Uploaded September 2022 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
10 types of owls
1. Spotted Owl
Spotted owls are exclusively seen in the western forested areas of Texas, and they are getting harder to find. Unfortunately, habitat loss and competition with barred owls contribute to the continued reduction of spotted owl populations. Only mature woodlands in Texas are home to spotted owls. These owls are reported to consume small reptiles, bats, and even small birds (including woodpeckers), in addition to small rodents like voles, mice, and squirrels. These owls grow to about 1.5 feet with a wingspan of 4 feet.
2. Great Horned Owl
Once you learn to recognize the great horned owl, you won’t likely forget it. It’s a stunning bird that typically reaches heights of over 2 feet and weighs over 3.6 pounds (in females). The wingspan of a great horned owl is approximately 4.6 feet long and this owl species is the biggest in Texas and lives there yearly.
3. Eastern Screech-Owl
The eastern screech-owl, which has a similar diminutive height to its western counterpart, is widespread throughout much of the eastern portion of the United States. Except for Texas’s far western borders, this encompasses all of central, southern, and eastern Texas. The screech-owls’ low stature and lack of a neck may make you think of professional wrestlers.
4. Short-eared Owl
Only during the winter can short-eared owls descend into Texas, spending most of the summer in Canada and the northern United States. They are scattered throughout the state but more frequent in northern Texas or the Gulf of Mexico.
5. Long-eared Owl
During the winter, long-eared owls, which migrate, can be seen in some areas of Texas. They can cross through eastern Texas occasionally but are more likely to be spotted in western Texas in places like Amarillo and El Paso. The long feather tufts on its head, sometimes known as its “long ears,” make the long-eared owl most distinctive
6. Northern Saw-whet Owl
It is uncommon, but not impossible, to see a northern saw-whet owl in Texas. The saw-whet owl got its name from one of its most peculiar calls, a scraping noise that sounds like a saw being sharpened. There’s a strong possibility that the little owl you see in Texas is a northern saw-whet owl. This particular type of owl is among the tiniest ones on the planet. They rarely grow larger than 7-8 inches and have light brown faces and dark brown backs with white eyebrows.
7. Barred Owl
The stunning barred owl, which has brown and white stripes, is primarily found in eastern Texas, yet its range also includes Austin and San Antonio. Most of the United States east of the Mississippi, much of Canada, and the Pacific Northwest are all home to barred owls. Their wings, back, and tail have light and dark brown horizontal stripes, hence the name “barred.” They are characterized by round, stocky bodies with short tails and have large, almond-shaped, dark brown eyes that are almost black and sleek on tuftless heads. Small mammals, fish, insects, tiny invertebrates, amphibians, and reptiles are among the foods consumed by barred owls.
8. American Barn Owl
In all seasons, Texas is home to barn owls. They are mostly found in open environments, including grasslands, fields, ranch and agricultural lands, and narrow swaths of forest. The face of a barn owl is shaped like a heart and is sandy in color with a dark brown border. Barn owls, one of the most common owl species, are often called common barn owls. These ominous creatures can be found worldwide, including Europe, Africa, Asia, North, Central, and South America. Barn owls are meat-dependent raptors that consume small birds, rabbits, reptiles, rodents, small foxes, fish, and amphibians.
9. Burrowing Owl
The majority of Texas is home to burrowing owls. They can be seen throughout most western and central Texas, although they are much less frequent in the state’s extreme east. These owls can be found in meadows, fields, pastures, and other areas with holes and subterranean dens since they are active day and night. These cave dens offer a lot of room for gathering food. In case of food scarcity, they have been known to keep hundreds of mice in storage!
Snowy Owl
The snowy owl is an extremely rare bird in Texas and is a native of the arctic tundra. However, they can occasionally appear in the North. Snowy owls can fly as fast as 50 mph and are known to hunt in various habitats, including the tundra, meadows, marshes, and fields.
#owleyes #owlsounds #owls #owltypes #owlbird
10 types of owls
1. Spotted Owl
Spotted owls are exclusively seen in the western forested areas of Texas, and they are getting harder to find. Unfortunately, habitat loss and competition with barred owls contribute to the continued reduction of spotted owl populations. Only mature woodlands in Texas are home to spotted owls. These owls are reported to consume small reptiles, bats, and even small birds (including woodpeckers), in addition to small rodents like voles, mice, and squirrels. These owls grow to about 1.5 feet with a wingspan of 4 feet.
2. Great Horned Owl
Once you learn to recognize the great horned owl, you won’t likely forget it. It’s a stunning bird that typically reaches heights of over 2 feet and weighs over 3.6 pounds (in females). The wingspan of a great horned owl is approximately 4.6 feet long and this owl species is the biggest in Texas and lives there yearly.
3. Eastern Screech-Owl
The eastern screech-owl, which has a similar diminutive height to its western counterpart, is widespread throughout much of the eastern portion of the United States. Except for Texas’s far western borders, this encompasses all of central, southern, and eastern Texas. The screech-owls’ low stature and lack of a neck may make you think of professional wrestlers.
4. Short-eared Owl
Only during the winter can short-eared owls descend into Texas, spending most of the summer in Canada and the northern United States. They are scattered throughout the state but more frequent in northern Texas or the Gulf of Mexico.
5. Long-eared Owl
During the winter, long-eared owls, which migrate, can be seen in some areas of Texas. They can cross through eastern Texas occasionally but are more likely to be spotted in western Texas in places like Amarillo and El Paso. The long feather tufts on its head, sometimes known as its “long ears,” make the long-eared owl most distinctive
6. Northern Saw-whet Owl
It is uncommon, but not impossible, to see a northern saw-whet owl in Texas. The saw-whet owl got its name from one of its most peculiar calls, a scraping noise that sounds like a saw being sharpened. There’s a strong possibility that the little owl you see in Texas is a northern saw-whet owl. This particular type of owl is among the tiniest ones on the planet. They rarely grow larger than 7-8 inches and have light brown faces and dark brown backs with white eyebrows.
7. Barred Owl
The stunning barred owl, which has brown and white stripes, is primarily found in eastern Texas, yet its range also includes Austin and San Antonio. Most of the United States east of the Mississippi, much of Canada, and the Pacific Northwest are all home to barred owls. Their wings, back, and tail have light and dark brown horizontal stripes, hence the name “barred.” They are characterized by round, stocky bodies with short tails and have large, almond-shaped, dark brown eyes that are almost black and sleek on tuftless heads. Small mammals, fish, insects, tiny invertebrates, amphibians, and reptiles are among the foods consumed by barred owls.
8. American Barn Owl
In all seasons, Texas is home to barn owls. They are mostly found in open environments, including grasslands, fields, ranch and agricultural lands, and narrow swaths of forest. The face of a barn owl is shaped like a heart and is sandy in color with a dark brown border. Barn owls, one of the most common owl species, are often called common barn owls. These ominous creatures can be found worldwide, including Europe, Africa, Asia, North, Central, and South America. Barn owls are meat-dependent raptors that consume small birds, rabbits, reptiles, rodents, small foxes, fish, and amphibians.
9. Burrowing Owl
The majority of Texas is home to burrowing owls. They can be seen throughout most western and central Texas, although they are much less frequent in the state’s extreme east. These owls can be found in meadows, fields, pastures, and other areas with holes and subterranean dens since they are active day and night. These cave dens offer a lot of room for gathering food. In case of food scarcity, they have been known to keep hundreds of mice in storage!
Snowy Owl
The snowy owl is an extremely rare bird in Texas and is a native of the arctic tundra. However, they can occasionally appear in the North. Snowy owls can fly as fast as 50 mph and are known to hunt in various habitats, including the tundra, meadows, marshes, and fields.
#owleyes #owlsounds #owls #owltypes #owlbird
