The state of Utah is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including some of nature’s most fascinating creatures – owls. Owls are found in every part of the state, from the vast open deserts of the south to the high mountain peaks of the north. With its diverse geography, Utah offers a perfect habitat for a variety of owl species, including the Great Horned Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, and Long-eared Owl. This article will provide an overview of the owls of Utah, their habitats, and the threats they face in the state. From the high desert to the snow-capped mountains, Utah’s owls are an important part of the state’s natural heritage.
owls IN UTAH
Read on to learn more about the 12 owls that visit Utah.
Barn Owl
- Tyto alba
- Size: 16″ (40 cm)
Identification and Color: A medium-sized owl with short tails and rounded wings. Barn owls have rounded heads, dark eyes, and relatively long legs. They have white on their faces, on their body, and underneath their wings. On top, they are a mix of greys and browns.
Habitat and Behavior: Found all over the United States in all seasons. Prefers to be in large areas of woodlands, farmlands, or grasslands. Likes to fly low at night to hunt in the open areas.
Diet: The Barn Owl eats small rodents like voles, mice, and shrews. May also eat some birds or lizards.
What does a Barn Owl sound like?
American Barn Owl (Tyto furcata) · call
Luiz C. Silva
Campo Mourão, Paraná, Brazil
More Barn Owl Facts
Boreal Owl
- Aegolius funereus
- Size: 11″ (28 cm)
Identification and Color: A smaller owl between 8 and 11 inches in length. They have stocky bodies, short tails, and squared head shapes. Brown heads with white faces. Has yellow eyes and dotted white on top. The top of their body is brown with white spots, and they have brown and white streaks underparts.
Habitat and Behavior: Found in the northern part of North America, mostly Canada and Alaska. Likes mixed-wood forests with either aspen, fir, or spruce trees. Hunts by waiting and watching in perches at night.
Diet: The Boreal Owl will eat small mammals like mice, shrews, and small gophers.
What does a Boreal Owl sound like?
Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) · song
Romuald Mikusek
Stolowe Mts. NP, Kudowa-Zdrój, kłodzki, Województwo dolnośląskie, Poland
More Boreal Owl Facts
Burrowing Owl
- Athene cunicularia
- Size: 9″ (23 cm)
Identification and Color: A small owl with a rounded head, short tail, and long legs. They have yellow eyes and white marks above them. Brown, tan, and white horizontal stripes on their front bodies, with brown and white spotting on top.
Habitat and Behavior: Located in the western half of the United States, Mexico, and some parts of Central America. Will breed in the north and spend the winter in the south. Likes to be in mostly open grasslands or prairies. Will be on low perches or near the ground.
Diet: The Burrowing Owl eats insects from the ground and small mammals too.
What does a Burrowing Owl sound like?
Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) · song
David Ricardo Rodríguez-Villamil
Chochó, Sucre, Colombia
More Burrowing Owl Facts
Flammulated Owl
- Psiloscops flammeolus
- Size: 6″ (17 cm)
Identification and Color: A small owl with short ear tufts on top and a short tail. They have white, grey, reddish, and brown colorings that make a pattern similar to the bark on a tree. Very dark eyes.
Habitat and Behavior: They can be found in the western United States but migrate to Mexico and Central America for the winter. Likes to be in open and mature mountainous forests. Will nest in these open areas too.
Diet: The Flammulated Owl feeds on large insects as well as some spiders and scorpions.
What does a Flammulated Owl sound like?
Flammulated Owl (Psiloscops flammeolus) · call
Lance A. M. Benner
Cedar Spring, San Gabriel Mountains, Los Angeles County, California, United States
More Flammulated Owl Facts
Great Gray Owl
- Strix nebulosa
- Size: 24″ (61 cm)
Identification and Color: One of the tallest owls with a length between 24 and 33 inches. They also have long tails and wide wings. Circling pattern on the face with a white mark below and between the eyes. They have white, brown, and grey streaking all over them.
Habitat and Behavior: Occupies northern North America. Sometimes large flocks will move in search of a better rodent population. Likes dense forests of evergreen trees. Enjoys quiet areas and hunting at night.
Diet: The Great Grey owl eats small mammals. Favorites include voles, mice, and shrews.
What Does a Great Grey Owl sound like?
Great Grey Owl (Strix nebulosa) · begging call, call
Dries Van de Loock
Zales’ye, Pruzhany District, Brest Region, Belarus
More Great Grey Owl Facts
Great Horned Owl
- Bubo virginianus
- Size: 25″ (64 cm)
Identification and Color: They have large, easily distinguished ear tufts on top of their heads. White patches on their necks and reddish-brown faces. They have grey and brown mottling all over their bodies. Yellow eyes and rounded heads.
Habitat and Behavior: Found all over North America for all seasons. Likes a varied habitat, including woodlands, swamps, and deserts. They may also be around cities or suburbs. Nocturnal hunting at night.
Diet: The Great-horned Owl enjoys a varied diet of mammals and birds. Diet is dependent on their current region.
What does a Great-horned Owl sound like?
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) · call, song
Michael & Katie LaTour
Green Township (near Mount Orab), Brown County, Ohio, United States
More Great-horned Owl Facts
Long-eared Owl
- Asio otus
- Size: 16″ (41 cm)
Identification and Color: Medium-sized owls that have very long ear tufts. A slender body and somewhat squared head. Ear tufts are black and orange. They have a complex pattern of black, brown, and white. They have orange outlining their faces and white marks near their yellow eyes.
Habitat and Behavior: Breeds in northern North America and winters in the south across the country. They prefer a mixture of open woodlands and dense forests. Will nest in tall trees and forage in open areas. Very vocal birds that will wait until night to hunt.
Diet: The Long-eared Owl enjoys small mammals or rodents. Mice, voles, and gophers are a part of the diet.
What Does a Long-eared Owl sound like?
Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) · begging call
Paolo Zucca
Leno, Provincia di Brescia, Lombardia, Italy
More Long-eared Owl Facts
Northern Pygmy-owl
- Glaucidium californicum
- Size: 7″ (18 cm)
Identification and Color: A small owl with a large head and yellow eyes. They have long tails and short rounded wings. White and black streaking on their fronts and brown with white small spots on top. They have two dark patches on the back of their heads.
Habitat and Behavior: Prefers to be in mountainous forests of conifers. They will move to lower elevations in the winter. Hunts in the daytime so they can be visible in daylight.
Diet: Rodents, birds, insects, and lizards are all favorites of the Northern Pygmy Owl. Diet will vary based on location.
What does a Northern Pygmy Owl sound like?
Northern Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium californicum californicum) · song
Lance A. M. Benner
The Bench, Manzanita Ridge, San Gabriel Mountains, Los Angeles County, Californi
More Northern Pygmy Owl Facts
Northern Saw-whet Owl
- Aegolius acadicus
- Size: 8″ (20 cm)
Identification and Color: A small owl that has a large and rounded head. Yellow eyes and white in the middle of their faces. They have brown and white speckles on the rest of their heads. White and brown streaking on their underparts, with brown and white spots on top.
Habitat and Behavior: Located throughout much of the United States, except the far south. Also, in parts of Canada and along the north-western coastline. They prefer forests and groves that are dense to breed. Active mainly at night, they perch and remain hidden during the day.
Diet: The Northern Saw-whet Owl eats mall rodents and occasionally birds and insects.
What does a Northern Saw-whet Owl sound like?
Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) · call
Ron Overholtz
Grandview Campground, White Mountains, Inyo County, California, United S
More Northern Saw-whet Owl Facts
Short-eared Owl
- Asio flammeus
- Size: 17″ (43 cm)
Identification and Color: Rounded heads, big wings that are rounded, and a short tail. They have pale yellow and white on their faces. Yellow eyes are outlined in black. White and brown streaky underparts, and black, white, and brown intricate top of their bodies.
Habitat and Behavior: Found throughout much of North America, excluding the southwest. They like open area grasslands, prairies, and marshes. Will hunt in the daytime, staying low to the ground, and may also hunt near dawn and dusk.
Diet: The Short-eared Owl mainly eats small rodents.
What does a Short-eared Owl sound like?
Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) · alarm call
Hannu Varkki
Säräisniemi, Vaala, Kainuu, Finland
More Short-eared Owl Facts
Spotted Owl
- Strix occidentalis
- Size: 19″ (48 cm)
Identification and Color: A large owl with a rounded head, short tail, and big rounded wings. They have white marks between the eyes and dark faces. Brown bodies have larger white spots on the front and smaller white spots on top.
Habitat and Behavior: Found in smaller areas of the western United States. Likes to be in mature-growth forests and wooded canyons that are mostly undisturbed. Hunting mainly at night by listening for prey while they are perched.
Diet: The Spotted Owl will eat small mammals commonly found in the forest.
What does a Spotted Owl sound like?
Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis) · song
Lance A. M. Benner
Mount Wilson Road mile 0.8, San Gabriel Mountains, Los Angeles County, Ca
More Spotted Owl Facts
Western Screech-owl
- Megascops kennicottii
- Size: 10″ (25 cm)
Identification and Color: Small with a stocky body. They have square heads, short tails, and short ear tufts. Colors mimic camouflage, and they are grey, brown, and reddish all over with complicated patterns. They have yellow eyes that blend in with their colors.
Habitat and Behavior: Common in the west and northwestern coastline. Will live in forests, canyons, and areas at high elevations. Also tolerant of people and may be seen near suburbs or parks.
Diet: The Western Screech owl will hunt for large insects and small mammals.
What does a Western Screech Owl sound like?
Western Screech Owl (Megascops kennicottii) · call
Lance A. M. Benner
Rubio Canyon, Altadena, San Gabriel Mountains, Los Angeles County,
More Western Screech Owl Facts
Conclusion
Owls in Utah are an important part of the state’s ecosystem and play an important role in controlling populations of small mammals. While the exact number of owls in the state is unknown, their populations appear to be stable. However, there are a few threats to their survival, most notably, habitat destruction. It is important for people to be aware of these threats and take steps to protect owls and their habitats. By doing so, we can ensure that owls can continue to thrive in Utah for generations to come.
Before you go, be sure to check out our other articles about birds in Utah.
