Owls of Ohio - Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Owls of Ohio - Ohio Department of Natural Resources Owls of Ohio - Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Tips fo r Fi n d i n g a Bar n OwlThis is not an owl that one is likely to stumble intounexpectedly. As can be seen from the range map,barn owls are quite localized in Ohio, occurringmostly along the glaciated Allegheny Plateau.Furthermore, most barn owls nest and roost inbarns, and permission must be granted to look forthem in these sites. As a threatened species, greatcare must also be exercised to avoid disturbingthem. By far the best way to observe one is to finda cooperative farmer who has them in his barn orsilo, and obtain permission to view them. Evenwhen they are known to be in a barn, spottingone is not always easy, as barn owls often roosthigh on the hay rail at the extreme top of thebarn, and can blend well with the dusky gloomof a barn’s interior.Another good strategy for detecting barn owlsis to search the floors of barns for owl pellets. Inbarns that are regularly used by barn owls, therewill be many pellets scattered about, particularlyunder the areas where the owls regularly roost.Barn owls often use different barns for roosting,so they may not be present on a given visit. But thepresence of fresh owl pellets is a surefire sign thatthey are using the barn and a return visit may resultin a sighting.The areas of greatest barn owl densities are Holmesand Wayne counties, especially in the vicinity of KillbuckMarsh Wildlife Area; and Pike and Ross counties.barn owl barn owl barn owl barn owl barn owl barn owl barn owl barn owl barn owl barn owl barn owl barn owlbarnnowlowlbarn owl barn owl barn owl barn owl barn owlrn owl barn owl barn owl barn owl barn owl barn owl barn owl barn owl barn owl barn owl barn owlowl l barn owl barn owl barn owl barn owl barn owl barn owl barn owl barn owl barn owl barn owlar now lRange acrossNorth AmericaBreedingWinteringYear-roundYear-rounddistribution
BTRACKS7-12arred owlStrix varia (Strix [a screech owl; not very apropos] var-ee-ah [variegated; because of plumage pattern])No other Ohio owl produces the bizarre sound effectsof this species. When a pair of barred owls begins hootingand caterwauling back and forth in a pitch-black forest,the sounds they produce can make the hair on the back ofyour neck stand up. The following quote from ornithologistArthur Cleveland Bent is a colorful description of barredowl talk: “The antiphonal hootings of a pair of these owls,heard at any time of the day or night, will hold the hearerspellbound; when heard close at hand at night, they arefairly startling, as if a pair of demons were fighting.”C O M M O N O W L S O F O H I O 17D e s cripti o n b a rre d o w lLength = 21 inchesWingspan = 42 inchesWeight = 1.6 lb.Barred owls are large, and in measurements nearlyequal that of the great horned owl. However, they arenot nearly so powerful and bulky, weighing not muchmore than half of that species on average. This is oneof only two Ohio owls with dark eyes, the other beingthe barn owl. All other species have yellow eyes. Barredowls lack ear tufts, but have very prominent facial discs.They are mostly brown above, with some white mottling,and prominently marked with vertical brown streakingbelow.Females are slightly larger than males, but the differenceis so slight that it can be hard to separate the sexes evenwhen a pair is seen together.Adult barred owlPhoto by: ODNR Division of Wildlife / Tim Daniel
- Page 1 and 2: OWLS OF OHIO c d g u i d e b o o kD
- Page 3 and 4: OWLS OF OHIO OWLS OF OHIO OWLS OF O
- Page 5 and 6: with both eyes simultaneously. Anot
- Page 7 and 8: M o d i fi ed Fe ath er s owl morph
- Page 9 and 10: Pelle t s an d W h ite wa s h findi
- Page 11 and 12: Ab o u t this Bookle t and CD owls
- Page 13 and 14: C O M M O N O W L S O F O H I O 13O
- Page 15: y people placing nest boxes in barn
- Page 19 and 20: C O M M O N O W L S O F O H I O 19D
- Page 21 and 22: Eastern screech-owlMegascops asio (
- Page 23 and 24: C O M M O N O W L S O F O H I O 23N
- Page 25 and 26: Great horned owlBubo virginianus (B
- Page 27 and 28: Normally solitary except during the
- Page 29 and 30: C O M M O N O W L S O F O H I O 29T
- Page 31 and 32: O h i o S tat u s l o ng - e a re d
- Page 33 and 34: N e s ting long - e a re d o w lLon
- Page 35 and 36: Northern saw-whet owlAegolius acadi
- Page 37 and 38: likely. When one is found, a very c
- Page 39 and 40: Short-eared owlAsio flammeus (Ay-se
- Page 41 and 42: C O M M O N O W L S O F O H I O 41H
- Page 43 and 44: C O M M O N O W L S O F O H I O 43i
- Page 45 and 46: C O M M O N O W L S O F O H I O 45O
- Page 47 and 48: C O M M O N O W L S O F O H I O 47
- Page 49 and 50: Like the Northern hawk owl and grea
- Page 51 and 52: This is one of North America’s mo
- Page 53 and 54: This is the smallest owl in the wor
- Page 55 and 56: This small owl has a broad but spot
- Page 57 and 58: This species has become a symbol of
- Page 59 and 60: O T H E R N O R T H A M E R I C A N
- Page 61 and 62: Publication FundingFunding for this
- Page 63 and 64: A ppa l achi a n Fron tAu du bon So
BTRACKS7-12arred owlStrix varia (Strix [a screech owl; not very apropos] var-ee-ah [variegated; because <strong>of</strong> plumage pattern])No other <strong>Ohio</strong> owl produces the bizarre sound effects<strong>of</strong> this species. When a pair <strong>of</strong> barred owls begins hootingand caterwauling back and forth in a pitch-black forest,the sounds they produce can make the hair on the back <strong>of</strong>your neck stand up. The following quote from ornithologistArthur Cleveland Bent is a colorful description <strong>of</strong> barredowl talk: “The antiphonal hootings <strong>of</strong> a pair <strong>of</strong> these owls,heard at any time <strong>of</strong> the day or night, will hold the hearerspellbound; when heard close at hand at night, they arefairly startling, as if a pair <strong>of</strong> demons were fighting.”C O M M O N O W L S O F O H I O 17D e s cripti o n b a rre d o w lLength = 21 inchesWingspan = 42 inchesWeight = 1.6 lb.Barred owls are large, and in measurements nearlyequal that <strong>of</strong> the great horned owl. However, they arenot nearly so powerful and bulky, weighing not muchmore than half <strong>of</strong> that species on average. This is one<strong>of</strong> only two <strong>Ohio</strong> owls with dark eyes, the other beingthe barn owl. All other species have yellow eyes. Barredowls lack ear tufts, but have very prominent facial discs.They are mostly brown above, with some white mottling,and prominently marked with vertical brown streakingbelow.Females are slightly larger than males, but the differenceis so slight that it can be hard to separate the sexes evenwhen a pair is seen together.Adult barred owlPhoto by: ODNR Division <strong>of</strong> Wildlife / Tim Daniel
Change language