Although it might not appear so at the time, the animals, which are often referred to as nuisance or problem animals, are innocent. When a conflict exists between humans and animals it is usually because the animal is only doing what it needs to do to survive. It is simply following its own instincts, and intends no harm or discomfort. Dealing with a conflict can be difficult because it is often a community issue.
Turkey vultures have flown overhead while stellar jays have sat in apple trees. And some of the amazing birds that also call this place home are many kinds of owls! Of the 19 species of owls in North America, 15 can be found in the northwest at different points in time during the year! Many owls are nocturnal although there are a few exceptions and hunt at night.
Here are some of the owls that call the Pacific Northwest home:. It often finds a home in places like parks, open woodlands, and agricultural areas, as its diet consists of other animals like mice, rats, rabbits, hawks, and snakes! These owls are speckled birds that are only slightly smaller than the Great Horned Owls. Their markings, in my opinion, make them look similar to tree bark!
This makes it easier for the owls to blend in, as they prefer dense and thick woods and swampy areas. In the Northwest, they can be found in woods with mature coniferous trees. Membership benefits include one year of Audubon magazine and the latest on birds and their habitats.
Your support helps secure a future for birds at risk. Our email newsletter shares the latest programs and initiatives. By Purbita Saha October 16, Great Horned Owl Latin: Bubo virginianus. Eastern Screech-Owl Latin: Megascops asio. Get Audubon in Your Inbox Let us send you the latest in bird and conservation news. Email address. Find Audubon Near You Visit your local Audubon center, join a chapter, or help save birds with your state program.
Depending on the species, adult owls hoot, screech, or whistle. More than a dozen species of owls live in Washington. This chapter focuses on the great horned owl Bubo virginianus Fig. However, except where noted, information about this species applies to most other owls. Some owls are uncommon or unlikely to be seen on your property due to their habitat preferences. These include the great gray owl mountains , burrowing owl shrub-steppe areas , and the threatened spotted owl old-growth forests.
The following owl species are seen or heard around wooded rural properties, agricultural areas, and large urban parks. The great horned owl stands 20 inches tall and has a inch wingspan. It is dark brown with black spots above; the underparts are pale brown with heavy, dark brown bars.
Some subspecies are paler. All have large yellow eyes. The barred owl Strix varia Fig. The barring pattern on the neck and breast is crosswise and lengthwise on the belly. The barred owl is primarily a bird of eastern and northern U.
The barred owl is distinguished from the spotted owl Strix occidentalis by its streaked belly spotted owls have a combination of spots and bars. Barred and spotted owls are closely related and occasionally mate where their ranges overlap.
The barn owl Tyto alba Fig. It has a inch wingspan, and its long legs give it a height of up to 20 inches. The barn owl has a preference for rats and other rodents and earned its name by readily nesting in barns, silos, and sheds. The Western screech owl Otus kennicottii is a small owl, with a height of 10 inches and a inch wingspan. Adults are dark brown or gray with small ear-tufts. A year-round resident throughout Washington, it nests in tree cavities, including old woodpecker holes, but will also use nest boxes.
Screech owls favor areas near water, and eat rodents, small birds, and large insects, as well as the occasional fish, crayfish, or amphibian. The Northern saw-whet owl Aegolius acadicus is 8 inches tall with an inch wingspan.
It has dark brown plumage, brown and white vertical breast streaks, and no ear-tufts. This seemingly tame, fearless little owl moves from higher elevations to valleys in winter. Like the screech owl, it nests in tree cavities and will use a nest box. It prefers dense coniferous and broad-leaved forests next to water. It eats small mammals, including shrews and mice, and will also catch small birds and bats.
The Northern Pygmy-owl Glaucidium gnoma is our smallest owl, at 7 inches tall, including its long tail. Because of its size, long tail, proportionally small head, and daytime hunting behavior, the Pygmy-owl is often misidentified or overlooked as just another brown bird in the brush. Watch for it near your winter feeder, where this fearless hunter may attempt to take small birds or mammals.
It has sharply streaked undersides, but the most telling marks are the black patches on the back of its head that mimic eyes to deceive predators.
Visual encounters with owls are relatively rare, because they spend most of the day perched high in trees, inside tree cavities, or in nest boxes. Due to its size, the Northern pygmy-owl almost always goes undetected. The screech owl camouflages itself by stretching tall, holding its wings close to its back, and appearing to be a dead stub on a tree branch. You are more likely to hear an owl than to see it.
If you remain quiet, you can sometimes spot a calling owl with your flashlight. Make every effort not to disturb an owl during its late winter to spring nesting season, a critical time in its yearly cycle.
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