Arizona’s varied landscape, including arid Sonoran Desert scrub, high-elevation coniferous forests, and vital riparian corridors, creates a remarkably diverse habitat for owls. The state hosts over a dozen species, ranging from the largest North American owls to the smallest in the world. This high concentration provides year-round opportunities to encounter these elusive nocturnal raptors.
Widespread and Larger Owl Species
The Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) is the most commonly encountered owl in the state and the largest, standing up to 25 inches tall with prominent feathered ear tufts. This powerful predator is highly adaptable, thriving across nearly every Arizona habitat, from mountain ranges to suburban parks and saguaro deserts. Its characteristic deep, rhythmic series of five or six hoots marks its territory year-round.
The Barn Owl (Tyto alba) is another widespread species, easily recognized by its pale plumage and distinctive heart-shaped facial disk. Unlike the Great Horned Owl’s hoot, the Barn Owl’s vocalization is a series of harsh, rasping screeches, earning it the nickname “ghost owl.” These owls frequently hunt low over grasslands and agricultural fields at dusk, relying on exceptional hearing to locate rodents. They often nest in cavities like old silos, abandoned buildings, or the crowns of untrimmed palm trees in urban areas.
The Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) is a unique ground-dwelling species active during the day, particularly in the morning and evening. This small, long-legged owl, about eight inches tall, lacks ear tufts and prefers open, treeless areas such as grasslands and agricultural fields. It nests in abandoned burrows dug by prairie dogs, ground squirrels, or tortoises, sometimes using artificial burrows provided by conservation efforts.
Unique Desert and Mountain Dwelling Owls
Arizona is home to several specialized owls, including the Elf Owl (Micrathene whitneyi), the world’s smallest owl, measuring 5 to 6 inches tall. This tiny, insectivorous raptor is a summer resident of the Sonoran Desert, migrating to Mexico for the winter when insect prey becomes scarce. Elf Owls are secondary cavity-nesters, relying on woodpecker holes in large saguaro cacti or riparian trees like sycamores.
The Western Screech Owl (Megascops kennicottii) is a small, mottled gray or brown owl found in diverse habitats from mesquite washes to suburban canyons. It is best identified by its call, a series of accelerating whistles often compared to a bouncing ball coming to rest. This year-round resident utilizes natural tree cavities or abandoned woodpecker holes for nesting.
The secretive Flammulated Owl (Psiloscops flammeolus) lives in the high-elevation conifer forests of the Mogollon Rim and White Mountains. This small, migratory owl, about six inches in length, is one of the few North American owls with dark eyes. It is almost exclusively insectivorous, feeding on moths and beetles, and breeds in mature ponderosa pine forests, nesting in old woodpecker cavities.
The Ferruginous Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium brasilianum cactorum) is a small, day-active owl found in the desert scrub and riparian areas of southern Arizona. This species hunts a variety of prey, including reptiles and birds, and its presence is often tied to large saguaro cacti and mesquite woodlands. Its territorial call is a series of short, repeated whistles.
Identifying Owls by Call and Sign
Because owls are primarily active at night, their presence is most often confirmed through vocalizations, which are unique to each species. Owls use a variety of sounds, including hoots, whistles, and screeches, for territorial defense and communication. Great Horned Owls produce low-frequency hoots, capable of traveling long distances through dense environments.
Smaller species, such as the Western Screech Owl, often use whistles that accelerate or descend, while Barn Owls emit high-pitched, piercing screeches. Optimal observation times are the two hours following sunset and the two hours preceding sunrise, when nocturnal activity peaks. Listening for these distinct calls in riparian corridors, which offer dense cover and water sources, can be an effective technique.
Physical evidence can confirm an owl’s presence, even when the bird is not seen. Owls regurgitate indigestible portions of their prey, such as bones, fur, or insect exoskeletons, in compact masses known as pellets. These pellets are typically found beneath a favored roosting spot, often a tree or rocky overhang. The composition of the pellet provides specific insight into the owl’s diet.
Another sign is “whitewash,” the white, chalky droppings that accumulate beneath a roost. Finding fresh pellets and whitewash on the ground or on tree limbs indicates an active owl roost site. When searching for these signs, it is important to distinguish owl pellets, which contain bone and are rounded on the ends, from the tapered scat of mammals. Burrowing Owls, uniquely, often line their burrow entrances with animal dung to attract insects they can prey upon.