Owls are predatory birds, mostly active at night, belonging to the order Strigiformes, which includes over 220 species globally. They exhibit an incredible range of adaptability, occupying nearly every terrestrial ecosystem on Earth except Antarctica. Their success is rooted in specialized physical adaptations, such as silent flight and acute hearing, which allow them to thrive in diverse environments. The question of where an owl lives depends on the specific habitat niches each species has mastered.
Global Presence and Major Ecosystems
The majority of owl species are found in forested environments, which offer dense cover for daytime roosting and a rich supply of prey. Tropical forests host the highest diversity, with 80% of all owls residing there. These regions provide consistently warm climates and a multi-layered canopy that creates numerous sheltered nesting and hunting territories.
Moving away from the equator, owls inhabit the vast coniferous woods of the Boreal forest and the mixed stands of temperate zones. Species in these northern habitats contend with greater seasonal variation, relying on dense foliage or tree cavities for insulation during colder months. Open, treeless environments, such as the Arctic tundra and expansive grasslands, also support specialized owl populations. Species like the Snowy Owl hunt in low-cover landscapes, often using small mounds or fence posts as perches instead of trees.
Some species have successfully integrated into human-altered landscapes, utilizing urban and suburban areas for shelter and food sources. They take advantage of parks, wooded residential areas, and structural elements of buildings for roosting. This behavioral flexibility allows them to coexist with human populations and contributes to their widespread distribution.
Diverse Nesting Structures and Selection
Most owls do not construct a traditional stick nest from scratch, instead relying on existing structures for raising their young. This behavior saves energy and provides a secure, protected environment for eggs and hatchlings. The specific nesting structure chosen reflects the owl’s size and its habitat.
Cavity Users
Many smaller and medium-sized owls are cavity users, seeking enclosed spaces for maximum protection from weather and predators. These sites include natural hollows in old, large trees, which offer superior insulation and structural integrity. A common alternative is reusing holes excavated by woodpeckers, such as the Northern Flicker or Pileated Woodpecker, which provide a ready-made entrance. These nests are often lined simply with debris already present, or occasionally with shredded fur and pellets from prey.
Platform Users
Larger owl species frequently adopt the substantial stick nests previously built by other raptors or large mammals like squirrels. The Great Horned Owl rarely builds its own nest, instead commandeering the massive platforms of Red-tailed Hawks, crows, or ravens. These nests are typically situated high in a tree fork or on a cliff ledge. By reusing these robust structures, the owls conserve energy and can begin nesting earlier in the season.
Ground Nesters
In habitats lacking mature trees or vertical structures, several owl species nest directly on the ground. These ground nesters create a shallow scrape or depression, often concealed beneath dense vegetation, a rock, or a small shrub. The Burrowing Owl uses underground burrows, which it either excavates itself in soft soil or, more commonly, takes over from burrowing mammals like prairie dogs or badgers.
Man-made Structures
The flexibility of some species allows them to utilize structures created by humans as alternative nesting and roosting sites. Barn Owls, as their name suggests, often nest on ledges or rafters within abandoned barns, silos, and church steeples. The deep, sheltered spaces provided by these buildings mimic the large tree hollows or cave crevices used in natural settings.
Specialized Habitat Utilization by Owl Species
Burrowing Owls
The Burrowing Owl is unique among North American owls for its reliance on open, arid habitats such as prairies, deserts, and agricultural fields. These long-legged owls are primarily terrestrial, spending most of their time on the ground in areas with low vegetation cover. For nesting, they depend on subterranean tunnels excavated by other species, such as prairie dogs or ground squirrels, using these abandoned burrows as a protected nursery. The underground environment provides a stable temperature and a secure location to raise their large clutches of eggs.
Barn Owls
Barn Owls demonstrate adaptability, occupying open country and farmland across six continents. They are strongly associated with human activity due to their preference for nesting in man-made structures that offer spacious, sheltered cavities. These include the rafters of old farm buildings, the high ledges of church towers, and specially erected nest boxes. This species is an effective biological control agent, as its foraging activities are concentrated in the open fields surrounding these structures where they hunt for rodents.
Great Horned Owls
The Great Horned Owl is one of the most widely distributed and adaptable owls in the Americas, thriving in nearly every habitat type from dense forests to deserts and urban parks. This broad range is supported by its generalist nesting strategy, using whichever large, stable platform is available. They commonly reuse the bulky stick nests of hawks, eagles, or crows, but will also nest in tree cavities, on cliff ledges, or atop broken-off snags. Their ability to nest in early winter, often in January or February, is facilitated by the insulating nature of these large, pre-existing structures.
Screech Owls
Screech Owls (Eastern and Western species) are small owls typically found in wooded areas, including suburban backyards and city parks. They are obligate cavity nesters, relying entirely on holes in trees for reproduction and roosting. These owls prefer cavities with small entrances, often utilizing abandoned holes created by flickers or other large woodpeckers. Their presence in residential areas is supported by the availability of artificial nest boxes, which they readily adopt when natural tree hollows are scarce.