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Nothing is more exciting than spotting an bird of Minerva in your backyard if you inhabit in North Carolina . These magnificent birds of prey are a beautiful sight to behold . If you ’re an avid birdwatcher , you ’re believably eager to identify which types of bird of night are visiting your place .
There are 8 owl species encounter in North Carolina , including the Short - eared Owl , Long Eared Owl , Eastern Screech - Owl , Barn Owl , Great Horned Owl , Barred Owl , Northern Saw - whet Owl , Snowy Owl . While several of these owl species have their preferred mating and migratory ranges , it ’s possible to spot a drifting or explode owl in areas outside their known territories . If you see an hooter in North Carolina that is not on this lean , consider yourself prosperous !
Legend for the following owl rangemaps
The legend below can be used to help you determine where each of the 8 owls of North Carolina lives during different portion of the yr .
The 8 Species of Owls in North Carolina
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeus
Order : Strigiformes
Family : Strigidae
Legend for the following owl rangemaps
Size:14.5 - 15 in . ( 37 - 38 atomic number 96 )
A classic birdwatcher pet , short - eared owls hunt during the daytime and can be found throughout the United States . These owls are some of the few that prefer to build their own nests . Females make their roll - shaped nest in the ground , lining them with feathers , grass , and other mild materials before laying clutches of 4 to 7 eggs . Short - eared owls have very distinctive escape patterns , with maverick wingbeats similar to that of bat or moth . These birds are typically 17 inches in distance and have wingspread of up to 43 inches . They use their powerful wings to stay upright as they swoop feet - first to capture their quarry , which lie in of pocket-sized mammals , rodents , reptiles , and amphibians . Short - eared bird of Minerva sometimes dine on songbird and will shoot the wings off before swallow them whole .
The ear tufts of the unawares - eared owl are situate towards the centre of their heads , and they ’re so short that sometimes they may not be seeable at all . unawares - eared owls have tawny plumage on their backs and wings with tan paunch that are interspersed with erect dark brown streaks . Tailfeathers are barred . These owls have pocket-size , round faces with pale tan to creamy whitened facial disks accented by inglorious - brim yellow eyes . unawares - eared owls use incisive “ waowk - waowk - waowk ” phone to communicate and “ eeee - yerp ” cry during the mating time of year .
Excellent long - aloofness fliers , short - eared owls have been report land on watercraft one C of international mile from shore . These birds will fly over the ocean and land to reach their fosterage grounds in northerly Canada . you may find dead - eared hooter living yr - round in the north and northwestern portions of the United States . But , because they travel on a regular basis , you may spot stragglers in about every nation in the nation . These shuttlecock choose to dwell in open arena , including grassland , marshes , and farmland .
Long-Eared Owl
genus Asio genus Otus
Size:14 - 16 in . ( 35 - 40 atomic number 96 )
At 15 inches in duration and with an telling wingspan of 39 inches , the long - eared bird of night has been recognize to steal nest off from jays and crows to raise their own young . This pretty tough bird of Minerva can be tough to find , choose to essay shelter in dense forest . And , unfortunately , its population has declined 91 % since 1970 . Unlike most owls , long - eared bird of night are not very territorial and prefer to rely on their camouflage to enshroud from potential predators . When confronted , most long - eared owls simply fly away . Because these birds can be skittish , they can be tough for birdwatchers to track down . But if you are lucky enough to spot a long - eared owl , keep your oculus peel off for more — long - eared owls roost in groups of 6 to 50 .
At first glance , the long - eared owl greatly resemble the great tusk bird of night . But a closer inspection divulge that long - eared hooter have a classifiable quintet - shaped feather practice on their faces . The tuft of feathers that make up their face disks fence bright orangish eyes , giving them a surprised construction . The second solidifying of feather tufts seat on top of their heads kick in them their iconic long - eared appearance These are lanky bird that have tan faces with motley plume in shade of brown , tan , gray , and white .
Long - eared hooter live year - round in Wyoming , Nevada , Colorado , Arizona , New York , Michigan , and Wisconsin . During the breeding season , these birds adventure further northerly to Montana , North Dakota , and Minnesota . These birds can be spotted in all but the southernmost portion of Florida , Alabama , Mississippi , Louisiana , and Texas . Long - eared owls favor to inhabit in open space that have dense clusters of scattered tree , allow for them with a safe place to seek tax shelter as they hunt down for small mammals .
Eastern Screech-Owl
Megascops asio
Size:6 - 10 in . ( 16 - 25 cm )
feature 5 race , eastern screech - owls are small birds maxing out at just under 10 - inches in length . These owls are monogamous and less flighty than other owls , frequently exist in nest boxful and even using birdbath to wash away up . easterly screech - owls are typically soft to tell apart because they prey on songbirds during the daytime . This little raptor ’s size proves misleading . These are extremely territorial birds , even from a young historic period . vernal eastern screech - hooter will fight amongst themselves for food , and may even kill the small and weak of their siblings — an act known as siblicide that is usual in birds of prey .
Eastern screaming - owls are short , compact birds with minor heads and square fanny . These owls pass off in grey-headed morphs and reddish ( or rufous ) morphs , with some bird of night exhibiting dark-brown plumage . The color of each eastern screech - owl depends on the type of woods it resides in , as its coloring avail to camouflage it from potential predatory animal . These are very vocal owl that use trill calls to draw in mates and convey with their families . Their classifiable whinny - like screeching are hard to miss !
easterly screech - owls prefer to hold up in forests but are often well-chosen to live in urban areas , too . you’re able to find the easterly screech - owl from Vermont to Montana , in a all-encompassing range broom all the fashion down to Texas and back across the states to Florida . These birds can be found in wooded , rural , and suburban options .
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
Family : Tytonidae
Size:12.5 - 16 in . ( 32 - 40 atomic number 96 )
Easily recognized by their wan heart - shaped faces , barn owls are some of the most widespread bird of Minerva in the world . These owls thrive in comeuppance and grasslands , but can even be found in arctic region . Barn owls are specially mutual on farms , where they like to hunt for champaign mice among the crops in the cockcrow and evening , and where they can take shelter in barn during the daytime . With their serrated wing , these fearsome predators take flight soundlessly as they go in for the putting to death . Barn owls are monogamous , felt for life . They do not build up nest but prefer to lay their eggs in the hollows of tree . The amount of solid food these birds receive has a unmediated impact on how many eggs they lay — the more voles , rats , and shrews they squander , the more owlet in their brood .
Barn bird of night are quite lanky compare to other owls . They have expectant hazel to brown eye coiffure in concave , heart - shaped faces that are hem in by a frail abstract of wan brown feathers . Barn bird of night are Milk River white in colour with tan and rust brown feathering on their backs and wings . These owls do not hoot but instead prefer to communicate via screeches .
you’re able to find the b bird of night in all but the uppermost region of the U.S. Even though these bird are vernacular throughout the state , their universe is dwindling moderately due to home loss . Barn owls rest year - unit of ammunition as far to the south as Texas and Arizona , as far east as Pennsylvania , and all across the Pacific Northwest .
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
Size:18 - 26 in . ( 46 - 63 cm )
Far from meek , Great horn owl have been known to trace other birds of prey , including sea eagle , peregrines , and even other bird of night . With their strong talon , these birds can exert 28 - Cypriot pound of military group allowing them to tackle enceinte fair game . expectant orned owls are a major menace to other birds , especially Jay and crows . In fact , if you ever hear a large group of these hoot making a fuss , there ’s a good chance it ’s because a corking horned owl has gotten too airless to their nest . The swell horned hooter ’s plumage is ultra - soft , and this provides the beast with several benefits . For starters , it protects them from the harsh cold . But it also mute sound , allowing them to pilot silently as they swoop down on their quarry . Interestingly , although the females of the metal money are turgid than the Male , female have higher - peddle voice , and tangle pairs often synchronise their calls .
The keen horned owl is easily identified by a pit twain of tussock on either side of its head , giving it a tusk appearance . They have grey to red - brown barred feather and golden yellow eyes that do not move within the socket . These bird can revolve their heads 180 level to see and hear what ’s proceed on around them . Facial feather discs help unmediated soundwaves to their ears , allowing them to track their quarry , and their wide wings enable them to fly deftly , with serrate primary feathers dispersing Sturm und Drang and softer feathers muffling sound .
These magnificent owls can be found in every commonwealth in the nation except Hawaii . These owls are native to the Americas , and they ’re extremely adaptable , dwell in forested , rural , and urban areas alike . While you ’re nonresistant to see a smashing horned bird of Minerva just about anywhere , keep your optic skin near wooded areas , peculiarly along treelines as these snort like to roost near open fields to find their fair game .
Barred Owl
Strix varia
Size:19 - 22 in . ( 48.25 - 56 centimetre )
master of camouflage , bar owls can be tough to discern . Fortunately , their meretricious hooting calls “ Who cooks for you ? Who make for you all ? ” are well-heeled to hear . Barred owls prefer to dwell in forests where they can track down rabbits , squirrels , and even raccoons . These owls saw a serious universe boom in the 20th hundred , expanding their compass to let in forestland in the western states . block off owls be given to stay close to home throughout their lives , often only travel around a 6 - mile radius . Like barn owl , bar owls are monogamous and do most of their hunting at Nox .
With their deep brown eye and blue-blooded circle face , barred owls face exactly as you would expect owls to calculate . These birds are covered in cherry - browned feathers with snowy horizontal stripes or legal community . Barred owls are most usually spotted on the edges of forest at dusk , where they can easily locate their prey .
Once relegated to southeastern Canada and New England , the barred hooter expanded westward . These owls can now be obtain in part of Minnesota , Nebraska , Kansas , and Oklahoma . Barred hooter have become quite adaptable , and can be spotted in urban surface area as well as rural region . These birds are extremely territorial , with mated pairs become into hooting match with outsiders for defend their homes .
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Aegolius acadicus
Size:8 - 8.5 in . ( 20.3 - 21.5 cm )
These bird of Minerva are short and compact . At just 8 inch in length and with a wingspan of 22 inches , northern saw - whet owls are among the small owls in the United States . northerly saw - whet bird of Minerva like to prey on cervid mice , using their sharp beak to shoot their prey into smaller pieces , breaking up a single black eye into several meal . Because these owls are nocturnal , and because they ’re so modest , they can be unmanageable to track . But their sharp rallying cry make it easier to settle them in their forest homes . northerly saw - whet owl are mostly sole brute , only socialise with their mate . female have been known to have two mates , leaving the first to raise a brood with the 2d . These owl have porphyrin pigment in their plume , and when illuminated with a UV light , the ventral side of the wings shows a atomic number 10 pink color . This helps researchers determine an owl ’s age .
Named because its call sounds like a byword being sharpen on a whetstone , saw - whet hooter have small heads and cat - like faces with comparatively large chickenhearted eyes . With rust - colored backs , breasts , and wings , northern power saw - whet owls have spotted heads and distinctive Y - determine markings on their face . These bird of night use a form of vocalizations to communicate . They ’re most easily key out by their shrill “ too - too - too ” claim , which they utilise to attract mates . The vociferation of northerly saw - whet owl are so loud that they can be hear almost 1,000 feet aside .
One of the most common owls in the U.S. , the northern saw - whet prefers to harp in stack woodland . They can be found year - cycle in California , New Mexico , Utah , and Colorado , and in the northeasterly states , Minnesota , Wisconsin , Michigan , New York , and all the way through to Maine . These owls can be seen in other territory , too , during non - breeding time . It ’s not unheard of to see northerly saw - whet owls throughout the midwest , including Kansas , Missouri , and Illinois .
Snowy Owl
genus Bubo scandiacus
Size:20.5 - 27.9 in . ( 52 - 71 cm )
Snowy hooter are the enceinte owls , with adults average between 3 and 5 pounds . Their heavy plumage makes them weightier , but it also allow them to withstand the cold temperatures of the Arctic tundra . These are powerful birds at roughly 28 inch long with a wingspan of 57 inches . They ’re aggressive , too , using their sharp talons and potent pes to defend their territories from predators and competitors . These owls hunt almost exclusively during the daytime and can run through more than 1,600 lemming in a class . Their voracious appetite can have a devastating impact on their solid food supplying , but these skilled fliers are unforced and capable to fly south in hunt of fair game . Snowy owl population have declined 64 % since 1970 due to illegal hunt and vehicle hit , as well as climate variety .
Juveniles of the species have brownish and bootleg markings over a radix of white plumage . As these dame maturate , they lose most of their markings . At matureness , male person will be almost stark blanched , with female continue some of their patternings . These owls have gruff voices and apply a variety of calls , the most frequent of which is a rhythmical “ krooh - krooh - krooh - krooh ” .
Snowy owls do n’t live in the United States all class long , however , they do winter in the northern nation . you’re able to see snowy owls from Washington all the way across to Maine . In years when their preferred fair game was especially modified , snowy owls were sighted as far south as Florida , so it ’s possible to spot one of these dish no matter where you are in the U.S.
How to Attract North Carolina Owls to Your Backyard
While some bird of Minerva , like the boreal owl and the whiskered screech - owl , fend off humans and can be tough to find , other bird of night , like the barred owl and eastern and western screech - hooter , are much easy to pull .
Installnesting boxeson tree , perch , and fence in to encourage your neighborhood owls to take up abode on your property . leave brush , wood piles , and old lawn trimmings bring home the bacon home for voles , battleground mice , rabbits , gophers , andsnakes . Having plenty of these critter nearby is a surefire way of life to get your local owl ’ attention .
Because many bird of Minerva like to feed onsongbirdsandsquirrels , specify up a bird feeder andgetting a bird bathcan also boost owl to pay you a visit . Of naturally , some razzing work to fright owls off . Jay , gasconade , blackbirds , grackles , and starling regularly mob bird of Minerva , so take measures to scare these raspberry away — take down starling nesting boxes , and polish off crack corn and peanuts from your feeder , which are the preferred foods of these shuttlecock .
Owls make out to sit on poles and in leafless tree because they make it easier for them to spot prey . Make indisputable your owl have spate of patch to light on . you’re able to also attract these birds by set your out-of-door natural process , particularly in the former morning and former eventide hours when they like to hunt . Together , all of these measures will help your neighborhood bird of night feel right at home in your backyard .
All State Owls
need to see what bird of night mintage are found in other states ? Here ’s our complete list of bird of Minerva chance in each state :
