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Nothing is more exciting than spotting an hooter in your backyard if you know in Utah . These magnificent birds of prey are a beautiful mass to lay eyes on . If you ’re an devouring birdwatcher , you ’re probably eager to key which case of owl are visiting your property .
There are 12 owl mintage find in Utah , including the Burrowing Owl , Short - Eared Owl , Northern Saw - Whet Owl , Great Horned Owl , Northern Pygmy Owl , Long - Eared Owl , Flammulated Owl , Barn Owl , Boreal Owl , Spotted Owl , Great Gray Owl , and Western Screech - Owl . While several of these owl species have their favored pairing and migratory ranges , it ’s possible to spot a aimless or irrupting owl in areas outside their live territory . If you see an bird of Minerva in Utah that is not on this tilt , consider yourself lucky !
Legend for the following owl rangemaps
The legend below can be used to assist you determine where each of the 12 owl of Utah lives during dissimilar part of the twelvemonth .
The 12 Species of Owls in Utah
Burrowing Owl
Athene cunicularia
Order : order Strigiformes
phratry : Strigidae
Legend for the following owl rangemaps
Size:7.5 - 9.8 in ( 19 - 25 atomic number 96 )
These small owls survive in grassland and comeuppance where they enjoy feeding on insects , small mammals , and reptiles . burrow owls are among only a fistful of bird of night that prefer to hunt down during the daylight , spending their night tucked away in their dens . When burrows are not usable to them , these highly adaptable birds make their homes in buckets , pipes , and tube . burrow owl have a higher tolerance for carbon dioxide than other birds , enable them to expend more time huddled up in a low space . These birds cleverly use dung to carpet their den , which invites dirt ball to chat , allow for the shuttle with an easy meal . Burrowing owls have also been known to hoard shiny objects , such as bottle jacket crown , paper clips , and bits of tin hydrofoil .
Burrowing owls have foresightful wooden leg and an upright stance . They also have bright yellow eyes and although their cerise - brown plume resemble both the barred and circumboreal owls , the fact that they live on the ground constitute it easy to differentiate between these species . Burrowing owls are pretty restrained , with males bring out high - hawk “ coo - coos ” to defend their territories and attract mates .
As their name suggests , tunnel owls make their family in clandestine tunnel , usually allow behind by prairie dogs . you may get hold burrowing hooter yr - round throughout the southwest , predominantly in California , Arizona , New Mexico , and Texas . However , this bird of Minerva ’s breeding range gallop much farther northwards , up to Washington , Montana , and North Dakota .
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeus
Size:14.5 - 15 in . ( 37 - 38 cm )
A classical birdwatcher best-loved , little - eared bird of Minerva hunt during the day and can be observe throughout the United States . These owls are some of the few that prefer to work up their own nests . Females construct their bowlful - shaped nests in the terra firma , lining them with feathers , forage , and other gentle materials before laying clutches of 4 to 7 eggs . Short - eared bird of Minerva have very typical flight of stairs patterns , with irregular wingbeats standardized to that of bats or moths . These boo are typically 17 inches in length and have wingspread of up to 43 in . They use their powerful wings to stick around upright as they swoop up feet - first to catch their quarry , which lie of small mammals , rodents , reptiles , and amphibians . Short - eared owls sometimes dine on songbirds and will tear the wings off before swallowing them whole .
The ear tufts of the dead - eared owl are situated towards the center of their drumhead , and they ’re so poor that sometimes they may not be visible at all . Short - eared owls have tawny plume on their backs and wings with tan belly that are interspersed with upright benighted dark-brown streaks . Tailfeathers are bar . These owls have small , round face with pallid tan to creamy white facial disk accented by black - brimmed icteric eyes . Short - eared owls practice sharp “ waowk - waowk - waowk ” calls to communicate and “ eeee - yerp ” blazon out during the conjugation season .
Excellent long - distance fliers , suddenly - eared owls have been reported land on watercraft hundred of miles from shore . These birds will fly over the ocean and land to get hold of their fosterage grounds in northern Canada . you’re able to discover curtly - eared bird of Minerva living yr - round in the magnetic north and northwesterly fortune of the United States . But , because they travel regularly , you may recognize stragglers in nearly every state in the nation . These birds opt to populate in receptive areas , including grassland , marshes , and farmland .
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Aegolius acadicus
Size:8 - 8.5 in . ( 20.3 - 21.5 cm )
These owls are short and stocky . At just 8 column inch in duration and with a wingspread of 22 inches , northern saw - whet bird of Minerva are among the smallest bird of night in the United States . northerly saw - whet owls care to prey on deer mice , using their sharp beaks to tear their prey into smaller while , breaking up a exclusive mouse into several meals . Because these owls are nocturnal , and because they ’re so lowly , they can be difficult to track . But their sharp-worded cry make it comfortable to locate them in their forest homes . Northern saw - whet owls are mostly solitary animate being , only socializing with their mates . Females have been acknowledge to have two mates , leave the first to elicit a brood with the second . These owls have porphyrin pigment in their feathering , and when illuminated with a ultraviolet radiation light , the ventral side of the wings shows a atomic number 10 pink color . This helps researchers determine an bird of Minerva ’s age .
Named because its call sound like a saw being sharpened on a whetstone , power saw - whet owls have little heads and cat - like brass with comparatively big yellow eyes . With rusting - colored backs , breasts , and annexe , northern byword - whet owls have spotted heads and distinctive Y - mold markings on their faces . These owls expend a change of utterance to communicate . They ’re most easily identified by their strident “ too - too - too ” calls , which they practice to attract mates . The war cry of northerly saw - whet owls are so forte that they can be heard nearly 1,000 feet away .
One of the most vulgar owls in the U.S. , the northern proverb - whet prefers to harp in mountain woodland . They can be found year - round of drinks in California , New Mexico , Utah , and Colorado , and in the northeastern states , Minnesota , Wisconsin , Michigan , New York , and all the way through to Maine . These hooter can be seen in other territories , too , during non - breeding time . It ’s not unheard of to see northerly saw - whet owls throughout the midwest , include Kansas , Missouri , and Illinois .
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
Size:18 - 26 in . ( 46 - 63 cm )
Far from meek , Great Horned owls have been known to trace other birds of prey , let in ospreys , peregrines , and even other owls . With their strong talon , these birds can exert 28 - pounds of force allow them to undertake larger prey . Great orned owls are a major scourge to other doll , peculiarly John Jay and crows . In fact , if you ever hear a large mathematical group of these birds make a tizzy , there ’s a secure chance it ’s because a great horned owl has gotten too close to their nests . The slap-up tusk hooter ’s plumage is radical - soft , and this provides the brute with several welfare . For starters , it protects them from the harsh coldness . But it also muffles sound , earmark them to fly silently as they pounce down on their prey . Interestingly , although the females of the species are gravid than the males , females have higher - set up voices , and mated span often synchronize their calls .
The neat horned owl is easy identified by a equal pair of tuft on either side of its head , giving it a tusk appearance . They have gray to red - brown barred plumage and golden jaundiced eyes that do not move within the socket . These birds can rotate their head 180 degrees to see and hear what ’s going on around them . Facial feather discs help direct soundwaves to their ears , allow them to track their prey , and their wide wings enable them to fly dexterously , with serrate primary feathers scatter turbulency and softer feathers tone down speech sound .
These magnificent owls can be find in every res publica in the nation except Hawaii . These owls are native to the Americas , and they ’re highly adaptable , dwelling in forested , rural , and urban areas alike . While you ’re liable to see a great horned owl just about anywhere , keep your eyes peel near wooded field , especially along treelines as these birds wish to rest near heart-to-heart fields to observe their prey .
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Glaucidium gnoma
Size:6.5 - 7.3 in ( 16.5 - 18.5 curium )
These owls are a favourite among birdwatchers because they opt to trace during the daytime . This , couple up with their courageous nature , relieve oneself them easy to spot compared to more skittish members of the species . Northern Pigmy owl are in the main untroubled of humans , and will happily nuzzle in urban areas . This is likely due to the fact that humans specify up bird feeders to attract songbirds — the northern Pigmy owl ’s favorite food . These owls ambush their prey and store their remnant on thorns and spikes to come back to later . Northern pigmy owls are such a terror to smaller hoot that wrens , John Jay , and even hummingbirds will mob them to chase them away . Though these birds are only about as long as a butterknife , they ’ve been known to attack prey much larger than themselves , including wimp . Because northern pygmy owls miss the substantive facial disc needed to ameliorate audition , they bank on their cutting sightedness to track their fair game .
At just 7 inch retentive , northern pygmy owl are quite small , but do n’t let their size fool you . These are knotty , tenacious little birds ! Adults are gray , brown , or ruby-red - dark-brown in colour with blank spotted head and dark-skinned offstage , butt , and breasts . Like ferruginous pigmy owls , northerly Pigmy bird of night have glowering spots on the backs of their head that look like another set of eyes . This helps to confuse both quarry and predators . The best manner to find a northerly pygmy owl is to dog its high up - pitched beep calls .
These owls are somewhat adaptable , affect into cityscape as their native deal woods become less useable . Unfortunately , however , these owls do n’t often make their homes in nesting boxes , so these are an ineffectual means of attract them . you’re able to observe northerly pygmy owl throughout the westerly states , in California , Oregon , and Idaho , and farther in the south in Colorado , Arizona , and New Mexico .
Long-Eared Owl
genus Asio otus
Size:14 - 16 in . ( 35 - 40 atomic number 96 )
At 15 in in length and with an telling wingspread of 39 inches , the long - eared hooter has been known to steal nests aside from Jay and crows to raise their own young . This middling elusive owl can be tough to find , favour to seek protection in thick woodlands . And , unfortunately , its population has refuse 91 % since 1970 . Unlike most owls , long - eared owl are not very territorial and favor to rely on their camouflage to hide from potential predator . When face , most long - eared owls simply fly away . Because these birds can be skittish , they can be hard for birdwatchers to cover down . But if you are lucky enough to descry a long - eared owl , keep your eyes peeled for more — long - eared owls roost in grouping of 6 to 50 .
At first glimpse , the long - eared bird of Minerva greatly resembles the majuscule tusk owl . But a closer inspection uncover that long - eared owl possess a distinctive five - shaped feather pattern on their faces . The tufts of feathers that make up their face disc environ undimmed orange eyes , giving them a surprised verbalism . The second curing of feather tuft sit on top of their heads gives them their iconic long - eared visual aspect These are lanky razz that have tan face with variegated plumage in shades of brown , tan , gray , and bloodless .
Long - eared owls live class - round of golf in Wyoming , Nevada , Colorado , Arizona , New York , Michigan , and Wisconsin . During the breeding season , these hiss guess farther north to Montana , North Dakota , and Minnesota . These birds can be blemish in all but the southernmost component of Florida , Alabama , Mississippi , Louisiana , and Texas . Long - eared owls opt to live in open spaces that have dull clusters of scattered trees , providing them with a safe place to seek tax shelter as they hunt for small mammals .
Flammulated Owl
Psiloscops flammeolus
Size:6 - 6.5 in . ( 15 - 17 cm )
Though these bird of night only measure around 6 inches in length , they have a large wingspread for their size , measuring 14 - inch from wingtip to wingtip . Their longsighted , powerful wing enable them to fly quickly between the treetops of their woodland homes . These owls eat bugs almost only , favor moths and butterflies above other insects . In fact , this proclivity for insects may answer for for why these owls migrate to the south during the wintertime months . Flammulated owls are monogamous , choosing one married person for life . paired pair raise 2 to 4 owlets at a clock time in nests that are not lined with any sort of bedding material . Unlike most hooter , who prefer to keep to themselves , flammulated bird of night form light colonies — in all likelihood for shelter since they ’re so small .
Featuring feather in shades of grey and brownish with rust red crown along its backstage , and classifiable flame - like markings on its typeface ( hence its name ) , this owl is incredibly well - camouflaged . The best agency to find a flammulated owl is by listen to its call . The flammulated bird of Minerva has a much lower - delivery call than you would expect from such a small-scale owl . This play as a defense mechanism , tricking potential predators into thinking they ’re much bigger than they really are .
When it come to tracking down flammulated hooter , birdwatchers have their employment trim back out for them . Because these bird of night prefer to spend their fourth dimension perched on the top of the inning of tall coniferous tree searching for bug , they can be difficult to find . These birds migrate through west Texas and New Mexico and have a scattered breeding mountain range that let in parts of California , Oregon , Washington , Idaho , Nevada , Utah , and Colorado , where they live from belated April or early May to August .
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
kinsperson : Tytonidae
Size:12.5 - 16 in . ( 32 - 40 cm )
Easily recognized by their pale heart - regulate faces , barn hooter are some of the most far-flung owls in the human race . These owls thrive in comeuppance and grasslands , but can even be found in polar regions . Barn owls are especially common on farm , where they like to run for field mice among the crops in the morning and evening , and where they can take tax shelter in barn during the daytime . With their serrated wings , these fearsome predators fell noiselessly as they go in for the putting to death . Barn bird of night are monogamous , mating for life . They do not build nests but prefer to lay their eggs in the hollows of trees . The amount of solid food these bird receive has a direct impact on how many ballock they dwell — the more voles , rats , and shrewmouse they consume , the more owlets in their brood .
Barn hooter are quite lanky compare to other bird of night . They have big hazel tree to brown optic set in concave , warmness - shape grimace that are border by a soft outline of sick brown feathers . Barn bird of Minerva are milk white in color with tan and rust brownish feathers on their back and extension . These owl do not hoot but instead favour to communicate via screeches .
you could find the barn owl in all but the uppermost region of the U.S. Even though these hiss are common throughout the nation , their universe is dwindle down reasonably due to habitation loss . Barn bird of Minerva reside year - round as far south as Texas and Arizona , as far east as Pennsylvania , and all across the Pacific Northwest .
Boreal Owl
Aegolius funereus
Size:9 - 10 in . ( 22.9 - 25.5 cm )
Small and tough , boreal owls show the most intimate dimorphism of any other bird of Minerva , with females growing twice as magnanimous as the male of the species . Boreal hooter are difficult to track down because they rest in different trees every daytime . They ’re also restrained , although male person will begin hoot at night in the former wintertime and spring to attract a mate . Boreal owls are very small , about the size of a Old World robin or blue jay . Like most other owls , their skull are crooked , with one capitulum opening perched higher than the other . This unparalleled design enable circumboreal bird of Minerva to accurately estimate both height and distance when closing in on their prey .
With their round faces and violent - brown feathers , boreal owl resemble barred owls , although they ’re much small . These owls have large shining sensationalistic eyes , giving them a surprised expression . As their name suggest , circumboreal owls prefer to reside in boreal forests full of spruce , pine , and fir tree trees . Boreal owl are most participating at nighttime when they track down small mammals and worm .
you may encounter circumboreal owls in Washington , Idaho , and Montana , though their range locomote as far south as the northernmost neighborhood of New Mexico . circumboreal owl love to perch in coniferous tree and evergreen plant trees . Deforestation has led to a declination in home ground for these shy owls . But , while they can be problematic to find , they have been cognize to use nesting boxes , so installing a few on your property can greatly increase your chances of spy one .
Spotted Owl
genus Strix occidentalis
Size:17 - 19 in . ( 43 - 48 cm )
Spotted bird of Minerva make their nests in vacuous trees , rock crevices , and old nest leave behind by other birds of prey . It ’s figure that less than 15,000 of these birds remain in the U.S. and Canada , despite federal endeavor to protect them . patched owls are presently assort as near - threatened , and are dwindling at a firm pace due to home ground loss . These hooter are “ sit down - and - await ” hunters , preferring to determine for fair game from the condom of a tree diagram branch , and swoop down on it when they feel the time is veracious . They course on gophers , squirrels , and cervid mice , as well as other small mammals . When prey is abundant , discern owls store caches of leftovers in cool places , like fall logs or moss - covered Rock . These owls utilise deep hoot calls to pass on with each other when they track down at night .
Spotted bird of Minerva have magnanimous , rich chocolate-brown eyes . They ’re so coloured that , from a aloofness , it can be difficult to differentiate between educatee and iris . Often , all you see is a brace of black spot peer out at you from beneath brown feathers . These birds have wise to , round typeface , and ash - chocolate-brown to red - brown plumage , with white spot on their head . Though their tail and primary plume are bar , tit feather are spotted . Overall , spotted hooter are mostly browned with very little contrast , allowing them to blend in well with their forest milieu .
There are three subspecies of pick out owl . Mexican spotted owls can be seen throughout parts of the sou'-west , let in Arizona and New Mexico , while California tell apart bird of night can be find in ( where else ? ) California . northerly spotted owls know throughout the Pacific Northwest , along the coast of Washington , Oregon , and northern California . Spotted owls loosely stay close to home and live in these regions year - circular .
Great Gray Owl
genus Strix nebulosa
Size:25 - 33 in . ( 63.5 - 84 curium )
At 33 - column inch long , great gray owl are the largest coinage of hooter in the world in term of length , with female being slightly larger than males . These hiss have an telling wingspread averaging around 5 feet . But , even though this owl front quite large , it actually is n’t that bragging — it ’s mostly feathers . Unlike smashing horn bird of Minerva , which can count up to 5.5 pounds , smashing gray owls are padded out with dense plumage and weigh just 3.75 pounds . Their light free weight give up them to fly softly as they purge the forest trading floor in lookup of food . Their asymmetric ear openings enable them to track their prey while their powerful feet and talon can clear through densely - packed coke to capture rodents and small mammals tunneling beneath it .
With its gray feathers and ghost facial expression , the great gray owl has also been dub the Phantom of the North . This steel to brown - grizzly owl has a sooty appearance with gold yellow eyes and bombastic disc surround them , giving them an fitly judicious expression . Just beneath the bird ’s beak lies a white “ bow-tie ” that sharpen to rounded end . The big grey owl employ deep , rhythmical “ whoo - whoos ” to ward its territories and pass on with its kinsperson .
with child gray-haired owls can be find class - round in boreal forests in the northernmost states . expect for these beautiful bird of prey in Minnesota , Michigan , Wisconsin , and New York . You ’re also likely to spot them in California , Oregon , Idaho , and even piece of Wyoming and Utah .
Western Screech-Owl
Megascops kennicottii
Size:7.5 - 9.5 in . ( 19 - 24 cm )
These are small bird of night , maxing out at just 9 inches in length and with wingspans of roughly 24 inches . But , do n’t let their small stature deceive you . These birds are serious marauder , regularly look for out fair game many time their own size . While westerly screech - owls feed on rodent , small birds , earthworms , and other bug , they ’ve also been seen preying on rabbits . Western screech - hooter like to sit close to where limbs meet the tree trunk , so they can cower up against them so as to camouflage themselves from predators and prey . These are timeserving predators who like an easy meal , but , when limit , they will also dog their prey down , sometimes grab birds and insects midflight .
Western screech - owls look much like eastern shrieking - owls , with adult morphs in Great Plains , Mexican , Mojave , brown Pacific , and gray Pacific colouration . They have gray and brown plumage with no steer of Red River . westerly shrieking - owls have small , round head with ear tuft and vivid yellow eyes . Contrary to what their name would lead you to believe , western screech - owls usually do n’t shrieking . or else , they habituate short whistles and trill to intercommunicate with each other .
These owls are highly adaptable , make their home base in a variety of regions , include desert , grasslands , forest , and urban areas . you’re able to find western shriek - owls all across the west coast , drifting inward a bit to Idaho , Wyoming , Utah , Colorado , New Mexico , and parts of Texas . If you live in one of these regions , try on install a nesting box seat to attract a westerly screeching - hooter to your backyard .
How to Attract Utah Owls to Your Backyard
While some owls , like the boreal owl and the bewhiskered screech - hooter , avoid humans and can be tough to find , other bird of night , like the bar hooter and eastern and western shrieking - owls , are much promiscuous to pull .
Installnesting boxeson trees , poles , and fences to advance your neighbourhood bird of night to take up mansion on your property . Leaving light touch , wood stacks , and old lawn trimmings cater home base for voles , subject area shiner , cony , gophers , andsnakes . Having plenty of these critter nearby is a surefire way to get your local owls ’ attention .
Because many owls like to feed onsongbirdsandsquirrels , position up a wench feeder andgetting a bird bathcan also advance owls to pay you a sojourn . Of course , some birds make to scare owls off . John Jay , crows , merle , grackles , and starlings regularly rabble owls , so take measures to scare these doll away — take down starling nesting boxes , and remove snap corn and groundnut from your feeder , which are the favorite food of these birds .
owl lie with to sit down on poles and in leafless tree because they make it easier for them to spot prey . ensure your bird of night have mess of spots to perch on . you’re able to also attract these birds by limiting your outdoor activity , specially in the early morning and late eve hours when they like to hunt down . Together , all of these measures will help your locality hooter find justly at home in your backyard .
All State Owls
Want to see what owl coinage are find in other states ? Here ’s our complete listing of bird of Minerva found in each state :
