Owls in Pennsylvania are mysterious and intriguing creatures that grab the attention of birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts alike. With their silent flight and haunting calls, these nocturnal birds add a touch of mystique to Pennsylvania’s diverse landscapes.
Whether you’re exploring the woodlands, venturing into the rural areas, or listening for their hoots from your backyard, encountering an owl in Pennsylvania is a thrilling experience.
What Are The Most Common Owls In Pennsylvania?
The most common Owls in Pennsylvania include the Great Horned Owl, Eastern Screech-Owl, Barred Owl, Short-eared Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Snowy Owl, Long-eared Owl, Barn Owl, and Northern Hawk Owl.
This blog post will cover the nine types of owls throughout the state, from the giant Great Horned Owl to the rare Northern Hawk Owl.
Readers can learn about their fascinating characteristics, behaviors, and preferred habitats, gaining insights into their hunting techniques and nesting habits.
Whether you’re a seasoned birdwatcher or a newbie, we hope this post will boost your appreciation for the incredible owls that call Pennsylvania home.
We have organized our list from most likely seen to the least likely to be seen for your convenience.
Pennsylvania Owls
According to the latest data from ebird, there are nine observed species of Owls in Pennsylvania. This data has been compiled from over 46,900 dedicated bird watchers throughout the state.
Here are some quick facts:
- The Great Horned Owl is the most commonly observed Owl in Pennsylvania
- Northern Hawk Owls are the least widely observed species in Pennsylvania
- Snowy Owls are the largest in Pennsylvania
- Northern Saw-whet Owls are the smallest Owls in the state
9 Types Of Owls In Pennsylvania
1. Great Horned Owl
The Great Horned Owl is a large and powerful eagle owl found throughout North and South America and residents in Pennsylvania all year round.
They are known for their distinctive ear tufts and intense yellow eyes.
- Length: 46-63cm (18-25 inches)
- Weight: 910-2500g (32-88oz)
- Wingspan: 101-145cm (40-57 inches)
- Great Horned Owl Scientific Name: Bubo virginianus
Appearance
Great Horned Owls are large-bodied owls with broad, round wings and distinctive ear tufts.
Their plumage can vary depending on geographic location, but they are primarily brown and gray above, with bars and speckling. They have reddish brown faces, white throats, and large yellow eyes.
Habitat
Great Horned Owls are adaptable, and you can spot them in various habitats, including forests, deserts, grasslands, and urban areas.
They are found throughout North, Central, and South America and can thrive in cold or warm climates.
Diet
Great Horned Owls are night-time predators that eat a variety of mammals, including rodents, opossums, and rabbits.
They will also eat giant insects, reptiles such as snakes and lizards, and other large birds such as ducks, geese, and sometimes unsuspecting raptors such as hawks, owls, or falcons.
They hunt from an elevated perch and swoop down onto prey. Their powerful talons and strong beak allow them to catch and kill their prey quickly.
Nesting
Great Horned Owls rarely build their own nest but instead, use abandoned nests of other large birds.
They typically lay 2-3 eggs per clutch, which hatch after about a month. Females primarily incubate the eggs, and both parents take turns feeding their young.
Interesting facts
- Great Horned Owls are known for their ability to take down prey larger than themselves. They have even been known to eat other Pennsylvania raptors, such as Falcons.
- These birds have excellent hearing and can locate prey in complete darkness.
- They will store food away in winter and return later to feed. Often incubating their frozen meal to thaw it out.
- Great Horned Owls have few natural predators and can live up to 30 years in the wild.
2. Eastern Screech-Owl
The Eastern Screech-Owl is a small nocturnal owl that is found in the eastern half of North America and is a year-round resident of Pennsylvania.
They are known for their distinctive ear tufts and ability to blend in with their surroundings.
- Length: 16-25cm (6.3-9.5 inches)
- Weight: 121-244g (4.3-8.6oz)
- Wingspan: 48-61cm (19-24 inches)
- Eastern Screech-Owl Scientific Name: Megascops asio
Appearance
Eastern Screech-Owls are small, stocky owls with large heads, rounded wings, and short square tails. They have distinctive ear tufts on the top of their heads, bright yellow eyes, and a yellowy-green bill.
They have two color morphs, either gray or reddish-brown above, with intricate patterns that allow them to seem camouflaged against tree bark.
Habitat
Eastern Screech-Owls prefer to live in wooded areas, including forests, parks, and suburban areas with mature trees throughout eastern North America, from southern Canada to Florida and Texas.
Diet
Eastern Screech-Owls eat a variety of prey, but they primarily eat small rodents and large insects such as moths, crickets, and beetles.
They also eat birds and small reptiles like snakes, lizards, and frogs. They forage at night and prefer to scan for prey from a perch and swoop down to catch prey.
Nesting
Eastern Screech-Owls nest in tree cavities, abandoned woodpecker holes, and natural hollows in trees.
They typically lay 4-6 eggs per clutch, which hatch after about a month. The female primarily incubates the eggs, and the male provides food for her and their chicks.
Interesting facts
- They are also known for their distinctive call, which sounds like whinnying.
- These birds have excellent hearing and can locate prey in complete darkness.
- Eastern Screech-Owls are known to regurgitate their prey’s bones, feathers, or fur.
- They come in two color morphs, with gray being the most common.
3. Barred Owl
The Barred Owl is a large wood owl native to North America and is a year-round resident of Pennsylvania.
They are non-migratory and inhabit the wooded Eastern United States and Northwestern Canada areas.
- Length: 43-50cm (17-20 inches)
- Weight: 470-1050g (16.5-37oz)
- Wingspan: 99-110cm (39-43 inches)
- Barred Owl Scientific Name: Strix varia
Appearance
Barred Owls are chunky looking, with large heads, no ear tufts, and round tails.
They are brownish-grey above with white spots and a buff color below, with dark vertical bars on their chest and belly, and their tails have brown and white barring.
Habitat
Barred Owls prefer to live in mature forests but can also be found in wooded swamps and along rivers.
They can also be seen living in wooded residential areas and parks.
Diet
Barred Owls are nocturnal hunters feeding primarily on small mammals, such as mice, opossums, squirrels, and rabbits. They also eat birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians that live in swampy areas.
They search for prey from an elevated perch and can sometimes be heard calling in the early morning or late evening.
Nesting
Barred Owls typically nest in large tree cavities but will also use abandoned nests of other large birds, such as Hawks.
They lay 2-3 eggs per clutch, which hatch after about a month. Females incubate the eggs, and males provide the food for her and their young.
Interesting facts
- Barred Owls have a unique call that sounds like “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?” This call is often heard in forests at night.
- These birds have excellent hearing, which allows them to locate prey in complete darkness.
- Barred Owls have adapted well to suburban and urban areas and can often be found in parks and backyards.
- They are known to rival another owl species, the Spotted Owl, for nesting sites and territory.
- Barred Owls are sometimes called the “hoot owl” because of their distinctive call.
4. Short-eared Owl
The Short-eared Owl is a medium-sized owl common in many parts of the world. They can be seen in Pennsylvania during the colder non-breeding season.
They are known for their distinctive facial disk and the tufts of feathers that resemble ears.
- Length: 34-43cm (13.4-17 inches)
- Weight: 206-475g (7.3-16.8oz)
- Wingspan: 85-103cm (33.5-40.5 inches)
- Short-eared Owl Scientific Name: Asio flammeus
Appearance
Short-eared Owls have large rounded heads, small ear tufts, short tails, broad wings, and yellow eyes.
They have brownish feathers with white and dark streaks and a distinctive facial disk with black markings around their yellow eyes that resemble mascara.
Their chest and belly are pale with brown streaks, and females are larger and appear darker than the males.
Their “ear tufts” stick up from the top of their head, giving them a slightly comical appearance.
Habitat
You can spot Short-eared Owls in open habitats such as grasslands, marshes, prairies, farmlands, and tundra. They are migratory owls whose range stretches across North America and parts of South America.
Diet
Short-eared Owls feed primarily on rodents such as voles, mice and lemmings. They will also eat small mammals such as rabbits, gophers, shrews, and birds along the coast.
They hunt by flying low over fields and grasslands, using their exceptional hearing to locate prey.
Nesting
Short-eared Owls females build their nest on the dry ground among tall grass or shrubs using feathers and grass.
They typically lay 3-11 eggs per clutch, which hatch after about a month. Females primarily incubate the eggs, and males provide food for the females and the young.
Interesting facts
- They are known for their distinctive flight pattern and buoyant, moth-like style.
- They are considered a species of concern in many parts of the world due to habitat loss and degradation.
- They are one of the few owl species that are active during the day and night.
5. Northern Saw-whet Owl
The Northern Saw-whet Owl is a tiny owl common throughout most of North America. They can be seen in the northern half of Pennsylvania all year round and in the southern half during the colder non-breeding season.
- Length: 18-21cm (7-8.3 inches)
- Weight: 65-151g (2.3-5.3oz)
- Wingspan: 42-48cm (16.5-19 inches)
- Northern Saw-Whet Owl Scientific Name: Aegolius acadicus
Appearance
Northern Saw-whet Owls are tiny owls, with large rounded heads. They are about the same size as a Hairy Woodpecker.
They are reddish-brown above and white below with reddish streaks. They have white streaks and spots on the edges of their reddish facial disks, yellow eyes, and a dark bill.
Habitat
Northern Saw-whet Owls prefer to live in wooded areas and forests, especially those with various kinds of coniferous trees throughout much of North America, including Canada and the United States.
Diet
Northern Saw-whet Owls primarily hunt small mammals that live in the forest, such as mice and voles, but will also prey on small birds and large insects.
They hunt almost exclusively at night by watching or hearing prey from a perch before swooping to grab it with their talons.
Nesting
Northern Saw-whet Owls nest in trees up to 60 feet above the ground, usually in a natural cavity or a large abandoned woodpecker hole.
The female lays 5-6 eggs, which hatch after about a month. The females incubate the eggs and feed the young with food provided by the male.
Interesting facts
- Northern Saw-whet Owls are named for their “sawing” sound, which sounds like a saw being sharpened on a whetstone.
- These birds are primarily nocturnal and are rarely seen during the day.
- Northern Saw-whet Owls are sometimes preyed upon by larger owls, such as Great Horned Owls and Barred Owls.
- These birds are relatively long-lived for their size, with some individuals living up to nine years in the wild.
6. Snowy Owl
The Snowy Owl is a beautiful and iconic bird of prey that is native to the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia. The Snowy Owl range is primarily in Canada, but its winter range can extend into northern Pennsylvania during the non-breeding season.
- Length: 52-71cm (20.5-28 inches)
- Weight: 1600-2950g (56.4-104oz)
- Wingspan: 126-145cm (49.6-57 inches)
- Snowy Owl Scientific Name: Asio flammeus
Appearance
Snowy Owls are large birds of prey with large heads, yellow eyes, black bills, and heavily feathered legs that help keep them warm in frigid temperatures.
They have striking white feathers, which help them blend in with their snowy habitat. Males have white feathers have narrow dark bars or spots. Females have the same dark markings, but they appear darker and larger.
Their plumage gets lighter with age, and old males often have pure white feathers with no dark markings.
Habitat
Snowy Owls prefer to live in open areas, such as tundra, prairies, marshes, fields, farmlands, and Arctic plains, where they can hunt their prey.
They are found in the northern parts of North America, Europe, and Asia and are known for their ability to survive in some of the harshest environments on the planet.
Diet
Snowy Owls feed on a variety of prey. They primarily hunt small mammals, such as lemmings, voles, and rabbits, but they also prey on large birds, such as geese and ducks, fish, and insects.
They are one of the few Owls that hunt during the day and will hunt by watching from a high perch, flying low to the ground, or hovering above a field before swooping down to catch prey with their powerful talons.
Nesting
Snowy Owls build their nests on the ground, usually on a small hill or mound, using their talons to create a shallow depression.
The female lays 3-11 eggs, which hatch after about a month. The female incubates the eggs, and the male provides food for her and their young.
Interesting facts
- Snowy Owls have excellent eyesight, which helps them hunt in their dimly lit Arctic habitat.
- Snowy Owls breed when the lemming population is high and may avoid breeding in years when they are scarce.
- Snowy Owls are diurnal, which means they are more active during the day than at night.
- In some cultures, the Snowy Owl symbolizes wisdom, prophecy, and spiritual guidance.
7. Long-eared Owl
The Long-eared Owl is a medium-sized owl found throughout the world and is a year-round resident of Pennsylvania.
- Length: 35-40cm (13.8-15.8 inches)
- Weight: 220-435g (7.8-15.3oz)
- Wingspan: 90-100cm (35.5-39.5 inches)
- Long-eared Owl Scientific Name: Asio otus
Appearance
Long-eared Owls are medium-sized birds of prey with a wingspan up to three feet. They are slender-looking owls with narrow facial disks and long ear tufts.
Their feathers are a mix of brown, black, gray, white, and buff, which easily camouflage against their wooded habitats. They have yellow eyes set in vertical dark patches, streaks, and bars on their chest and bellies, and their facial disks are rusty brown.
The female Long-eared owl coloration is the same but darker and more streaked than the male.
Habitat
Long-eared Owls prefer to live in wooded areas that border open spaces, such as forests, meadows, and groves, where they can roost and hunt.
They are migratory owls and can be seen worldwide, including in North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Diet
Long-eared Owls are nocturnal hunters that feed on a variety of prey. They primarily hunt small mammals, such as mice, rats, gophers, and voles, but will also prey on small birds and reptiles.
They hunt in open areas where they can fly back and forth from various perches, locating prey but sight or sound before swooping down to catch it with their powerful talons.
Nesting
Long-eared Owls nest in trees up to 30 feet above the ground. They do not build their own nest but instead use the abandoned nest of other large birds, such as crows, ravens, or hawks.
The female lays 4-6 eggs, which hatch after about a month. The female incubates the eggs, while the male provides food for her and their young.
Interesting facts
- Long-eared Owls can be found roosting in groups called parliaments, especially during the winter months.
8. Barn Owl
The Barn Owl is a beautiful and distinctive species of owl that lives in Pennsylvania all year round. They are known worldwide for their heart-shaped face and ghostly white appearance.
- Length: 32-40cm (12.5-15.8 inches)
- Weight: 400-700g (14-24.7oz)
- Wingspan: 100-125cm (39.5-49.2 inches)
- Barn Owl Scientific Name: Tyto alba
Appearance
Barn Owls are medium-sized owls with a distinctive heart-shaped facial disc outlined in white and bordered by a brownish-orange rim. They have long legs, long, rounded wings, and short tails.
They are a mottled rusty brown and gray above with fine black dots and streaks. Below they vary in color from white to light cinnamon.
Males are smaller than females, and the darkest colored Barn Owls are always female.
Habitat
You can spot a Barn Owl in low-elevation open habitats such as grasslands, agricultural areas, wetlands, and forests worldwide.
Diet
Barn Owls feed primarily on rodents like mice, voles, and shrews but will also eat other small animals such as rabbits, birds, and insects.
They hunt mainly at night by flying low over open areas using their exceptional hearing and vision to locate prey.
Nesting
Barn Owls do not build their nests, instead rely on natural or artificial cavities for their nests. These include hollow trees, barns, caves, church steeples, and nest boxes.
They lay 3-8 eggs per clutch, which hatch after about a month. The female does most of the incubation, while the male brings food to the nest.
Interesting facts
- Barn Owls are one of the world’s most widespread species of owls. They are sometimes called the “ghost owl” because of their silent flight and pale appearance.
- Barn Owls’ specialized hearing system allows them to locate prey in complete darkness.
- Barn Owls are considered to be a symbol of wisdom in many cultures around the world.
9. Northern Hawk Owl
The Northern Hawk Owl is a medium-sized owl species found in the northern forests of North America, Europe, and Asia. They are rarely seen in Pennsylvania, but their winter range may extend into the state’s northern edge in some years.
They are known for their distinctive appearance and unique hunting behavior.
- Length: 36-45cm (14.2-17.7 inches)
- Weight: 240-454g (8.5-16oz)
- Wingspan: Avg 71cm (28 inches)
- Northern Hawk Owl Scientific Name: Surnia ulula
Appearance
Northern Hawk Owls have a distinctive hawk-like appearance, with short pointed wings, long tails, and a black-bordered facial disk. They are brown with white spots above and have brown barring below.
Habitat
You can spot Northern Hawk Owls in the northern coniferous forests of North America, Europe, and Asia.
Diet
Northern Hawk Owls feed primarily on small mammals such as voles, mice, squirrels, and shrews but also eat small birds, large insects, and sometimes fish.
They hunt primarily during the day by perching on a high branch or hovering above the ground, using their keen eyesight or hearing to locate prey.
Nesting
Northern Hawk Owls typically nest in a tree cavity or an old nest of another bird, such as a hawk or crow.
They typically lay 5-7 eggs per clutch, which hatch after about a month. The female will incubate the eggs, and the male will provide the food for her and their young.
Interesting facts
- They are among the few owl species that hunt primarily during the day and a little at night.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What type of owls live in Pennsylvania?
Nine kinds of owl species live in Pennsylvania during the year. These include the Great Horned Owl, Eastern Screech-Owl, Barred Owl, Short-eared Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Snowy Owl, Long-eared Owl, Barn Owl, and Northern Hawk Owl.
Are there great horned owls in Pennsylvania?
Yes, Great Horned Owls are the most commonly observed species in Pennsylvania and can be seen in the state all year round.
Are there snowy owls in Pennsylvania?
Yes, there are Snowy Owls in Pennsylvania and you can spot them in the state during the colder non-breeding season.
Do Barn owls live in Pennsylvania?
Yes, Barn Owls live in Pennsylvania and can be seen throughout the state all year round.
Keep An Eye Out For The Owls In Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is home to nine owl species, which birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts can see throughout Pennsylvania’s diverse habitats.
These beautiful birds are an incredible sight, and most of them can be seen in the state all year round.
If you’re lucky enough to spot one of these nocturnal creatures, take a moment to appreciate their unique characteristics and habits.
Whether you’re an avid birdwatcher or just someone who enjoys learning about nature, taking some time to learn about the nine types of owls in Pennsylvania will provide you with the info you need to identify and appreciate them.
We hope this article has provided all the information you need. If you have questions about identifying more species of birds in Pennsylvania or finding out which ones live near you, let us know!
