Western Owls

M-21

Western OWLS

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Owls, as a group of birds are less often known or seen by most people because most of the species are nocturnal. This is further exaggerated by the fact that several of the species are only found in rural or remote regions away from developed areas. On the North American Continent, they vary in size from the Elf Owl, which is slightly larger than a warbler, to the Great Gray Owl, which is almost the size of a Golden Eagle. The owls are the counterpart of the daytime avian predators. If you see hawks in the daytime you can be certain there are owls there at night.

They are the top avian predators of the night and their calls are critical to their survival.

In North America, there are 20-22 regular species of owls (depending on your source of information). Only five of these are strictly northern species not found in either Central America, or the Caribbean and only one is not found in other places around the world Northern Pygmy owl.

Young owls give piercing screams when begging for food, while adults may scream to defend the nest. Adults make an array of other sounds, including whistles, barks, shrieks, growls, rattles, hisses, coos, and wavering cries.