Owls in Texas

Fourteen magnificent owls live in Texas, many of which can be found in abundance throughout the state. Year-round inhabitants and others coming from Canada and northern US states thrive in the north. The owls in Texas range in size, with the largest being the Great Horned Owl.

On the other hand, the Eastern Screech-Owl is Texas’ smallest owl. Their diets range from mammals, reptiles, and rodents to bugs. Certain owl species hoot while others whistle. Their habitats also vary from high-alpine areas to holes carved out of tree barks or underground. Even their mannerisms differ; some are very observant, and others are shy.

With some basic understanding, one can be able to search for and spot these species.

In Texas, are Owls Endangered?

Federal and state laws protect owls. They may not be killed, removed from the nest, picked up, or owned in any way, and neither is their plumage to be acquired or sold. Despite this, habitat loss and competition amongst different-sized owls are reducing the population of some species.

What Kind of Owl Can be Found in Central Texas?

The Great Horned Owl and the Eastern Screech-Owl are the most prevalent owls in the Texas Hill Country. However, the Eastern Screech-Owls are often overlooked due to the smallness of their size. One can also spot the Barred and Barn Owls even though their population is quite small in Texas. 

Are There any White Owls in Texas?

Yes. The Snowy Owl. While it is native to Canada and the far northeastern United States, these species may appear in Texas once or twice a decade. During the natural phenomena known as an irruption, these owls fly far further south than they would otherwise and can be spotted in Texas. 

Great Horned Owl

They are the largest owl in Texas and can be found year-round as they don’t have migratory habits. The Great Horned Owl is the most prevalent in North America, from the Arctic to the tropical regions. They favor woods and marshes but can also be found in the cities. At dusk, they might be sighted perched on fence posts or tree limbs on the outskirts of open regions or flying over roads or meadows with stiff, deep wingbeats.

These owls derive their names from their long, pointy earlobes on top of their heads, which resemble horns but are tufts of plumage that jut up on both sides of their head. The Great Horned Owls are enormous in stature with bright eyes that can be intimidating. Their plumage is greyish brown and thick enough to envelop their stocky bodies.

While their feathers vary in hue across the nation, they tend to be lighter and grayer in the southwest than elsewhere. They have a distinctive hoot, with the males having a lower pitch than females. These birds build their nests in tree hollows, trunks, caves, or deserted huge bird nests. The Great Horned Owls are midnight predators who attack from above, using their enormous claws to kill and carry prey several times their weight. These birds enjoy eating bigger creatures, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish, to maintain their large size.

They are also known to assault and devour skunks as they have a poor sense of smell. They are so possessive of their spaces that they can murder other members of their kind who venture into their region. Great Horned Owls are recognized to have one partner and establish long-term mating couples that usually stick with each other even outside of the mating season. The male and female jointly incubate the eggs, and the male also searches for food. 

Flammulated Owl

Flammulated Owls are primarily found in the western United States. These raptors are most prevalent in the western regions of Texas, with rare observations reported in the east and south. As it is not an inhabitant of Texas the whole year and only visits during its migratory season, the best chance of seeing one is in the winter months.

While their wintering behavior is unknown, it is thought that they generally reside in Mexican forests throughout the cold months. Flammulated Owls are found chiefly in forest regions, such as coniferous woods. It is one of the smaller owl species, with grey, rusty, and brown-colored plumage covering its body. These plumages do a fantastic job of hiding it against its usual backdrop of bark trees. Because of their diminutive size and excellent camouflage, they are nearly impossible to detect in the daytime.

The windpipe of a Flammulated Owl is quite big. As a result, they produce a low-pitched hoot that is not characteristic of a small bird. Because of this, they can fool predators into thinking they are much larger hence not worth hunting. Approximately three-quarters of these owls usually create lasting coupling, and those who do not will remain monogamous during nesting season.

Due to their small size, Flammulated Owls hunt nearly solely for invertebrates and insects like butterflies, crickets, and beetles. Sometimes, they also catch and consume small rodents.

Burrowing Owl

Burrowing Owls are permanent inhabitants of Texas’ west and south areas. Unlike most other owl types in Texas that spend most of their time in trees, Burrowing Owls reside in underground tunnels. These birds commonly inhabit larger rodents’ underground dwellings or make new ones themselves. The Burrowing Owl is a tiny bird with brown plumage speckled with white.

These birds have large vivid yellow eyes that are sandy in tone, long legs, curved beaks, and a long white eyebrow, which lends their characteristic stern look. Unlike other owls, they are not nocturnal, often found foraging or hanging outside at their tunnels during the daytime, or commonly sighted in open grasslands without trees. Their earthy coloration allows them to fit into various environments, including plains and deserts.

Although Burrowing Owls primarily feed on insects and arthropods like scorpions and centipedes, they also consume frogs, rodents, reptiles, and other birds. They are reported to hunt at all hours of day and night. Because they live on land, various predators prey upon them, including foxes, badgers, and other owls.

Burrowing Owls are generally monogamous once partnered up and reside in informal groups of mating flocks. A wooing male will bow, preen, coo, and offer food to a prospective partner during mating seasons. Mating pairs stick close to their breeding burrows, where the female incubates two to twelve eggs while the male protects the entryway and gathers food.

Young owls pick up hunting by scavenging bugs and food brought back to the burrow by their parents. The chicks will also learn to fly by “helicoptering,” a floating maneuver used by adult birds when foraging.

Barred Owl

The lovely brown and white striped Barred Owl can be spotted primarily in eastern Texas, although it can also be sighted in Austin and San Antonio. These owls can be found in various forest types but prefer those adjacent to rivers and lakes. They like nesting in hollows created by trees naturally but also utilize abandoned twig nests of other species on occasion.

The Barred Owl features a round head with dark brown eyes that are almost black. The plumages of both males and females are similar, with the females’ being somewhat larger. These owls lack ear tufts. The Barred Owl sleeps on well-hidden perches during the day. Although it has excellent camouflage, the Barred Owl rarely utilizes this to prevent danger.

Instead, it flees at the slightest provocation. Barred Owls are fiercely protective of their space, with the females being more hostile during nesting time. These birds are monogamous and are thought to be life partners. It hunts small animals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates primarily from a perch but occasionally hunts on a flight.

They have been spotted executing a type of airborne attack in which they clash with other birds first with their talons. They are primarily nocturnal, yet it is more active in the daytime than other owls.

Eastern Screech-owl

The Eastern Screech-Owls are plentiful in the eastern parts of the state. These little owls can be found in nearly every wooded region in Texas other than in the far western borders. Because Screech-owls do not migrate, they can be sighted throughout the year in Texas. With their short, stocky bodies and grey plumage, the Eastern Screech-Owls resemble the Western Screech-Owl in looks. Screech-owls, however, have no necks.

The feathers of the Eastern Screech Owls have two color variants: gray and reddish-brown. While Northern Texas has the reddish variants, they are not found in Southern Texas. Instead of hooting, they create even-pitched trilling noises that resemble the sound of a high-pitched horse. These birds often avoid locations where other larger owls, such as the Great Horned Owl, are present.

They, however, don’t appear to care about people because they prefer to brood on top of lampposts, adjacent to busy roadways/highways, or within public parks. When it comes to protecting their little territories, males undertake most of the labor and feed females and the young ones when they first hatch. Both parents help raise the chicks together.

Even though the Screech Owls are usually monogamous, some males have been observed mating with two females simultaneously throughout the mating season, indicating that they do not create long mating partnerships.

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl is a tiny owl prevalent in Central and South America’s tropics. In the United States, they are inhabitants of Southern Texas and Arizona only. Even there, they are very rare. Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls have golden eyes and pale brows. The plumage coloring ranges from grey-brown with a black-and-white striped tail to a vivid rust hue with a homogeneous rusty tail.

These owls have 2 dark markings on the rear of their heads and necks known as “false eyes,” which deter birds from approaching from behind. Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls prefer semi-open forested settings, which makes hunting easier. In Texas, these owls prefer lowlands to higher elevations.

Unlike other owl species that hunt at dusk and dawn, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls are more active during the daytime, but on bright, still nights, they can be overheard singing. A Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl’s call is a fast and monotonous hooting. It is known to repeat the same noises subsequently in a row without pause.

During the day, they can be seen settled in the shades of trees or bushes, always vigilant. Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls have strong talons and can seize larger prey, like tiny birds that they sometimes hunt. Usually, hunting is done from a perch; however, birds and insects can be caught in the foliage with quick movements.

For the majority of the year, Ferruginous Pygmy Owls are territorial. They commonly use nests abandoned by woodpeckers in tree holes, other birds’ mud nests, and exposed nests of termites in trees. The nesting place is usually high up, but it can also be low to the ground. 

Elf Owl

In Texas, the Elf Owl is the tiniest. During summertime, they can be exclusively sighted around the Mexican border in Texas. They migrate south into Mexico throughout the wintertime to maintain enough food sources, as their diet consists virtually entirely of insects. As a result of environmental degradation, they are increasingly becoming extinct in Texas.

The tops of these owls’ spherical heads are devoid of “ear tufts” or plumes. The color of their plumage is grayish. Their beaks are gray and eyes pale yellow, with thin white “eyebrows” that draw attention to them.  Like other owls, elf owls have very good eyesight. While they can’t see in completely dark conditions, the Elf Owls can see in dim light pretty well.

These owls also have good hearing and often use it to identify and locate their prey in full dark instead of sight. Elf owls are known for their flight which is deemed to be silent. Softened plumes on the leading edges of their wings diminish the noise of their wing flap. They can therefore advance on their prey without making any noise. Unlike most other owls, the Elf Owl does not need to be stealthy when flying because it only hunts bugs like moths.

Another unique characteristic of the Elf Owl is that they would rather act dead than fight when attacked. These owls are usually solitary species but may congregate in small clusters during the migration or when chasing after predators. Elf Owls remain in couples during the mating season and become quite territorial. Males create territories, which both males and females then guard through the use of music. These owls prefer to raise their chicks in abandoned woodpecker nests on cactus and poplars. 

Western Screech-owl

The Western Screech-Owls inhabit most of western North America, from Southeast Alaska to west Texas and Mexico. They settle and breed in various locations throughout these regions, from deciduous and evergreen woods, lowland rivers, riparian environments, deserts, scrubland, and urban parks. However, they prefer open woodlands with plenty of small animals and insect food, as well as holes for breeding.

These owls have an adorable, round, stocky look with brown or reddish feathers. On the abdomen, they have gray streaks. Western Screech-Owls have large, soulful yellow eyes, short ear tufts (rufous), and tiny black beaks. The females are slightly larger than the males. Because their body merges in with the tree barks, these owls have excellent camouflage and like to dwell in trees where they can spy on their prey from a safe distance.

If it detects a threat or gets disrupted at roost, a Screech-Owl will often lift its body from head to toe, close its eyes slightly, and stay completely still – all in the hopes of melding in with the tree and tricking potential attackers into thinking they are looking at tree bark. These owl species actively hunt at night and only feed on small rodents, reptiles, and insects since they are so tiny. When guarding a nest location, this owl can be violent and even attack humans.

Despite their name, the Western Shriek-Owl does not make a screeching sound. Instead, its’ call consists of a sequence of trills that resemble the sound of a bouncing ball. Males and females sing or cry to warn of predators or other threats, ask for food, or communicate with their mates. Western Screech-Owls stay away from deep woodlands and higher altitude forests, which Great Horned Owls use. 

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Northern Saw-whet Owls are nearly as tiny as Elf Owls and Peru’s Long-whiskered Owlets and have a broad, rounded head with no ear tufts and bright yellow eyes. These owl species are almost entirely nocturnal and primarily prey at twilight and dawn.

When hunting, the Northern Saw-whet Owls commonly sits and waits from low hunting perches to swoop down onto ground-level to catch their prey. They also roam through woodland areas and hunt in dense shrubbery. Saw-whet of the North Owls feed almost exclusively on tiny mammals; the most common are deer mice, shrews, and voles.

During the day, the Northern Saw-whet Owls will use their feathers for camouflage as they perch silently in dense cover under plants, frequently near the ground. When threatened, this owl will stretch its body to resemble a tree limb or hump, typically extending one wing towards the front of the body.

Saw-whet of the North Owls build their nests in natural holes or in ancient woodpecker cavities. Usually, the female is in charge of hatching and nurturing while the male goes off hunting.

Because of their migratory nature, these birds rarely return to the same nest site repeatedly. Long-lasting pair connections are also uncommon. During the mating season, males give a repetitive tooting sound late at night that can go on hours nonstop. 

 Long-eared owl

Long-eared Owls inhabit thick forests near meadows and open woods and shrub regions in the northern hemisphere. Northern birds travel south, including European migrants who spend the winter in the UK, while southern birds are non-migratory who only travel short trips in search of food. A medium-sized owl, the Long-eared Owl is smaller than a woodpigeon.

It has long, thin plumes on its head (known as ear tufts, even though they are not ears) that it lifts when scared. It also features vivid orange eyes and is buff-brown with deep brown stripes. Long-eared owls are reclusive, often only observed during their migration or departing or coming to a collective roost site in the wintertime.

Mammals are the primary food source for Long-eared Owls. While voles are the most typical prey in most locations, in others, it is deer mice. Long-eared Owls prowl at night, primarily from late night to just before dawn, flying low to the ground to pursue unsuspecting prey.

When their mark is spotted, the owl swoops down and uses its formidable talons to hold the animal to the ground. Smaller prey is usually promptly eaten or taken away in the beak, while larger prey is carried on their claws. 

Long-eared Owls prefer to forage in open grasslands, clearings, and empty fields and seldom hunt in the woods where they nest and lay their eggs. To communicate, these owls will make a series of low hoots.

Short-eared Owl

The Short-eared Owl is a medium-sized owl with a round head, short neck, tawny-brown speckled belly, and light or dark brown back. These owls also have light-colored cheeks with brilliant yellow eyes outlined in black and unusually ruffled feathers. The wings are large, with smooth rounded ends.

This owl species, however, lack ear tufts. Although present all over North America, in Texas, the Short-eared Owl occasionally visits in the wintertime, with rare sightings in the spring and fall seasons. They will often be seen in farms, meadows, pastures, and even airports at twilight or morning when found in Texas.

Short-eared Owls prefer to live and build their nests on land in open areas. When intruders invade their nests, a Short-eared Owl will entice them away from the nest by skipping away and acting handicapped.

Short-eared Owls are among the most popular owls seen during the day as they like to hunt during this time when voles, their preferred food, are active. Other small mammals, frogs, and birds make up their diet.

Short-eared Owls do not make a lot of sounds, but when they do, it usually sounds similar to that of a cat hunting for a mate. 

 Barn Owl

Barn owls are one of the world’s most widely distributed bird species, with ten subspecies found across every continent except Antarctica. Compared to European Barn owls, the North American barn owls have stronger feet and legs and are heavier. Despite their size, these owl species are timid.

Barn owls can be observed all over Texas. With a light, heart-shaped face and big, black eyes, the Barn owl is among the most visually distinctive birds. These owls have golden backs and speckled tawny-gray plumage, enabling them to merge with a wide range of environments.

The lower parts of Barn owls could be red or white, and the variant with white bottoms may reflect moonlight, luring mice into easy targets. Females’ feathers are usually darker than males’. Just as many other owls, they are exclusively nocturnal. At nightfall, one can hear their creepy stretched screeches as they swoop above.

Barn owls have a quiet, elegant, and quick flight; a three-foot wingspan to a one-pound bodyweight allows them to soar instead of flapping. These birds are also excellent hunters due to their remarkable hearing and low-light sight.

Barn owls in North America are solitary birds but may couple up during the mating season. These owls breed all year, with males favoring speckled females, possibly because more spots indicate better health: females with more spots may have fewer parasites.

This bird inhabits various environments, including open regions, scrubs, agricultural fields, and human-affected areas, where it lives and breeds. Barn owls are beneficial to their environments because they hunt on crop pests like rats and mice.

The typical lifespan of a barn owl in North America is four years. 

Spotted Owl

Only a limited portion of North America is home to the Spotted Owl. Its distribution is fragmented, which means that individual groups are separated geographically, making it very hard for them to interact. Only found in the western wooded areas of Texas, Spotted Owls are increasingly becoming rare due to deforestation and rivalry with the Barred Owl for habitat. The white and brown markings on the Spotted Owl’s belly, head, and back give it its name.

The Spotted Owl is a medium-sized owl with skin that is a dusky-chestnut brown. While the eyes of most other owls are yellow or orange/red, Spotted Owls’ eyes are entirely black. These owls are grouped into three subspecies; Northern, Mexican, and California Spotted Owls. The Northern Spotted owl is the darkest brown with the tiniest spots and has darker facial disks than the other owls. The Spotted Owl does not have ear tufts. 

The Spotted Owl is an excellent hunter. One of the ways it detects and traps prey is by using its incredible hearing and pinpointing abilities. Like those of other owls, the ear apertures of the Spotted Owl are lopsided; one ear hole is closer to the top on one side of the head, while the other is lower down on the opposite side.

One ear-opening may also be a little further forward on the head, whereas the ear opening on the opposite side is far back; this allows owls to pinpoint noises better, making it easier for them to find prey. The primary food sources of the Spotted Owl are flying squirrels and woodrats. Additionally, it consumes small reptiles, bats, and small birds, 

These owls prefer high and cool areas, such as trees and cliff nests at elevations greater than 5,000 feet. White pine and Douglas fir are their favorite trees. 

The Snowy Owl

The tundra, or vast, treeless parts of the Arctic, are home to these huge owls. Snowy owls may appear in Texas once or twice a decade. During the natural phenomena known as irruption, these owls fly far further south than they would otherwise and can be seen in Texas. It is speculated that this transpires if the number of lemmings and voles, the Snowy Owl’s primary prey, drops to dangerously low levels.

As a result, these owls would have to journey more and much farther in quest of food. This pale-coloured owl with catlike golden eyes is the largest (by weight) North American owl that infrequently appears in the cold season to hunt on windswept fields or dunes.

Male Snowy owls become whiter as they age. They have a whiter complexion than the females’ which never turn entirely white, remaining brownish with deeper patterns.

Snowy owls usually fly low and sit on small poles or on the ground to wait for prey. Once they’ve located their target, they stalk it from the air and snare it with their enormous, pointed claws.

These birds are lively throughout the day and are most active in the morning and evening.  Although snowy owls have superb vision, they cannot see their prey when it is hidden behind snow or a thick layer of vegetation. The owl uses its other great sense, hearing, to catch those foods.