-inch wingspan, screech owls are the smallest of Ohios four resident owl species.
One owl you wont find hanging out in the neighborhood park is the barred owl so named because of the horizontal stripes across its chest. Truly a forest owl, it inhabits large tracks of land that feature steep forested slopes or swampy wet woods. Ohios medium-sized resident owl is also our most vocal owl, calling regularly throughout the night and even into the day. Its call is easily identified once heard: hoo, hoo, too-HOO; hoo, hoo, too-HOO, ooo, and is often paraphrased as Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?
Barn owls search out natural cavities, like those found in hollow trees, for nesting, but will also nest in man-made structures such as barns and silos. Once widespread across Ohio, their numbers began to dwindle in the mid-1940s, coinciding with the decline of small farming operations. Thanks to the installation of artificial nest boxes near the grassy pastures and hayfields where barn owls hunt for small mammals, this unique owl with its recognizable white, heart-shaped face is making a comeback. In 2001, wildlife experts with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources recorded 48 active barn owl nests, the most since a monitoring program began in the mid-1980s.
If youre looking for an owl encounter, now is a great time for a night or before-sunrise hike. An owls call travels better in winter because of the cold, clear air and lack of leaf cover. Dont forget to dress warmly. While Ohio has had unseasonably warm winter weather, nighttime temperatures still get pretty frosty.
Finally, should you ever spy a roosting owl during the daylight hours, be respectful of its space. Take a moment to savor the sight and then quietly move on.