New York State is home to a diverse array of owl species. These nocturnal birds inhabit areas from dense forests to open fields and even suburban environments. Their secretive nature often makes them challenging to spot, yet their distinctive calls are a common sound in the night.
Common Owl Species Found
Several common owl species reside in New York, each with unique characteristics. The Great Horned Owl, a large and widespread species, is identifiable by prominent ear tufts and varying shades of brown plumage. They produce a series of deep hoots. The Barred Owl is recognized by round head, dark eyes, and white underside with brown stripes. Its distinct call sounds like “who cooks for you, who cooks for you all.”
The Eastern Screech-Owl is a smaller owl, typically gray or reddish-brown, with short ear tufts and yellow eyes. Despite its name, it does not screech, instead emitting trilling or whinnying sounds. Barn Owls, less common but present, have a distinctive heart-shaped face, light undersides, and an orangey-tan and gray back. Their call is a harsh scream.
New York also hosts the Northern Saw-whet Owl, one of the smallest owls, identifiable by round head, large yellow eyes, and speckled brown plumage with white streaking. They are named for their call, which resembles a saw being sharpened on a whetstone. Long-eared Owls are slender with long ear tufts and vertical streaks, found in coniferous woodlands. Short-eared Owls have small ear tufts, round beige facial disks, and a moth-like flight pattern. Snowy Owls are large, mostly white with yellow eyes, seen in open areas like fields or beaches.
Habitats and Observing Owls
Owls in New York inhabit a variety of environments, from dense woodlands to open grasslands and even suburban parks. Great Horned Owls thrive in diverse habitats, including forests, agricultural fields, and urban areas. Barred Owls prefer deciduous and coniferous forests and can be found in city parks like Central Park. Eastern Screech-Owls roost in tree cavities within mixed woods, open areas, and suburban settings.
Short-eared Owls are found in open prairies and grasslands, flying low over the landscape. These owls are active during dawn and dusk, making them easier to spot. Snowy Owls, as winter visitors, prefer open areas similar to their Arctic tundra home, such as fields, marshes, beaches, and airports.
When observing owls, maintain a respectful distance to avoid disturbing them. Using binoculars or a telephoto lens allows clear viewing without getting too close. Avoid entering an owl’s hunting area and keep noise to a minimum. Flash photography should be avoided, especially after dark, as it can stress the birds. If an owl frequently looks at you, it indicates you are too close and should move away.
General Owl Behaviors
Owls are primarily nocturnal, active mostly at night. This allows them to avoid competition with daytime predators and hunt prey active in darkness. Some species are crepuscular, active during twilight hours, or even diurnal, hunting during the day, such as the Short-eared Owl and Snowy Owl.
Owls are known for their silent flight. Their large wings relative to body mass enable slow, gliding flight with minimal flapping. The leading edges of their primary feathers have serrations that break up air turbulence, while a velvety texture and soft fringe on trailing feathers absorb sound. This silent approach allows them to surprise prey and simultaneously helps them hear the faint sounds of their targets.
Owls possess exceptional hearing, further enhanced by their facial disc, a concave arrangement of feathers around their eyes funneling sound to their ears. Many species have asymmetrical ear placement, with one ear higher than the other, which helps them pinpoint sound locations in both horizontal and vertical planes. Additionally, owls can rotate their heads up to 270 degrees in either direction. This head rotation compensates for their fixed, tubular eyes, allowing a wide field of vision without moving their bodies. Their diet consists primarily of insects, small rodents, and other small mammals; some larger species may hunt birds or fish.