Ohio’s diverse landscape, featuring expansive farmland, dense riparian forests, and the Lake Erie shoreline, creates a variety of habitats that support a rich population of nocturnal raptors. The state is home to several distinct owl species, some of which are year-round residents and others that are seasonal visitors.
The Four Most Common Year-Round Residents
Ohio hosts four owl species that maintain territories in the state throughout the year. The smallest and most widespread is the Eastern Screech Owl, found in every county and adaptable to suburban woodlots and parks. This tiny raptor occurs in two color variations—reddish-brown or mottled gray—and is best identified by its vocalizations, a quavering trill and a descending whinny.
A larger, more powerful resident is the Great Horned Owl, identifiable by its imposing size and prominent ear tufts. This species is an early nester, often beginning incubation in January or February, utilizing abandoned nests from hawks or crows. Its deep, resonant four- to five-note hooting call is a classic nighttime sound, and it thrives in a mosaic of habitats, including open woodlots and agricultural areas.
The Barred Owl, a medium-sized species without ear tufts and with dark brown eyes, prefers large tracts of mature deciduous forest, particularly in wet areas like wooded swamps. The Barred Owl’s signature call is an eight-note hooting sequence often transcribed as “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?” Unlike many owls, the Barred Owl is often vocal and can be heard calling well before complete darkness.
The fourth year-round resident is the Barn Owl, listed as threatened in Ohio due to habitat loss. This pale, ghost-like owl possesses a distinctive white, heart-shaped face and relies heavily on open grasslands and meadows for hunting meadow voles. Conservation efforts, including specialized nest boxes, have helped stabilize the population, which is concentrated in areas like Holmes and Pike counties.
Seasonal and Irregular Visitors
Several other owl species are not permanent residents but appear in Ohio as wintering birds or irregular migrants. The Northern Saw-whet Owl is the smallest owl in the state, often arriving in the fall and remaining through the winter. These owls are highly nocturnal and prefer to roost in dense conifer thickets, often near water, which provides cover and access to small mammal prey.
The Long-eared Owl is a secretive winter visitor that typically migrates south from its northern breeding grounds in November, with spring migration occurring in March and April. These lanky owls with upright ear tufts are strictly nocturnal and tend to roost communally in dense stands of conifers near open fields where they hunt for voles. The Short-eared Owl is another winter resident, distinct because it is often active and hunts during the day, especially near dawn and dusk. This species prefers open, treeless habitats like large fields, marshes, and grasslands, which mimic the tundra-like conditions they inhabit further north.
The Snowy Owl is the most irregular visitor, appearing in Ohio during “irruption” years, often linked to the boom-and-bust cycle of lemming populations in the Arctic. These massive, white owls are largely diurnal, or active during the day, and are most often sighted along the Lake Erie shoreline. Their presence is unpredictable, with several years sometimes passing between significant irruptions.
Locating and Safely Viewing Ohio Owls
Locating owls involves searching for signs of their presence rather than looking for the birds themselves, which are masters of camouflage. A primary indicator of an owl roost is “whitewash,” a distinct accumulation of droppings beneath a favored perch. Searching for owl pellets—regurgitated masses of indigestible fur, bones, and feathers—underneath dense conifers or in old barns can also pinpoint a regular roosting site.
The best time to locate owls is typically in the late fall and winter when deciduous trees have dropped their leaves, reducing cover. Listening for their calls at night, particularly during the late winter breeding season, is an effective detection method. Many state parks and wildlife areas offer suitable habitat, and cemeteries with mature trees are good locations for finding Great Horned Owls.
Ethical birding practices are paramount to ensure the welfare of these raptors. Maintain a considerable distance, with 100 yards being a safe boundary, and use binoculars or a spotting scope for viewing. If an owl frequently looks directly at the observer, it is a sign that the distance is insufficient and the observer should quietly retreat.
Never use flash photography after dark, and avoid excessive use of call playback, which can cause stress and disrupt hunting or nesting behaviors. If an owl is spotted, its location should be shared with discretion, particularly during the winter when migratory owls may be vulnerable due to fatigue. Avoiding disturbance during the day is the most important rule, as owls need to rest to successfully hunt at night.