Wyoming is home to a variety of owls that inhabit the state’s diverse geography. From the high mountains of the Wind River range to the lowland prairies of the eastern plains, owls are found throughout Wyoming. These birds of prey are an integral part of the state’s ecosystem, helping to control rodent populations and providing a unique source of natural beauty. Owls have adapted to Wyoming’s varied terrain, with different species preferring different habitats. The Great Gray Owl, for example, is usually found in high elevation conifer forests, while the Long-eared Owl prefers to hunt in grasslands and open fields. As Wyoming’s climate continues to change, it is important to understand how owls interact with the environment so that their populations can be properly managed. This article will explore the different species of owls in Wyoming and their relationship to the state’s geography.
owls IN WYOMING
Read on to learn more about the 13 owls that visit Wyoming.
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
Eastern Screech-owl
- Megascops asio
- Size: 9″ (23 cm)
Identification and Color: Pointed tufts on the ears stand out on a short and stocky body. They have yellow eyes on a large head. A square and short tail with rounded wings. They are patterned to mimic tree bark in grey, white, and brown colors.
Habitat and Behavior: A mostly permanent resident in the eastern half of the United States. Likes woodlands, forests, and farm groves that are located near water. A vocal bird that forages at night mainly from watching on a perch.
Diet: The Eastern Screech Owl eats large insects like beetles, crickets, and moths. Will also eat small rodents.
What does an Eastern Screech Owl sound like?
Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio) · song
Nick Komar
Loveland, Larimer County, Colorado, United States
More Eastern Screech 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, California, U
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 States
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
Snowy Owl
- Bubo scandiacus
- Size: 27″ (69 cm)
Identification and Color: Large owls that are 20 to 27 inches in length. They have bulky bodies and rounded heads with yellow eyes. The Snowy Owl is predominantly white but does have black or brown markings speckling about.
Habitat and Behavior: Located in the far north of North America, starting in Canada. Likes open areas and can be found on shorelines, prairies, and marshes. Often flying and perching low to the ground.
Diet: The Snowy Owl has a varied diet including lemmings, rabbits, and squirrels.
What does a Snowy Owl sound like?
Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) · call, voice of threatening, zoo collection
Morioka Zoological Park ZOOMO
Morioka Zoological Park ZOOMO, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, Japan
More Snowy 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, California, United States
More Western Screech Owl Facts
Conclusion
Owls are an important part of the Wyoming ecosystem and a fascinating part of the state’s wildlife. They help to keep Wyoming’s rodent populations in check, while providing individuals and families with an opportunity to observe these incredible birds in their natural environment. Unfortunately, many of Wyoming’s owl species are at risk of population decline due to human activity, habitat destruction, and climate change. It is important for us to take steps to protect these species and their habitats, to ensure that they remain a part of Wyoming’s landscape for generations to come. With the help of state and local conservation efforts, we can ensure that Wyoming’s owls remain a vital part of our state’s wildlife for years to come.
Before you go, be sure to check out our other articles about birds in Wyoming.
