7 Types of Owls in Kentucky [Images + Ids]

Kentucky is home to a diverse range of bird species, including the magnificent owl. With its silent flight and piercing gaze, the owl is a fascinating creature that has captured the imagination of people for centuries. Kentucky is particularly rich in owl species, with many different types of owls found in the state, including the great horned owl, barred owl, and screech owl. These birds of prey are known for their impressive hunting skills, and their presence in Kentucky’s forests and woodlands is a testament to the state’s natural beauty and wildlife diversity. In this blog post, we will explore the world of owls in Kentucky and learn more about these majestic creatures.

Types of Owls in Kentucky:

1. Great Horned Owl
2. Barn Owl
3. Eastern Screech Owl
4. Barred Owl
5. Northern Saw-Whet Owl
6. Long-Eared Owl
7. Short-Eared Owl

Great Horned Owl

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• Scientific name: Bubo virginianus
• Life span: up to 13 years in the wild
• Size: length of 18-25 inches, wingspan of 36-60 inches
• Weight: 2-5.5 lbs
• Origin: North, Central, and South America

Because of its depiction in films like the Harry Potter series and its distinctive hoot, the great horned owl is well recognized. These enormous owls have a maximum weight of five and a half pounds. They can take down ferocious prey like ospreys and falcons because they have powerful claws and good flying abilities.

Once they get something in their claws, it takes 28 pounds of power to pull them apart.

From Mexico to northern Alaska, these birds may be found across North America. It lives in deserts, mountains, woodlands, and plains and is one of the most widespread owls. The great horned owl is equally at home in urban environments, suburban regions, and natural places.

All of this suggests that your chances of seeing one are excellent.

The great horned owl has golden eyes and long hair around the ears. They may have a body that is cream or light grey with bars that are grey, cinnamon, or both.

Contrary to what you may have heard, they can’t really turn their heads 360 degrees, in case you were curious. Yet, they can spin their heads 180 degrees which seems to be rotating their heads entirely around. These birds move their heads back and forth because they are unable to shift their eyes from side to side.

Barn Owl

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• Scientific name: Tyto alba
• Life span: up to 20 years in captivity
• Size: length of 12-16 inches, wingspan of 39-49 inches
• Weight: 0.5-1.4 lbs
• Origin: worldwide distribution

The barn owl earned its name because it prefers to reside in abandoned barns and other structures in rural regions. They also build their nests in tree cavities. They search for prey by flying over wide spaces and listening and have great hearing as you could imagine.

A barn owl may be identified by its distinctive face. They have heart-shaped faces made of pure white, with big, black eyes. Their back and wings are rather speckled and either grey, golden, or cinnamon in color. They seem all-white from below while they are flying because their breast and the undersides of their wings are both white. In contrast to the great horned owl, they lack ear tufts.

Barn owl chicks will go far from their nest to discover their own territory, but once they locate a place they like, they remain there their whole lives.

Except for a few locations in a few of the central northern states, you can see barn owls everywhere throughout the US and Mexico.

Eastern Screech Owl

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• Scientific name: Megascops asio
• Life span: up to 14 years in the wild
• Size: length of 6.5-10 inches, wingspan of 18-24 inches
• Weight: 4-8 oz
• Origin: eastern North America

As one would anticipate, the eastern screech owl is related to the western screech owl. With a little overlap in the Rocky Mountains between their western relative, this owl resides on the east side of those mountains.

The eastern screech owl is a skilled concealer. They seamlessly blend into the bark of the trees where they prefer to perch and build their nest thanks to their grey or reddish-brown mottling. You may not even notice them until you get a glimpse of their glowing, brilliant yellow eyes.

They have a golden beak, noticeable ear tufts, and a black V between their eyes.

These owls hunt at night, which makes it extremely harder to observe them. The best course of action is to listen for their whiny trill call.

If you don’t like bird watching at night, take a closer look at the tree cavities as you stroll through their natural habitat. They can be seen while they snooze the day away.

Barred Owl

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• Scientific name: Strix varia
• Life span: up to 24 years in captivity
• Size: length of 16-25 inches, wingspan of 38-49 inches
• Weight: 1-2 lbs
• Origin: North America

The great horned owl and the barred owl are almost the same size, but the barred owl weighs significantly less. They have prominent bars all over their body and are a mottled brown and white color. On the rest of their bodies, the breasts’ bars are both vertical and horizontal.

These birds are not loud ones. While they often remain silent, sometimes you may hear them calling out throughout the day.

Barred owls like dense forests, whether they are in a marsh or high on a mountain. They are not seen in urban areas or on plains. They are widespread throughout the eastern US and as far north as Canada. The birds’ range has grown recently, and now the Pacific Northwest is home to colonies of them as well. they are non-migratory birds and settle in one location for all their lives. They will, however, travel great distances to hunt if they are unable to obtain food.

Northern Saw-Whet Owl

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• Scientific name: Aegolius acadicus
• Life span: up to 7 years in the wild
• Size: length of 7-8 inches, wingspan of 16-18 inches
• Weight: 2.3-5.3 oz
• Origin: North America

The body of a northern saw-whet owl is mottled brown and white, and it is little, approximately the size of a robin. They have heart-shaped faces with large golden eyes and a little white V-mark between their eyes.

They are hard to spot, particularly because they hunt at night, but you may tell they are around if you hear their harsh cry. If you look closely, you may be able to see them since they build their nests in tree holes at around eye level during the day.

Don’t search for them in open spaces or urban areas since they exclusively inhabit woods, especially old forests. They travel long distances for breeding and eat tiny rodents like shrews and mice. Moreover, They will also consume sparrows, waxwings, chickadees, and juncos.

They are found all throughout the United States, with small breeding populations in the South and widespread permanent populations in the North, including the Rocky Mountains and western Coastal ranges.

Long-Eared Owl

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• Scientific name: Asio otus
• Life span: up to 10 years in the wild
• Size: length of 13-16 inches, wingspan of 35-39 inches
• Weight: 7-15 oz
• Origin: widespread across North America, Europe, and Asia.

The term “long-eared owl” comes from the extremely lengthy ear tufts on these birds. With hints of buff or orange, the tufts are mostly black and have two white lines between their bright eyes.

They have spotted and thin brown bodies. These nocturnal raptors forage on meadows or open spaces while nesting in trees.

Long-Eared Owls often make hoots, squeals, and barks that are easy to recognize. They can fly very long distances, although they typically only migrate at night. Birds that migrated from Canada to Mexico in a single year have been discovered by researchers.

Short-Eared Owl

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• Scientific name: Asio flammeus
• Life span: up to 10 years in the wild
• Size: length of 13-17 inches, wingspan of 33-43 inches
• Weight: 7-16 oz
• Origin: North and South America, Europe, and Asia

You were correct to assume that these owls had little ear tufts. Owls have ear tufts that assist guide sound to their ears so they can hear prospective predators and engage in hunting. The ear tufts of short-eared owls are tiny and resemble little horns.

These owls may be identified by their characteristic brown and white mottling that is bordered by black bars. The eyes are golden and have heavy black outlines around the cream-colored face.

Their unusual appearance makes it simpler to notice them, but the fact that they are active throughout the day makes it much easier to see them. They also have a distinctive flying pattern that is similar to a moth, which makes identification much easier.

Short-Eared Owls don’t love woody places as many owls do. They like wide-open spaces like meadows and fields where they may sit on the ground and listen for potential prey. Then, in order to capture their prey, they soar up and plunge down. Even their nests are underground.

Conclusion

Kentucky is home to several species of owls, including the great horned, barred, and eastern screech owl. These magnificent birds play an essential role in controlling rodent populations and maintaining the ecological balance in the state. It is crucial to protect their habitats and ensure their continued presence in Kentucky.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What types of owls can be found in Kentucky?

Kentucky is home to several species of owls, including the barred owl, eastern screech-owl, great horned owl, and the northern saw-whet owl.

When is the best time to see owls in Kentucky?

Owls can be seen year-round in Kentucky, but the best time to see them is during the winter months when food is scarce and they are more active during the day.

Where is the best place to see owls in Kentucky?

Owls can be found throughout Kentucky in wooded areas, near bodies of water, and even in suburban and urban areas. Some popular places for owl watching in Kentucky include Be Forest, the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, and Mammoth Cave National Park.

rnheimAre owls dangerous to humans or pets?

Owls are not generally dangerous to humans or pets, but they can become aggressive if they feel threatened or if their nesting sites are disturbed. It’s important to give owls plenty of space and avoid disturbing them, especially during the breeding season.

What should I do if I find an injured or orphaned owl in Kentucky?

If you find an injured or orphaned owl in Kentucky, it’s important to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible. Attempting to care for an injured or orphaned owl yourself is illegal and can be dangerous for both you and the bird.