Many refugees, parks and environmental centers will have “owl prowls” in the next several weeks. The winter and early spring months are pairing and egg-laying time for owls.
Most of these “owl prowls” will take place in the dark. We may not see the owls, but we can hear their vocalizations. They don’t sing, but we can hear their calls.
To help you enjoy those “owl prowls” more, here is a list of common species with links to information and online audio recordings of owl calls.
Of the 19 owl species in North America, eight species are listed here. All are common in the eastern North America, but perhaps not very common in Philadelphia.
Common Year-Round Residents
Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio)
common year-round Philadelphia and PA resident; yellow eyes; breeding begins in March; cavity nester
Uncommon Year-round Residents
Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
uncommon to rare year-round resident in Philadelphia and SE PA;
strictly nocturnal; dark eyes; eggs laid in Feb-Mar; cavity nests such as woodpecker holes or nest box
Great Horned Owl(Bubo virginianus)
uncommon year-round Philadelphia and PA resident; yellow eyes; egg laying begins in February or early March; open platform nest built by other species
Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)
uncommon to rare year-round Philadelphia and PA resident; yellow eyes; hunts at night; nests in abandoned platform nest of other birds
Winters in Philadelphia and SE Pennsylvania
Short-earred Owl (Asio flammeus)
uncommon to rare winter resident in Philadelphia area; yellow eyes; diurnal and nocturnal; nests in April or May: open nest on ground
Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus)
rare and irregularly winters in Philadelphia area; yellow eyes; nocturnal hunter; pairing in March
Rare in Philadelphia and SE Pennsylvania
Barred Owl (Strix varia)
absent from most of SE Pennsylvania and Philadelphia; uncommon resident in the rest of PA) dark-eyes; nocturnal; egg-laying in March or April; nest in tree cavity
Snowy Owl (Bubo Scandiacus)
rare in Philadelphia and SE Pennsylvania; common resident in northern polar regions; yellow eyes
Resources Used
Wildlife of the Mid-Atlantic: A Complete Reference Manual
by John H. Rappole
Birds Of Pennsylvania
by Haas and Burrows
A Field Guide to Bird Songs: Eastern and Central North America (Peterson Field Guides)
Check out the Audubon.org website for information on Owls.
In the beginning of February 2021, we began seeing 2 different owls, as we live at the foot of a large mountain. They’re hungry. I began putting a bowl of water and (dry) quality dog food under some fallen trees and was surprised, to see an owl dive down & spend considerable time at that spot. Both owls have began to fly down and land near me when I’m walking out back at the edges of the woods. They know I have food/water & they want it! Pretty sure, one’s a Barred owl. The other, I’m not sure. It looks like a snowy owl BUT it’s not the pure white color. It’s more off-white. Neither owl has visible ears. We’re in Western Pa- only 2 miles from NY state line. We also have various hawks always hanging around. So the mice/moles are over-hunted. Breaks my heart to see the birds-of-prey, preying on my much-loved, squirrels & chipmunks! But they need to eat & feed their babies, too…. All of the poor wildlife is hungry this time of year. In 20 years of living here, this is the 1st time, I’ve even seen owls at all. They must be near starving to come so close & to eat Blue Buffalo, grain-free dog-food!
Hi, Mattie
Thanks for sharing your news. Two owls? Lucky you!
It sounds as if the owl in your backyard is probably a Snowy. How exciting! Snowy Owls aren’t all pure white, especially juveniles. . I don’t see why the plumage can’t be off-white. Congratulations, it sounds as if you’ve made friends with a Snowy Owl!
The Audubon Society website has photos of Snowy Owls.
Link on Audubon.org – https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/snowy-owl
It sounds as if an irruption is happening. Your nearest Audubon chapter could probably tell you if there is an irruption to your area. Here is a link to my post on Winter Bird Migrations and Irruptions (with video).
Regards,
Donna
I have been looking for owls around to no avail. One day, I swear, it will happen. It has become my new mission in life.
we have a mother great horned owl and 4 owlets in the back yard. They are so very cute.
In the backyard? How lucky. You get to watch owl behavior from the comfort of your home.