Many people dread winter—the cold weather, the snow, the dwindling daylight. It makes getting outside a challenge and can sap your motivation to do anything, much less go birding. There are days when I am one of those people. But then there are days when I remember that there are owls … and that now is the best time to find them!
Owls breed in the winter, with many beginning their courtship and mating activities in late fall, making the next several months a more vocal and active season for them than usual. If you’ve been feeling discouraged by those all-too-early sunsets and the deep dark of the 5pm hour, consider a form of birding that doesn’t necessarily need the light of day, and give owling a try!
This week’s Entryway to Birding blog brings you everything you need to know about the owls you might find in our region, as well as tips for how you might find and ethically observe them.
When all the leaves fall, there’s little room to hide. One of the “perks” of winter birding is that it sure makes spotting birds—and owls like this stunning barred owl—a whole lot easier. Photo by Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren CC BY
Whoooo You Might Hear
In south-central Wisconsin, there are seven species of owl that you might potentially see depending on the time of year. Three of these owls—the great horned owl, barred owl, and eastern screech owl—are year-round residents that you might see or hear no matter the season. These are also our most common owls and the ones you’re most likely to find right in your neighborhood.
Not all owls are found in the woods! Two of our winter-only owls, the short-eared owl (pictured here) and the snowy owl, are fans of wide-open spaces like grasslands and agricultural fields. Yep, that means you can stay warm and toasty in your car while you drive the country in search of these special visitors. Photo by Monica Hall
Fall and winter migration will bring a few other special owls to our region, though you might have to go on a little adventure to try and (maybe) find them. They won’t be as nearly common as our year-round residents, which can make observing one all the more special. These owls include the northern saw-whet owl, long-eared owl, short-eared owl, and snowy owl.
With the exception of short-eared owls and snowy owls, all the other owl species you might find in our region are birds you are more likely to hear rather than see. One of the first steps to successful owling is to learn your owl calls and expand your understanding of what owls sound like.
Many people assume that owls are simply going to make various types of “hoots,” but their vocal repertoire goes far, far beyond that. Owls can whinny, trill, wail, screech, scream, bark, hiss, whine, and bill-clap (that is, make strange clicking noises as they snap their bill’s mandibles together). The more you familiarize yourself with these very un-hoot-like noises, the more tuned in you’ll be to the potential presence of one of these very special raptors.
Let’s take a look (and listen) at who you might find this season.
Great horned owl
I only spotted this great horned owl because a family walking nearby had mentioned seeing one further ahead on the trail. I kept my eyes peeled, and sure enough. There was enough light left to take a quick picture and capture those namesake “horns.” Those tufts are sometimes confused for the owl’s ears, but they aren’t ears at all. Their actual ears aren’t visible to us, as they are hidden under the facial disc of feathers on the owl’s head. Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt
With a careful eye, you might spot a great horned owl high in the treetops, nestled in close to the trunk of a tree. Or maybe you’ll hear their distinct call—a deep, stuttering series of soft hoots, hoo-h’HOO-hoo-hoo—as it echoes through the woods. Look for this owl—our largest and most common owl specices—in a wide range of habitats, from deciduous forests and evergreens that border open fields, to your local park or even your backyard.
If you’re lucky to stumble across a mated pair of great horned owls, you might hear their duet as they call back and forth to each other. The deeper, lower hooting will be that of the male owl, while the higher pitched hooting will be the female. After breeding season when there are fledglings around, you may hear the young making “begging calls”—which sound an awful lot like screaming. Many people hear the screeching, screaming noises of young great horned owl fledglings and think they are hearing a “screech” owl, but as we’ll learn soon, eastern screech owls aren’t prone to screeching!
Barred owl
The barred and striped patterning of browns, grays, and creams help barred owls effortlessly disappear into the bark of a tree. Look for them nestled close to the trunk of a tree where they may be roosting during the day. Photo by Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren CC BY
Our next largest, common owl is the barred owl. There are no tufts here—just a round head and framed face with two deep, dark eyes that are so brown that they might even appear black at times. Barred owls are notable for their classic call, a very loud hoot that rings out as if asking “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?”
Like great horned owls, barred owls can be found roosting in trees during the day. You’re most likely to hear them calling near dawn and dusk, but careful examination of your surroundings can maybe help you spot one among the upper branches of a tree. This is another owl that you might hear in your neighborhood, but if you’re setting out to look for one in a natural area, you should know that they prefer a slightly wetter habitat than the great horned owl. Focus your search on wooded habitat that borders marshes, wetlands, or a water source.
Eastern screech owl
I religiously check every tree cavity that catches my eye, just in case an eastern screech owl is peeking out. Have I actually ever found one in a tree? Nope! But I’ll keep looking. The few eastern screech owls I have actually seen, not just heard, were peeking out of nest boxes, which they will use in the winter if provided. Click here to learn about putting up a nest box for them in your yard. Photo by Eric Begin CC BY NC-ND
Our next common owl is much smaller in size and not as easy to visually detect as the great horned or barred owl. The mottled camouflage of an eastern screech owl’s plumage makes them one of the most challenging owls to spot. They may be right there, perched at the edge of a tree cavity, right in your line of sight … but blend in seamlessly with the bark of a tree.
Hearing an eastern screen owl calling at dusk or in the night when they are most active may be your best chance at determining if there is one in your neighborhood or nearby. But don’t be fooled by their name—you aren’t likely to hear this owl “screeching.” The most common calls that you’ll hear this species give are a long, soft, even-pitched trill and a shrill, descending whinny. They may occasionally make clacking noises with their bill, called “bill-claps” too.
If you hear one at dusk or in the evening, you should start paying more attention to that area during the day. Examine it for tree cavities or any tucked away hole that it may be perching in. You might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of one in the daylight and determine if it’s a gray morph or a red morph, as this owl comes in two colors!
Northern saw-whet owl
The northern saw-whet owl is the smallest of the owls you can find in our region—if you can find it at all. Between it’s small size, camouflage, and preference for dense conifers, this is a challenging owl to track down. Photo by Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren CC BY
If you thought the whinnies and trills of the eastern screech owl were pretty strange noises for an owl to make, wait til you hear the distinct metronome-like “toots,” and high-pitched barks and whines of the northern saw-whet owl—another species you are much more likely to hear than see. These small owls roost in very thick, dense conifer trees during the day, which makes it unsurprising that one was recently found tucked away in a Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center holiday display.
Because saw-whets roost in such obscured, hard-to-see places, you’re not as likely to see them perched on a branch during the day like a barred or great horned owl. Finding one in the daytime would be a feat and require the help of small songbirds like black-capped chickadees. If you notice a flock of them going crazy around an evergreen and “mobbing” the area much like crows would mob a great horned owl, you should do some light investigating.
If you do know a spot that has some nice evergreens in a wooded habitat, you might try visiting at dusk and listening carefully. At this time of year, you aren’t as likely to hear the distinct, repeated toot-toot-toot-toot as you are to hear its whines and bark-like calls.
Long-eared owl
Like great horned owls, the ear-like tufts on a long-eared owl aren’t actually their ears. But boy do they sure make this owl look on high alert! Photo by Tom Benson CC BY NC-ND
Long-eared owls are very uncommon and rarely seen. They prefer to roost in thick, dense pines and their superb camouflage makes them incredibly hard to spot. That said, you might find yourself stumbling across one when you least expect it. A friend of mine had one perch—out in the open!—in her yard several years ago. She wasn’t a birder at the time, but you bet she became one shortly after. A sighting of one of these owls is very, very special.
Long-eared owls have tufts like great horned owls, but their bodies are much lankier and thinner looking than a great horned—and much smaller in size, around 13-14 inches in length compared to the 20+ inches of a great horned. Their slim bodies can easily disappear next to a thin tree trunk.
These owls seek thick pines for roosting, but like hunting in grassland areas. If you find yourself poking around a pine stand near this type of habitat, take a look at the ground to see if you notice a lot of regurgitated pellets. These owls are unique in that they may form winter roosts, with several often roosting together, and an excessive amount of pellets might be a sign of a roost site in use.
Note: This owl is a species of Special Concern in Wisconsin. If you do stumble across one or a roost, please be sure to take special care. Do not get too close in an attempt for better views or photos. Enjoy the thrill of getting a peek at this rare species, then quickly move on to avoid stressing the bird.
Short-eared owl
Check out that smoky eye! Look for these stunning owls as they hunt over grasslands and farm fields at dusk. Take a late afternoon drive to your favorite grassland, park the car, and wait. You might find one pop up from the ground as the sun begins to set. Photo by Monica Hall
Bucking the trend of all of the above owls, short-eared owls are more likely to be seen than heard. These winter-only visitors are known for actively hunting over farm fields and grasslands at dusk. Your best chance to see them is when they are out hunting, swooping low and rather erratically over fields. If you’re lucky, you might spot them perched somewhere low, like on a fence post or hay bale, or perhaps even on the ground.
They take their “short-eared” name very seriously—sometimes their tufts are so short you might not even see them. What I find most striking on this species is their eyes, which look like they are rimmed with some very dark and moody eyeliner. In flight, you might notice how long their wings are compared to their relatively small bodies. This plus their stiff wingbeats in flight gives them a characteristic flight-style that might help you set them apart from other raptors that might be seen in the same habitat, like northern harriers.
Know of some great grassland habitat? Or an area with a wide expanse of low, shrubby vegetation, like near an airport or open farmland? Find a quiet road nearby to pull your vehicle over and enjoy the sunset while keeping your eyes peeled for these evening hunters.
Snowy owl
Finding a snowy owl usually takes some effort. Finding a snowy owl in the snow takes a bit more. Photo by Monica Hall
Yep, I saved the crowd favorite for last. This rare, winter-only owl is a species that we’re not guaranteed to see every year. Their presence is heavily shaped by “irruptions” (like we learned about in our winter finch post, though snowy owls will irrupt for different reasons that have little to do with cone crops). It can be very hard to predict if the year will be a good one to see snowy owls until they start showing up. The DNR had reported some sightings last week, and in the past day or two I’ve seen a number of new sightings referenced in more northern parts of the state, which means that they may be getting closer to southern Wisconsin—or maybe not. Only time will tell.
Not a plastic bag, I repeat, NOT a plastic bag! Though I’ll be honest, I 100% thought it was until I took a closer look. This was my very first snowy owl sighting, and I would have missed it if I did not pull over to investigate the teeny, tiny white dot in the distance. Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt
These large, white owls are striking visitors from way up in the Arctic tundra. When they travel south, they’ll seek out landscapes that remind them of home—wide open, tundra-like spaces without trees. Expansive farm fields and airport grounds are often common places they’ll end up. Look for them perching on telephone poles, hay bales, or farm equipment as you drive country roads. Oftentimes they’ll be sitting directly on the ground in an open field, looking like a distant plastic bag.
Any time of day is a good time to look for a snowy owl. They tend to be more active in the day than other species though they usually hunt near dusk. I find that driving around mid-to-late afternoon allows for great snowy-searching and gorgeous countryside sunsets. Bring some hot cocoa, pack some snacks, and enjoy the drive.
Note: Take particular care around snowy owls. They have traveled a very long way and have spent most of their time in a region with little human activity. They may seem nonplussed by the presence of humans but that does not give you a reason to get closer to them. Keep your distance and ideally stay in your car if you spot one—it can serve as a great blind!
Tips for Finding Owls
If you’re going out birding with the hope of an owl sighting, be sure to put yourself in slow birding mode. You’ll need patient, careful observation if you’re going to get past their camouflage. Here are some of the tips that I have found most useful when I’m out looking for owls:
Let other birds help you. Follow the crows, the blue jays, the chickadees. Crows and blue jays in particular tend to “mob” larger owls like great horned owls and barred owls, so if you hear an angry ruckus in the trees, be on alert. Chickadees and other small songbirds are more likely to mob smaller owls like eastern screech owls or northern saw-whet owls. (Mobbing behavior, in general, is something you should pay attention to as a birder. Even if it doesn’t point you to an owl, it may point you to something else of interest.)
Go out at dusk on a moonlight night. I would recommend starting your evening owling adventures at dusk in a place where you are familiar with the landscape and trails. Take a partner, and choose a night with a full or almost full moon. If you hear a nearby call while you slowly wander the trails, you will have a better chance of spotting the silhouette of a moonlit owl than you would on a darker evening. You might even try practicing your own “hoot” to mimic that of a great horned or barred owl. Don’t be alarmed if one swoops in to investigate, as both are known to do.
Know when to look. You could potentially spot an owl at any time of day if you happen to wander through an area where one is roosting in a tree. I’ve run across roosting great horned owls and barred owls in the morning, in the afternoon, and in the evening. There’s no magical hour to spot them, though they will begin to be more active around late afternoon and dusk as they prepare to start their nocturnal hunting.
Know where to look. The general rule of thumb is, the larger the owl, the higher you will find it in the tree. Keep that in mind as you scan through branches, looking for any potentially out-of-place-looking lump, bump, or silhouette among the branches. Winter is a blessing for this as there is much less leaf cover to obscure your view. You should investigate any assumed “weird branch” or “clump of leaves” to see if it may indeed be something else. It usually won’t be an owl … except for that one time that it is! Stopping to look at every little oddity may feel silly, but it is part of the trick to finding these well-hidden birds.
Note: If you’re going out at dusk to look for owls, go prepared. Bring a flashlight or headlamp for when the dark really sets in (ideally one with a red light that won’t interrupt your night vision!), go to a location you know well, stay on the trails, and ideally bring a friend. If you must go out alone, be sure to tell someone where you are going. Be smart, be safe.
I only spotted this great horned owl thanks to the white patch on the throat, which stood out in the sea of green pine needles. Great horned owls will have this white neck patch, though the size varies bird by bird and it may not always be visible. Had this owl not been perched just right, I would have walked right by. Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt
All that said, sometimes stumbling across an owl is sheer luck. You may go searching and find absolutely no sign, nothing, not even a distant hoot. Other times you might not even have owls on the brain, when suddenly there is one directly above you. We can’t control birds and where they choose to be. Know that you’ll find your owl eventually, and it will be worth all the searching. In the meantime enjoy the silence, the stillness, and the treasure that is the woods in winter.
Ethical Owling
Finding an owl can be an exciting experience, especially if you’re new to birding or don’t see owls often. It’s easy to be wonderstruck, but please don’t let your common sense be blinded by that wonder.
When you’re out birding—for owls or otherwise—you should always be following the Code of Birding Ethics. The safety and comfort of birds will always come before you “getting a closer look” or getting that “perfect photo.”
Owls in particular are prone to disturbance and you should be very careful to not flush them or cause them stress that might make them abandon a roost site that they had determined safe. Do not let your actions force them to work harder to survive.
Limit your use of recordings (“playback”) and avoid it entirely during breeding season. Owls are territorial and will investigate these noises. They may think there is a threat to their territory and shift their attention away from valuable hunting time, which puts them more at risk. If you do judge it appropriate to play a call in the off-season, be very limited and stop immediately if you hear any response.
Don’t get too close. If you have to ask yourself if you are too close, then you are too close. If you attempt to get closer for a better look and find that a head immediately swivels to stare to you down, you are too close. There are times when you can’t avoid being near and will have to walk underneath an owl to pass by, and that’s okay. But if you’re deliberately trying to get closer to an owl just for your own benefit, that’s not okay.
Be sensible about sharing the location of owls. Sure, gush to your friends about the owl you saw on your walk at so-and-so park. But if you find a snowy owl, for instance—a bird that many people will want to see and photograph—you should be more cautious and avoid publicly advertising the location on social media. It’s one thing for folks to do their research on eBird to find reported owl sightings in a general area, and it’s another to share a very specific location on social media, where that info could be seen and shared by hundreds of other people. A crowd can form fast.
Owls can easily be someone’s first exposure to the world of birds and birding, and it’s natural to want to share the joy of a sighting with others, or even to want to get better looks at a bird you rarely find. But balance is key—for as thrilled as we are to find these owls, we should be just as careful to protect them.
Do not be discouraged if your owl search comes up empty. I mean, just look at this picture. The camouflage of an eastern screech owl is what you’re up against! Be patient, go slow, and hope you get lucky. Photo by Frances Maas CC BY NC-ND
So, are you looking forward to dusk yet? Are you feeling better about the lack of leaves on the trees this time of year? Maybe you’re ready to bundle up for a slow, peaceful walk in some woods or take a leisurely late afternoon drive along some country roads? Winter can be cold and hard and dismal, yes, but it can also be full of hidden joys and wonders—if you are willing to look for them.
So go on, get out there and do some owling. Let the moving, ethereal hoots of these birds remind you that there are joys in every season, even the dreariest.
Happy owling, and I’ll see you next week!
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Caitlyn is the Communications and Outreach Assistant at Madison Audubon. She’s crazy for birds because they changed her life. She’ll be back next Monday with some tips and tools for birders, new and experienced! Between now and then, she’d love to hear about the birds you’re seeing and hearing. Leave a comment below or email to drop her a line!
