Prowling for Owls
Happy Halloween! Owls have been a spooky symbol of the holiday for centuries. Going back to Roman times, owls were considered an ill omen, and to hear one hoot meant imminent death, and in many cultures around the world, owls are believed to be messengers from the underworld.
But despite their reputations in places, owls are amazing creatures, with unique ways of living in the world. They even can help farmers and others by controlling pests. So unless a witch turns you into a mouse, you have nothing to fear. Here are five species to look out for this Halloween, or around the year.
Snowy owl
One of the few predominantly white owls in the world, the snowy spends the summer in far northern regions of Alaska and Canada. Typically they spend the winter in cold regions where their white plumage helps camouflage them from potential prey, but some years a few of them will venture farther south into the lower 48 in what’s called an irruption — an event that draws flocks of enthusiasts to wherever they are found.
Snowy owls go against type by spending most of their active hours during daylight — a necessity during Arctic summers. But they do occasionally engage in one gruesome practice: if a chick or “owlet” from their brood perishes, they sometimes feed it to the surviving siblings.
Barn owl
Yes, barn owls do live in barns, and caves, tree cavities, and even occasionally baseball stadiums. This farmer’s friend eats lots of rodents, especially voles, keeping those barns as mice free as possible. Found on every continent except Antarctica, the barn owl is the most widespread of all land birds, though populations are declining in some areas. As good as their vision is, their hearing is even better — they can locate prey in complete darkness by sound alone, and have shown better hearing than any other animal tested.
Great horned owl
The great horned owl is the quintessential “whoo whoo whoo” bird that has become an icon of nighttime forests. Indeed, they are found throughout North America except the far north above the treeline, and they typically spend the summer and winter in the same place.
The largest owl in North America, the great horned owl has a wing span up to almost five feet. And this fierce raptor can take down prey even larger than they are, adding the occasional skunk or goose to their varied diets. They usually nest in trees, so maybe you’ll spot one in the daytime, though their feather patterns help them blend in well!
Burrowing owl
Burrowing owls are unique. These small creatures live in burrows underground in the western U.S., and they hunt in the daytime on the ground. They also get the food to come to them — burrowing owls have been known to place dung near their burrows to attract dung beetles that they then eat. Their numbers are declining in places, but in places like Phoenix, they have found homes in specially-constructed burrows built by local volunteers . They have been known to kill people through cuteness overload, so think carefully before clicking this link.
Eastern screech-owl
Another owl with a spooky call, a low trill to shiver your spine at night (or to enjoy). They are masters of camouflage, so you are more likely to hear one than see it. They live year-round in every state east of the Rockies, where they hunt anything from rodents to earthworms, and nest in trees.
Here are a few more “owlstanding” facts:
- Owl eyes are so large they don’t move, but some owls can turn their heads more than halfway around.
- They have special serrations in their wings that help them fly silently.
- Many owls regurgitate the undigested portions of their prey in owl pellets. While it’s prohibited to keep owl feathers or most other parts, owl pellets are often studied in school biology labs.
- The facial disks seen in barn and other owls help focus hearing — the wise appearance is just a fringe benefit.
- On the other hand, the tufts on a great horned owl’s head have nothing to do with hearing. They do help with camouflage though.
So, next time you are out walking through the woods on a soft, moonlit night, keep an ear and an eye out for owls. You might get lucky and encounter one of nature’s most magical creatures.
By Chris Deets, Outreach and Education Coordinator
