Owls are captivating birds of prey, but their nocturnal habits and exceptional camouflage often make direct identification challenging. Successfully identifying an owl requires looking beyond a simple glimpse, relying instead on a combination of physical features, distinct calls, and environmental context. This guide provides practical methods for identifying these elusive birds using visual characteristics, auditory signatures, and behavioral patterns.
Identifying Owls by Visual Characteristics
A visual sighting, however fleeting, offers several immediate clues for species identification, beginning with the owl’s overall size and body shape. Some owls, like the Barn Owl, appear slender with relatively long legs, while others, such as the Tawny Owl, present a much more compact, stout body and a noticeably rounded head. Size comparisons to common objects, such as a robin or a duck, can help quickly narrow down the possibilities.
The facial disc is another defining feature, acting like a satellite dish to funnel sound to the owl’s ears, and its shape varies significantly between species. The Barn Owl is instantly recognizable by its pale, distinct heart-shaped face, a feature unique among North American and European owls. By contrast, “true owls” often have a more rounded facial disc that may be plain or outlined by a dark border.
The presence and appearance of feather tufts, frequently mistaken for external ears, are also reliable identifiers. These tufts are simply decorative feathers that can be raised or lowered and are prominent on species like the Great Horned Owl and Long-eared Owl. The Long-eared Owl has particularly long and obvious tufts, whereas the Short-eared Owl’s tufts are small and often indiscernible.
Eye color offers a hint about the owl’s activity pattern: dark eyes often indicate strictly nocturnal habits, orange eyes suggest activity around dawn and dusk (crepuscular), and yellow eyes frequently belong to owls active during the day (diurnal). The cryptic plumage, which allows the owl to blend into its surroundings, also features species-specific patterns. For example, a heavily streaked breast helps distinguish a Long-eared Owl from the mottled or barred patterns of other forest-dwelling species.
Recognizing Owls Through Vocalizations
Since most owls are far more often heard than seen, their vocalizations provide the most common and reliable method for identification. The classic hoot is not universal, and the specific pitch, rhythm, and number of notes form a signature unique to each species. The Barred Owl, a common forest resident, delivers a distinct, eight-to-nine-hoot call often translated as “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?” Conversely, the Great Horned Owl’s call is a deeper, more gravelly series of four to five hoots, sometimes described as a muffled foghorn.
Owls employ a wide range of non-hooting calls that aid in identification. The Barn Owl does not hoot, instead communicating with eerie hisses, snores, and piercing screeches. The diminutive Eastern Screech-Owl has two main calls: an even-pitched, tremolo trill and a shrill, descending whinny. Understanding the context of the call is helpful; male owls often use louder hoots to establish territory, while softer hoots or trills are used between mates. Note that the high-pitched, raspy begging calls of juveniles can sometimes be mistaken for the adult vocalizations of smaller species.
Contextual Clues: Habitat and Activity Patterns
The environment where an owl is encountered provides a powerful layer of identification, as most species exhibit strong habitat preferences. For instance, the Barred Owl and Tawny Owl are primarily found in dense, mature forests. Conversely, the Short-eared Owl and Barn Owl typically hunt over vast, open areas like grasslands, marshes, or agricultural fields. Some species, such as the Burrowing Owl, are unique in that they live and nest underground in abandoned rodent burrows in open, arid landscapes.
Activity patterns also narrow down possibilities, challenging the notion that all owls are strictly nocturnal. While the Great Horned Owl and Barn Owl are generally active only after dark, other species are crepuscular, hunting most intensely during dawn and dusk. A few species, including the Snowy Owl and the Northern Hawk Owl, are notably diurnal and can be seen hunting throughout the day. Knowing the geographic range helps filter the list of possible species, as certain owls are confined to specific continents. Observing perching habits offers a clue, as most woodland owls hunt from low branches, whereas open-country owls often quarter low over the ground.