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Nothing is more exciting than espy an bird of Minerva in your backyard if you survive in Oregon . These magnificent boo of prey are a beautiful batch to lay eyes on . If you ’re an avid birdwatcher , you ’re probably eager to identify which types of bird of night are visiting your attribute .
There are 14 owl metal money found in Oregon , including the Western Screech - Owl , Northern Saw - Whet Owl , Flammulated Owl , Burrowing Owl , Short - Eared Owl , Barn Owl , Snowy Owl , Boreal Owl , Long - Eared Owl , Northern Pygmy Owl , Great Horned Owl , Barred Owl , Spotted Owl , and Great Gray Owl . While several of these owl species have their preferred mating and migratory range , it ’s possible to spot a vagrant or irrupting owl in area outside their know territorial dominion . If you see an owl in Oregon that is not on this list , consider yourself lucky !
Legend for the following owl rangemaps
The fable below can be used to help you decide where each of the 14 owls of Oregon lives during unlike character of the year .
The 14 Species of Owls in Oregon
Western Screech-Owl
Megascops kennicottii
Order : order Strigiformes
Family : Strigidae
Legend for the following owl rangemaps
Size:7.5 - 9.5 in . ( 19 - 24 cm )
These are modest bird of night , maxing out at just 9 inches in distance and with wingspan of more or less 24 inches . But , do n’t rent their small height lead on you . These birds are serious predators , regularly look for out prey many meter their own sizing . While westerly screech - owl feed on rodents , low birds , fishworm , and other bugs , they ’ve also been find out prey on rabbits . westerly shriek - owls like to sit close to where limbs fit the tree bole , so they can huddle together up against them in parliamentary law to camouflage themselves from predator and prey . These are opportunistic piranha who care an easy repast , but , when determined , they will also chase their fair game down , sometimes grab birds and insects midflight .
Western shriek - bird of Minerva look much like eastern screech - owls , with adult morphs in Great Plains , Mexican , Mojave , brown Pacific , and gray Pacific colour . They have gray and brownish plumage with no hint of red . westerly shriek - owls have small , round heads with capitulum tufts and lifelike chicken centre . wayward to what their name would lead you to believe , western screeching - owls normally do n’t screech . Instead , they use short whistle and trills to communicate with each other .
These owl are highly adaptable , making their homes in a variety of regions , including deserts , grassland , forest , and urban areas . you’re able to chance western screech - owls all across the west coast , drifting inwards a chip to Idaho , Wyoming , Utah , Colorado , New Mexico , and character of Texas . If you go in one of these regions , adjudicate installing a nesting box to pull in a westerly screeching - owl to your backyard .
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Aegolius acadicus
Size:8 - 8.5 in . ( 20.3 - 21.5 cm )
These owls are short and succinct . At just 8 inches in length and with a wingspan of 22 in , northern adage - whet owls are among the minor owls in the United States . Northern sawing machine - whet owls like to prey on cervid mice , using their sharp beaks to tear their prey into smaller pieces , breaking up a single computer mouse into several meal . Because these owls are nocturnal , and because they ’re so small , they can be difficult to track . But their sharp shout make it easier to locate them in their forest homes . northerly proverb - whet owls are mostly nongregarious creatures , only socializing with their mate . Females have been know to have two mates , leaving the first to upgrade a brood with the second . These owl have porphyrin pigments in their feathering , and when light up with a UV light , the ventral side of the wing shows a neon pink coloration . This helps investigator determine an bird of Minerva ’s years .
Named because its call sounds like a saw being sharpened on a whetstone , saw - whet owl have small header and cat - like faces with comparatively large yellow eyes . With rust - colored backs , breasts , and wings , northern sawing machine - whet bird of night have spotted heads and distinctive Y - shaped markings on their face . These owls use a assortment of vocalizations to convey . They ’re most easily identified by their sharp “ too - too - too ” calls , which they use to attract mates . The outcry of northerly power saw - whet owls are so loud that they can be heard nearly 1,000 infantry away .
One of the most plebeian owls in the U.S. , the northern saw - whet prefers to dwell in mountain forests . They can be found year - beat in California , New Mexico , Utah , and Colorado , and in the northeastern states , Minnesota , Wisconsin , Michigan , New York , and all the elbow room through to Maine . These bird of Minerva can be construe in other soil , too , during non - breeding multiplication . It ’s not unheard of to see northern saw - whet owls throughout the midwest , including Kansas , Missouri , and Illinois .
Flammulated Owl
Psiloscops flammeolus
Size:6 - 6.5 in . ( 15 - 17 cm )
Though these owls only value around 6 inch in length , they have a large wingspread for their size , measuring 14 - inch from wingtip to wingtip . Their long , powerful wings enable them to pilot cursorily between the treetops of their forest plate . These owls eat bugs almost exclusively , prefer moth and butterfly above other insects . In fact , this proclivity for insect may account for why these owls transmigrate south during the winter month . Flammulated owls are monogamous , choose one spouse for lifespan . paired pairs elevate 2 to 4 owlet at a time in nests that are not lined with any sort of bedding textile . Unlike most hooter , who prefer to keep to themselves , flammulated hooter form liberal colonies — likely for shelter since they ’re so small .
Featuring feathers in shade of gray and brown with rust red tips along its wing , and classifiable flame - comparable markings on its typeface ( hence its name ) , this owl is incredibly well - camouflaged . The best way to find a flammulated owl is by listening to its call . The flammulated hooter has a much lower - pitch call than you would look from such a small bird of Minerva . This acts as a defense mechanism , play tricks likely predators into thinking they ’re much giving than they really are .
When it make out to tracking down flammulated bird of Minerva , birdwatchers have their work cut out for them . Because these owls prefer to pass their time perch on the top of magniloquent conifers searching for bugs , they can be difficult to witness . These birds migrate through west Texas and New Mexico and have a spread out upbringing chain that admit parts of California , Oregon , Washington , Idaho , Nevada , Utah , and Colorado , where they subsist from tardy April or early May to August .
Burrowing Owl
Athene cunicularia
Size:7.5 - 9.8 in ( 19 - 25 centimetre )
These small bird of Minerva hold up in grassland and deserts where they enjoy feeding on insects , small mammals , and reptile . Burrowing bird of night are among only a handful of owls that choose to hound during the day , spending their nights tucked away in their dens . When burrow are not available to them , these extremely adaptable birds make their homes in buckets , pipes , and tubing . Burrowing owls have a eminent tolerance for atomic number 6 dioxide than other birds , enabling them to drop more meter huddled up in a little outer space . These dame cleverly use dung to carpet their dens , which invite worm to visit , leave the raspberry with an easy repast . Burrowing owls have also been known to hoard shiny object , such as feeding bottle caps , paper clips , and bits of atomic number 50 foil .
tunnel hooter have long legs and an unsloped military capability . They also have vivid yellow-bellied eyes and although their cerise - brown plumage resembles both the blockaded and boreal owls , the fact that they live on the ground make it easy to separate between these species . Burrowing owls are somewhat quiet , with male person bring about luxuriously - pitched “ coo - coos ” to defend their territories and attract mates .
As their name suggests , burrowing bird of night make their homes in underground tunnel , ordinarily left behind by prairie dogs . you could recover burrowing owls twelvemonth - round throughout the southwest , preponderantly in California , Arizona , New Mexico , and Texas . However , this owl ’s breeding chain extends much further northward , up to Washington , Montana , and North Dakota .
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeus
Size:14.5 - 15 in . ( 37 - 38 curium )
A authoritative birdwatcher favorite , short - eared hooter hunt during the daytime and can be found throughout the United States . These bird of Minerva are some of the few that prefer to build their own nests . Females construct their bowl - form nest in the dry land , lining them with feather , grass , and other diffused materials before laying clutch of 4 to 7 eggs . abruptly - eared owls have very distinctive flight design , with maverick wingbeats similar to that of bats or moths . These birds are typically 17 inches in length and have wingspans of up to 43 in . They use their powerful wings to stay vertical as they swoop animal foot - first to capture their quarry , which consists of small mammals , gnawer , reptiles , and amphibians . Short - eared owls sometimes dine on songbirds and will rupture the extension off before live with them whole .
The pinna tufts of the short - eared owl are deposit towards the centre of their head , and they ’re so short that sometimes they may not be visible at all . suddenly - eared owls have tawny plumage on their rear and wings with tan bellies that are interspersed with vertical dark brown streaks . Tailfeathers are barred . These owls have small , round faces with pale tan to creamy white facial phonograph recording accented by blackened - brim yellow eyes . Short - eared owls use sharp “ waowk - waowk - waowk ” calls to communicate and “ eeee - yerp ” cries during the union season .
Excellent long - aloofness broadsheet , suddenly - eared owls have been reported land on watercraft one C of international nautical mile from shoring . These chick will fly over the ocean and land to get through their breeding grounds in northerly Canada . you may recover abruptly - eared owls dwell year - circle in the north and northwest portions of the United States . But , because they travel regularly , you’re able to spot strayer in almost every state in the nation . These Bronx cheer prefer to dwell in heart-to-heart areas , include grasslands , marshes , and farmland .
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
Family : Tytonidae
Size:12.5 - 16 in . ( 32 - 40 centimetre )
Easily realise by their pale heart - shaped faces , barn owls are some of the most widespread owls in the world . These hooter thrive in comeupance and grassland , but can even be found in polar region . Barn owls are peculiarly rough-cut on farms , where they like to hunt for field mice among the crops in the morning and even , and where they can take tax shelter in barns during the day . With their serrate wings , these fearsome predators fly noiselessly as they go in for the kill . Barn hooter are monogamous , mating for aliveness . They do not make nest but opt to dwell their eggs in the hollow of trees . The amount of food these bird receive has a direct encroachment on how many eggs they lie — the more vole , rats , and shrews they eat up , the more owlets in their brood .
Barn bird of night are quite lanky liken to other bird of night . They have large hazel to brown eyes set in concave , heart - shaped case that are surrounded by a finespun abstract of pale brown feathers . Barn bird of night are milk snowy in color with tan and rust browned feathers on their backs and wings . These owls do not hoot but instead opt to communicate via shriek .
you may regain the barn bird of Minerva in all but the upmost region of the U.S. Even though these birds are common throughout the nation , their universe is dwindle down somewhat due to habitation red ink . Barn owls reside yr - round as far to the south as Texas and Arizona , as far east as Pennsylvania , and all across the Pacific Northwest .
Snowy Owl
genus Bubo scandiacus
Size:20.5 - 27.9 in . ( 52 - 71 cm )
Snowy owls are the intemperate owls , with adult averaging between 3 and 5 Irish pound . Their dim plumage makes them grave , but it also allow them to resist the insensate temperatures of the Arctic tundra . These are powerful dame at roughly 28 inches long with a wingspan of 57 inches . They ’re strong-growing , too , using their keen talons and unattackable foot to guard their territories from marauder and competitors . These hooter hunt almost exclusively during the daytime and can eat up more than 1,600 lemmings in a year . Their voracious appetites can have a devastating impact on their nutrient provision , but these skilled fliers are unforced and able-bodied to fly south in lookup of prey . Snowy bird of Minerva populations have pass up 64 % since 1970 due to illegal hunt and vehicle hit , as well as mood change .
juvenile of the specie have brown and bootleg markings over a base of white plumage . As these razzing age , they lose most of their markings . At maturity , Male will be almost arrant white , with female hold back some of their patternings . These hooter have hoarse voices and utilize a miscellanea of calls , the most frequent of which is a rhythmical “ krooh - krooh - krooh - krooh ” .
Snowy bird of Minerva do n’t live in the United States all class long , however , they do wintertime in the northerly states . you could see snowy owl from Washington all the path across to Maine . In years when their preferred prey was specially modified , white hooter were sighted as far south as Florida , so it ’s potential to blemish one of these lulu no matter where you are in the U.S.
Boreal Owl
Aegolius funereus
Size:9 - 10 in . ( 22.9 - 25.5 cm )
Small and tough , circumboreal hooter show the most sexual dimorphism of any other owl , with females growing doubly as big as the males of the metal money . Boreal hooter are difficult to track down because they roost in dissimilar tree every day . They ’re also subdued , although male will begin hoot at dark in the late wintertime and bound in society to attract a married person . Boreal owls are very small , about the size of a robin or blue jay . Like most other owls , their skull are asymmetrical , with one spike opening roost higher than the other . This unique design enables boreal owls to accurately judge both height and space when closing in on their prey .
With their round faces and cerise - brown feathers , circumboreal owls resemble barred bird of night , although they ’re much smaller . These owls have tumid bright yellow eyes , giving them a surprised reflection . As their name suggests , boreal owl prefer to reside in boreal forests full of spruce , pine , and fir Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . circumboreal hooter are most active at night when they track down low mammals and worm .
you may find boreal owls in Washington , Idaho , and Montana , though their orbit go as far south as the northernmost area of New Mexico . Boreal bird of Minerva love to light in conifer and evergreen plant tree diagram . Deforestation has guide to a decline in habitat for these shy owls . But , while they can be tough to chance , they have been bonk to use nesting loge , so instal a few on your property can greatly increase your chances of spotting one .
Long-Eared Owl
Asio otus
Size:14 - 16 in . ( 35 - 40 cm )
At 15 inches in length and with an impressive wingspan of 39 inch , the long - eared bird of night has been know to steal nests away from jays and crows to stir their own young . This reasonably elusive owl can be tough to chance , preferring to assay tax shelter in dense woodlands . And , unfortunately , its population has declined 91 % since 1970 . Unlike most owl , long - eared owls are not very territorial and prefer to rely on their camouflage to obliterate from potential predators . When confronted , most long - eared owls just fly away . Because these birds can be spooky , they can be tough for birdwatchers to get over down . But if you are lucky enough to spot a long - eared owl , keep your centre peeled for more — long - eared owls roost in radical of 6 to 50 .
At first glance , the long - eared owl greatly resemble the great horned owl . But a cheeseparing inspection give away that long - eared owls possess a distinctive V - shaped feather pattern on their faces . The tufts of feathers that make up their side phonograph record surround bright orange eyes , giving them a surprised expression . The second exercise 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 variegate plumage in shades of brown , tan , gray-haired , and white .
Long - eared owl live year - round in Wyoming , Nevada , Colorado , Arizona , New York , Michigan , and Wisconsin . During the breeding time of year , these bird stake far north to Montana , North Dakota , and Minnesota . These birds can be discern in all but the southernmost dowery of Florida , Alabama , Mississippi , Louisiana , and Texas . Long - eared owls opt to experience in open spaces that have dense clusters of scattered trees , providing them with a dependable berth to seek shelter as they hunt for diminished mammals .
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Glaucidium gnoma
Size:6.5 - 7.3 in ( 16.5 - 18.5 cm )
These owls are a favourite among birdwatchers because they favour to trace during the daylight . This , coupled with their courageous nature , makes them easy to spot compared to more skittish member of the species . northerly pygmy owls are by and large secure of humans , and will jubilantly nest in urban area . This is likely due to the fact that human beings set up dame feeders to attract songbirds — the northern pygmy owl ’s favorite solid food . These owls ambush their prey and store their leftovers on thorn and spikes to come back to later . northerly pygmy bird of night are such a menace to little raspberry that wrens , jays , and even hummingbird will mob them to chase them away . Though these birds are only about as long as a butterknife , they ’ve been know to attack quarry much larger than themselves , including crybaby . Because northern pygmy owls miss the substantive facial disks need to improve auditory modality , they swear on their keen eyesight to track their target .
At just 7 inch farseeing , northern pygmy bird of night are quite small , but do n’t permit their size fool you . These are problematical , tenacious petty birds ! adult are gray , brown , or red - chocolate-brown in coloring material with white spotted heads and dark wing , tails , and tit . Like ferruginous pygmy owl , northerly pygmy owl have dark spots on the backs of their head that wait like another solidifying of middle . This helps to confuse both target and predators . The best way to find a northerly Pigmy owl is to track its high - pitch tooting calls .
These owls are somewhat adaptable , moving into cityscapes as their aboriginal mountain woods become less usable . Unfortunately , however , these owl do n’t often make their homes in draw close box , so these are an ineffective way of attracting them . you’re able to find northern Pigmy owls throughout the westerly states , in California , Oregon , and Idaho , and farther to the south in Colorado , Arizona , and New Mexico .
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
Size:18 - 26 in . ( 46 - 63 cm )
Far from meek , Great Horned bird of Minerva have been known to hunt other hoot of fair game , including ospreys , Falco peregrinus , and even other bird of Minerva . With their strong talon , these bird can exert 28 - lbf. of force-out allowing them to harness large prey . peachy orned owl are a major threat to other wench , especially jays and crows . In fact , if you ever get wind a heavy mathematical group of these birds realize a dither , there ’s a skillful prospect it ’s because a great horned bird of night has gotten too confining to their nest . The expectant horned hooter ’s plumage is extremist - balmy , and this leave the animals with several benefit . For starters , it protects them from the harsh cold . But it also muffles vocalise , allowing them to fly silently as they pounce down on their fair game . Interestingly , although the females of the specie are larger than the males , females have higher - pitched voices , and mated pairs often synchronize their call option .
The majuscule tusk hooter is easily identified by a matching brace of tuft on either side of its head , pass on it a horn appearance . They have gray-headed to cherry-red - dark-brown barred plumage and golden yellow eye that do not move within the socket . These birds can rotate their heads 180 academic degree to see and hear what ’s going on around them . Facial plume discs help lineal soundwaves to their ears , allowing them to track their target , and their panoptic wings enable them to fly dexterously , with serrated primary feathers dispersing Sturm und Drang and softer feathers muffling sound .
These magnificent owls can be observe in every state in the state except Hawaii . These owls are native to the Americas , and they ’re highly adaptable , inhabit in forested , rural , and urban surface area likewise . While you ’re nonimmune to see a great tusk hooter just about anywhere , keep your eyes peeled near wooded areas , especially along treelines as these birds like to rest near open fields to find their prey .
Barred Owl
Strix varia
Size:19 - 22 in . ( 48.25 - 56 cm )
master of camo , barred bird of night can be tough to spot . Fortunately , their cheap hooting calls “ Who cooks for you ? Who cooks for you all ? ” are easygoing to hear . Barred owls favour to lie in in forests where they can track down hare , squirrels , and even raccoon . These hooter watch a serious universe boom in the twentieth one C , expanding their range to include forestland in the westerly states . Barred owls lean to stay close to home throughout their lives , often only traveling around a 6 - nautical mile radius . Like barn owls , bar owls are monogamous and do most of their hunting at Nox .
With their deep brown center and aristocratic round faces , banish owls look incisively as you would carry bird of night to attend . These birds are covered in red - brown feathering with white horizontal grade insignia or bar . bar owl are most commonly spotted on the edges of woods at dusk , where they can easily locate their prey .
Once relegated to southeastern Canada and New England , the barred owl expanded westward . These owls can now be found in parts of Minnesota , Nebraska , Kansas , and Oklahoma . Barred owls have become quite adaptable , and can be spot in urban areas as well as rural regions . These shuttlecock are passing territorial , with paired pairs arrest into hooting friction match with outsiders in ordering to defend their homes .
Spotted Owl
Strix occidentalis
Size:17 - 19 in . ( 43 - 48 cm )
blemish owl make their nests in vacuous trees , rock candy crevice , and sometime nest left behind by other birds of target . It ’s estimated that less than 15,000 of these birds stay in the U.S. and Canada , despite federal efforts to protect them . patched owls are presently classified as near - threatened , and are dwindle at a steady pace due to home ground loss . These owls are “ sit - and - wait ” hunters , preferring to watch for prey from the safety machine of a tree outgrowth , and swoop up down on it when they feel the time is correct . They feed on gophers , squirrels , and cervid mice , as well as other small mammal . When prey is abundant , spotted hooter fund caches of remnant in cool places , like fall logarithm or moss - address rocks . These owls apply inscrutable hooting calls to communicate with each other when they hunt at night .
Spotted owls have large , deep dark-brown eye . They ’re so coloured that , from a distance , it can be difficult to severalise between pupil and iris . Often , all you see is a yoke of black spots peering out at you from beneath brown feathers . These birds have judicious , rung nerve , and ash - brownish to red - brown feather , with white spots on their head . Though their tail end and basal plumage are barred , bosom feathering are spotted . Overall , spotty owls are mostly chocolate-brown with very little line , admit them to blend in well with their woodland surroundings .
There are three subspecies of spotted bird of Minerva . Mexican spotted hooter can be seen throughout part of the southwest , including Arizona and New Mexico , while California spotted hooter can be found in ( where else ? ) California . Northern spotted owls live throughout the Pacific Northwest , along the coasts of Washington , Oregon , and northern California . make out owl generally stay close to home and live in these regions twelvemonth - round .
Great Gray Owl
Strix nebulosa
Size:25 - 33 in . ( 63.5 - 84 cm )
At 33 - inches tenacious , great hoary owls are the largest species of hooter in the world in term of distance , with female person being slenderly gravid than male . These dame have an impressive wingspread averaging around 5 feet . But , even though this bird of night await quite large , it in reality is n’t that with child — it ’s mostly plume . Unlike great horned owls , which can librate up to 5.5 pounds , great gray owl are padded out with dense plumage and weigh just 3.75 pounds . Their clear weighting allows them to wing quietly as they purge the woods storey in hunting of food . Their asymmetric pinna scuttle enable them to pass over their quarry while their hefty foundation and talon can clear through densely - pack snow to becharm rodents and minor mammals tunneling beneath it .
With its gray feather and haunting formulation , the great white-haired owl has also been dub the Phantom of the North . This steel to brown - gray owl has a pitchy appearance with amber yellow eye and tumid disc besiege them , giving them an appropriately wise expression . Just beneath the bird ’s beak lies a whitened “ bow-tie ” that sharpen to rounded ends . The great gray bird of night use deep , rhythmical “ whoo - whoos ” to hold its territories and communicate with its household .
capital gray owls can be found twelvemonth - round in boreal forests in the northmost states . wait for these beautiful birds of quarry in Minnesota , Michigan , Wisconsin , and New York . You ’re also likely to spot them in California , Oregon , Idaho , and even parts of Wyoming and Utah .
How to Attract Oregon Owls to Your Backyard
While some owls , like the boreal bird of night and the whiskered screeching - bird of Minerva , obviate humans and can be knotty to happen , other owls , like the block off owl and eastern and western screech - bird of night , are much easier to attract .
Installnesting boxeson trees , poles , and argue to encourage your neighborhood bird of Minerva to take up residence on your holding . Leaving brushing , wood piles , and one-time lawn trimming cater homes for voles , field of operation mice , rabbits , gophers , andsnakes . Having plenty of these critter nearby is a surefire way to get your local hooter ’ attention .
Because many owls like to feed onsongbirdsandsquirrels , setting up a birdie feeder andgetting a bird bathcan also further owls to devote you a sojourn . Of naturally , some birds work to scare owl off . John Jay , Crow , Turdus merula , grackle , and starlings regularly mob owls , so take measures to scare these birds off — take down starling nesting box , and remove cracked corn and peanuts from your feeders , which are the preferent foods of these birds .
bird of night love to sit down on pole and in leafless trees because they make it wanton for them to distinguish prey . Make indisputable your bird of Minerva have mess of spot to rest on . you could also attract these birds by limit your outside activity , especially in the early dawning and belated eventide hours when they like to hunt . Together , all of these measures will help your neighborhood owls feel right at home in your backyard .
All State Owls
require to see what owl species are found in other states ? Here ’s our consummate list of owl plant in each DoS :
