The 13 Types of Owls in Texas and Where to Find Them

The 13 Types of Owls in Texas and Where to Find Them

Texas (TX) is home to some of the most famous North American birding sites. Situated in the southern United States and bordering Mexico, Texas is in the perfect position to have a massive bird list as it lies along the flight paths of a diverse range of migratory species. It is one of the largest states that encompasses a vast array of habitats and, as a result, has a bird list of around 670 species.

Owls are a nocturnal bird group that has enchanted people for centuries. They feed on small mammals, birds, and a host of other creatures under the depths of the night. They typically hunt from perches, pouncing onto unsuspecting prey, killing and swallowing them whole after removing the heads. They have exceptional vision and hearing, allowing them to locate prey quickly.

It doesn’t matter where you are in the state; an excellent birding spot will be pretty close by. In the northwest, Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge is the go-to spot. The northeast has sites such as Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge and Lake Tawakoni State Park. In the center, it is worth visiting Lost Maples State Natural Area and Mitchell Lake Audubon Center. The coastline is dotted with hotspots such as Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Galveston Island State Park, Brazos Bend State Park, South Padre Island, Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, High Island, and Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. Along the border with Mexico, you will find Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Big Bend National Park, and Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, to name a few.

In total, 17 species of owls have been seen in Texas. Four of those, namely the Snowy Owl, Northern Pygmy Owl, Stygian Owl, and Mottled Owl, are rare vagrants that you are not likely to see in the state. In the following article, we look into the details surrounding the 13 regularly occurring native types of owls in Texas and indicate where they are found.

These Are The 13 Owls that You Can See in Texas

1. Short-eared Owl

  • Scientific nameAsio flammeus
  • Lifespan – 4 years (average), 12 years (maximum recorded)
  • Size – 13.4 to 16.9 in (34 to 43 cm)
  • Weight – 7.3 to 16.8 oz (206 to 475 g)
  • Wingspan – 33.5 to 40.5 in (85 to 103 cm)
  • Status – Least concern

The Short-eared Owl is a medium-sized owl with, as the name suggests, short ear tufts. Their uppersides are white and buff with dark spotting, while the underside is buffy with heavy brown streaking. They have whitish faces with dark patches around their yellow eyes.

The underwing is pale, but dark barring is evident on the wing tips, and a dark comma is seen on the “wrist.”

They are generally quiet, and you are unlikely to hear them in Texas. They only make hoots during courtship.

They make their nests on the ground amongst low shrubs and grasses – typically on a hummock, ridge, or knoll in dry grassland. The nest is a bowl-shaped scrape in the dirt lined with grasses and downy feathers.

Short-eared owl

Females lay one to eleven eggs in each clutch. The eggs are incubated for 21 to 37 days, and the hatchlings remain in the nest for 12 to 18 days before they fledge.

They feed on a wide range of animals, mainly consisting of small mammals and birds. Their favorite prey items are voles and mice, but other small mammals they feed on are lemmings, rats, bats, shrews, pocket gophers, weasels, and rabbits. They eat shorebirds, gulls, terns, storm petrels, and songbirds too.

The Short-eared Owl is a species of low conservation concern as they have a stable population overall. However, long-term local declines have been witnessed over recent years. The population is estimated to comprise 2.3 million breeding individuals, but it does fluctuate according to their prey cycles. This species faces habitat loss and fragmentation, especially of grasslands, due to development, as well as human disturbance, overgazing and agricultural practices as threats.

The Short-eared Owl is an uncommon migratory species that visits Texas during winter. They usually inhabit open areas such as meadows, grasslands, savannahs, shrubsteppe areas, marshes, agricultural lands, dunes, and tundra.

They also occur in fields, woodlots, dumps, quarries, gravel pits, and thickets in winter. They are found throughout the state, but some of the best places to look for this owl are Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge, and Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary.

2. Great Horned Owl

  • Scientific nameBubo virginianus
  • Lifespan – 13 years (average), 28 years (maximum recorded)
  • Size – 18.1 to 24.8 in (46 to 63 cm)
  • Weight – 32.1 to 88.2 oz (910 to 2500 g)
  • Wingspan – 39.8 to 57.1 in (101 to 145 cm)
  • Status – Least concern

The Great Horned Owl is the biggest owl in Texas and has significant ear tufts. They have a grey-brown appearance with a grey or red-brown facial disk and mottling on the body. Their throats are white, and they have pale underwings.

This vocal species produces a loud series of hoots sounding like hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo.

They don’t make their own nests but rather take over old stick nests created by other bird species, like hawks, crows, herons, or ravens, in trees. Occasionally, they nest in holes in trees, cliff ledges, platforms, and abandoned buildings. They line the nest with downy feathers, leaves, and bark.

Great horned owl

During nesting, the females lay one to four eggs per clutch, and the chicks hatch 30 to 37 days later. Once hatched, the chicks leave the nest after 42 days.

Great Horned Owls are formidable predators that feed on a massive prey size range. They sometimes feed on other birds that are heavier than themselves. Their favorite prey items are mammals and birds, including hares, mice, rabbits, and coots.

Other mammal species include moles, voles, shrews, squirrels, prairie dogs, bats, porcupines, rats, gophers, and chipmunks. In terms of birds, they feed on waterfowl, corvids, doves, starlings, and pigeons. Occasionally, they eat insects, reptiles, fish, arachnids, carrion, and large raptors like other owls, the Prairie Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, and Osprey.

They are a species of low conservation concern owing to their excellent adaptability, which allows them to survive in changing environments. They have a wide distribution and a population estimated to comprise approximately 5.7 million breeding birds, which is stable. They are threatened by illegal hunting and pesticide build-up in their systems from eating poisoned prey items.

Great Horned Owls are common Texas residents found all over the state in many localities. They inhabit diverse habitat types, especially swamps, orchards, woodlands, agricultural areas, and many forest types.

They also inhabit open and semi-open habitats such as deserts, grasslands, wetlands, fields, suburban and urban environments. They are found in places such as Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, and Lake Tawakoni State Park.

3. Barred Owl

  • Scientific nameStrix varia
  • Lifespan – 8 years (average), 26 years (maximum recorded)
  • Size – 16.9 to 19.7 in (43 to 50 cm)
  • Weight – 16.6 to 37 oz (470 to 1050 g)
  • Wingspan – 39 to 43.3 in (99 to 110 cm)
  • Status – Least concern

The Barred Owl is a large owl with dark eyes, a yellow beak, and no ear tufts. They have a buffy underside, with horizontal barring on the chest and vertical streaks on the belly. Their upperside is brown with white mottling, and the tail and wings have brown bars.

Their call is distinct, sounding like they’re saying Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?

Barred owl

They typically nest in natural tree cavities but may also use old stick nests made by other species, such as hawks, corvids, and squirrels, or in nest boxes. They sometimes line the nest with lichen, other plant material, or feathers.

Their clutches range in size from one to five eggs, which hatch after 28 to 33 days. The hatchlings fledge after 28 to 35 days.

Barred Owls primarily feed on small mammals such as rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, mice, and voles. They also prey upon amphibians, reptiles, insects, fish, crustaceans, and birds.

The Barred Owl is a species of low conservation concern with a population estimated to comprise 3.5 million breeding individuals. The population has shown an increasing trend of around 1.1% per year for the past five decades.

The growing trend could be linked to their range expansion, which has taken place to the north and west. The reasons behind their range expansion are boreal forest fire suppression and the planting of trees in the Great Plains region. Their main threat is logging.

The Barred Owl is a common species in Texas that occurs throughout the year in the eastern and southern parts of the state.

They inhabit extensive, intact mature forests of many kinds containing streams and swamps. They can be seen at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, Lost Maples State Natural Area, and Mitchell Lake Audubon Center.

4. Eastern Screech Owl

  • Scientific nameMegascops asio
  • Lifespan – 4 years (average), 14 years (maximum recorded)
  • Size – 6.3 to 9.8 in (16 to 25 cm)
  • Weight – 4.3 to 8.6 oz (121 to 244 g)
  • Wingspan – 18.9 to 24 in (48 to 61 cm)
  • Status – Least concern

The Eastern Screech Owl is a small dumpy owl with small ear tufts. They have grey plumage overall, with thin dark barring and thicker vertical streaks. They have pale faces with yellow eyes and dark beaks.

In southern Texas, the birds may have a pale beak. A red morph also exists and is similar to the grey morph except for the red plumage, darker streaking, and a line of white feathers that is present on the underside.

Eastern screech owl

Their typical call is a trill whinny.

This species frequently nests in old tree cavities excavated by squirrels and woodpeckers. They also nest in nest boxes. No lining is placed on the nest.

Females lay two to six eggs per clutch. The eggs are incubated for 27 to 34 days, and the nestlings leave after 26 to 30 days.

They feed on many small mammals and birds. Mammalian prey includes mice, rats, moles, squirrels, and rabbits. Bird prey includes swallows, finches, flycatchers, waxwings, jays, doves, woodpeckers, grouses, shorebirds, and thrushes. In addition, they eat frogs, lizards, crayfish, earthworms, and many insects.

The Eastern Screech Owl is a species of low conservation concern, but their population has declined by around 37% over the past five decades. Their total population is estimated to comprise 560,000 breeding individuals.

They are threatened by habitat loss, but they adapt well to urban environments as they have a varied diet and a range of nesting places.

The Eastern Screech Owl is a common species in Texas that can be found throughout the year in most of the state.

They inhabit an extensive range of suitable wooded habitats with adequate tree cover, including farmlands, suburban areas, cities, and woodlands with water courses. They are located at Lake Tawakoni State Park, Lost Maples State Natural Area, and Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park.

5. Burrowing Owl

  • Scientific nameAthene cunicularia
  • Lifespan – 6 years (average), 10 years (maximum recorded)
  • Size – 7.5 to 9.8 in (19 to 25 cm)
  • Weight – 4.9 to 8.5 oz (140 to 240 g)
  • Wingspan – 20.1 to 24 in (51 to 61 cm)
  • Status – Least concern

The Burrowing Owl is a unique-looking ear-tuftless owl with long legs. This small owl has dark brown upper parts with white or sandy spots. The breast resembles the upper parts, while the belly is creamy with dark horizontal bars. They have a brown head, a white throat, yellow eyes, white eyebrow marks, and a yellow beak.

They don’t often vocalize, but their most commonly heard call is a coo-ing call consisting of two notes.

As their name suggests, these owls have the unique habit of nesting in burrows. They typically use burrows excavated by mammals such as prairie dogs, badgers, ground squirrels, armadillos, skunks, and tortoises.

Burrowing owl

The nesting burrow is usually lined with manure from livestock, grasses, feathers, or other matter. They occasionally dig burrows themselves.

Their clutch size ranges from two to twelve eggs. The eggs are incubated for 28 to 30 days, and once they’ve hatched, the nestlings leave the nest after 44 to 53 days.

They feed on many insects, such as grasshoppers, beetles, moths, dragonflies, water bugs, caterpillars, and crickets. Mammalian prey includes shrews, mice, voles, weasels, ground squirrels, rabbits, and bats. They also eat small birds, lizards, earthworms, amphibians, scorpions, turtles, and snakes.

The Burrowing Owl is not a species of conservation concern, but they have declined by around 4% per year in parts of the United States and by 3.5% per year in Canada over the past five decades.

They have a total population of approximately 18 million breeding individuals. It is an endangered species in Canada. Destruction of habitat and poisoning of burrowing mammals because of development and agriculture has impacted the Burrowing Owl negatively.

Domestic cats and dogs, vehicle collisions, illegal hunting, entanglement in artificial structures, and pesticides also threaten them.

The Burrowing Owl is a relatively common species that occurs in the northwest parts of the state at all times of the year. They inhabit open areas with very low, sparse vegetation and no trees on sloping terrain.

Habitats include grasslands, prairies, steppe environments, deserts, agricultural lands, pastures, golf courses, airports, embankments, and suitable urban areas. They are sometimes seen along the coast, but more specific sites are around Lubbock, Amarillo, and the Laureles Division of King Ranch near Kingsville.

6. Barn Owl

  • Scientific nameTyto alba
  • Lifespan – 4 years (average), 15 years (maximum recorded)
  • Size – 12.6 to 15.8 in (32 to 40 cm)
  • Weight – 14.1 to 24.7 oz (400 to 700 g)
  • Wingspan – 39.4 to 49.2 in (100 to 125 cm)
  • Status – Least concern

Barn Owls are medium-sized, ghostly owls with no ear tufts. They have whitish underparts, while the upper parts are buffy-cinnamon and grey. Their faces are whitish, distinctly shaped like a heart, and they have dark eyes.

Their call is quite un-owl-like – a raspy scream.

Barn owls aren’t picky nesters – using tree cavities, cliff crevices, burrows in banks, caves, abandoned buildings, and nest boxes as nesting sites. The nest is made from regurgitated pellets that are shaped into a cup.

Barn owl perched

They can lay huge clutches ranging from two to eighteen eggs in each. The eggs are incubated for 29 to 34 days, and the nestlings remain in the nest for reasonably long – a period of 50 to 55 days.

They eat small mammals such as rats, voles, lemmings, mice, shrews, rabbits, and bats. On occasion, they feed on blackbirds, meadowlarks, and starlings.

The Barn Owl is a species of low conservation concern as their population is thought to have increased over the past five decades. They have an estimated total population size of 3.6 million breeding individuals.

The main threats Barn Owls face are the transformation of agricultural areas to developed areas and the loss of nesting sites. They were also impacted by DDT poisoning as their rodent prey items were killed using the pesticide.

The Barn Owl is relatively common and widespread in Texas, occurring throughout the year. They inhibit many open environments, including grasslands, marshes, agricultural areas, deserts, woodlots, forest strips, scrubby fields, suburban and urban areas.

Although they appear in many places, some good locations are Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, and Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge.

7. Western Screech Owl

  • Scientific nameMegascops kennicottii
  • Lifespan – 8 years (average), 14 years (maximum recorded)
  • Size – 7.5 to 9.8 in (19 to 25 cm)
  • Weight – 3.5 to 10.8 oz (100 to 305 g)
  • Wingspan – 21.6 to 24.4 in (55 to 62 cm)
  • Status – Least concern

The Western Screech Owl is a small dumpy owl with tiny ear tufts. They have two color morphs – brownish-red and grey. The grey morph is the only one seen in Texas. They have a dark outline around the pale face, a dark beak, dark streaking on the paler underside, and yellow eyes. The upper side has white marks.

Their call is a loud series of whistled hoots that becomes faster at the end. It is reminsiscint of a boucing ping-pong ball.

These owls are cavity nesters, usually using abandoned woodpecker nests in trees. They sometimes nest in naturally formed tree cavities and rarely in holes on cliff ledges and banks. They may nest in nest boxes in well-wooded areas.

Western screech owl

Females lay two to seven eggs in a clutch, which are incubated for 26 to 34 days. Once hatched, the nestlings remain in the nest for 35 days.

Western Screech Owls mainly feed on small mammals but also eat birds, fish, amphibians, and crustaceans. In terms of mammals, they eat mice, rats, shrews, bats, and rabbits. Other prey items include scorpions, snails, worms, and slugs.

The Western Screech Owl is a species of low conservation concern as they have a population size of 180,000 breeding individuals. However, the population may have declined over the past five decades.

The arrival of the Barred Owl threatens them since they are fierce predators that have expanded their range into the Pacific Northwest. Forest clearing and human development have reduced the number of suitable nesting sites and led to their decline.

This species is aided by its ability to adjust to human presence and use nest boxes.

Western Screech Owls have a small range in the west and central Texas but are common residents. They inhabit forests of many types, particularly those that are deciduous next to streams and other water bodies.

They also occur in mountains, coastal areas, parks, deserts, canyons, and suburban regions. They can be seen at locations such as Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, and Davis Mountains Preserve.

8. Ferruginous Pygmy Owl

  • Scientific nameGlaucidium brasilianum
  • Lifespan – 7 years (maximum recorded)
  • Size – 6.7 to 7.9 in (17 to 20 cm)
  • Weight – 1.6 to 3.8 oz (46 to 107 g)
  • Wingspan – 14.6 to 16.1 in (37 to 41 cm)
  • Status – Least concern

The Ferruginous Pygmy Owl is a small owl that lacks ear tufts. Their plumage is rusty-brown to grey-brown, and their backs are plain. They have two dark patches behind their heads that look like eyes.

Their faces have two white eyebrow stripes above their yellow eyes. They have whitish undersides with brownish streaking.

They typically make a series of loud whistles.

Ferruginous pygmy owl

This owl nests in old cavities in trees or giant cacti. The cavity is usually made and abandoned by a woodpecker species or a naturally formed hole.

The clutch size ranges from three to five eggs per clutch. The eggs take 28 days to hatch, and the hatchlings fledge after 27 to 30 days.

They feed on many insects, including caterpillars, crickets, and beetles, as well as small birds, scorpions, small mammals, and lizards.

The Ferruginous Pygmy Owl is a species of least concern as they have a massive population of approximately 50 million individuals. They have a decreasing population trend due to threats like habitat destruction, fragmentation, and development.

The Ferruginous Pygmy Owl is an uncommon range-restricted species in south Texas. They inhabit semi-open habitats, thorny thickets, and riverine woodlands.

They can be seen throughout the year at the Norias Division of King Ranch, Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, and San Miguelito Ranch.

9. Flammulated Owl

  • Scientific namePsiloscops flammeolus
  • Lifespan – 7 years (maximum recorded)
  • Size – 5.9 to 6.7 in (15 to 17 cm)
  • Weight – 1.5 to 2.2 oz (43 to 63 g)
  • Wingspan – 15.9 to 16.1 in (40.5 to 41 cm)
  • Status – Least concern

The Flammulated Owl is a tiny reddish or grey owl with dark eyes and small ear tufts. They have pale bellies with dark streaks and rusty areas. The rest of their body is grey, brown, or reddish.

Their name is derived from the reddish pattern that looks like flames. An orangy scapular stripe is present on each side of the body.

Flammulated Owl

Their typical call is a low-pitched hoot.

This species uses cavities in trees to nest in – usually abandoned woodpecker nests or natural cavities. They sometimes take over nest boxes.

Females lay two to three eggs in each clutch. The chicks hatch after 21 to 24 days, and the hatchlings leave the nest after 25 days.

They feed almost exclusively on insects. Their favorite prey items are moths, grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, and other bugs. Rarely do they also feed on bats, mice, shrews, and birds.

The Flammulated Owl is under surveillance due to a declining population and restricted range. The total breeding population is estimated to consist of 5,500 individuals. They are threatened by the loss of old forests due to logging and a low reproduction rate. Pesticides also impact them after their prey is poisoned.

The Flammulated Owl is a rare migratory species that visits the far west of Texas during summer. They occur in dry montane forests consisting of tall coniferous trees (mainly ponderosa pine and fir trees) interspersed with oak and Douglas-fir trees.

Vagrant birds have been found in many habitats, such as parks, desert oases, and riparian forests. They can be seen at a few locations, including Davis Mountains Preserve, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, and Big Bend National Park.

10. Elf Owl

  • Scientific nameMicrathene whitneyi
  • Lifespan – 5 years (maximum recorded)
  • Size – 4.7 to 5.5 in (12 to 14 cm)
  • Weight – 1.2 to 1.9 oz (35 to 55 g)
  • Wingspan – 10.6 to 13 in (27 to 33 cm)
  • Status – Least concern

The Elf Owl is arguably the smallest raptor in the world. Their tiny bodies have no ear tufts and are grey or rufous. They have a brown face, yellow eyes, and white markings above the eyes that look like eyebrows.

The upper side has grey, rusty, white, and brown speckles and spots, while the scapular feathers have white tips that form white stripes, one on either side of the body. Their undersides have brownish-grey streaking and white mottling.

They make a sound reminiscent of a puppy yapping in a series that descends in frequency throughout the call.

The Elf Owl usually nests in tree and cactus cavities excavated by woodpeckers. Occasionally, they nest in nest boxes.

One to five eggs are laid in each clutch and are incubated for 24 days. The nestlings stay in the nest for an additional 28 to 33 days before they leave.

They feed on insects and other arthropods mainly. Their most frequently captured prey items are moths, crickets, and beetles. They also feed on mantids, cicadas, grasshoppers, flies, stick insects, spiders, scorpions, lizards, snakes, and other small animals.

The Elf Owl is a species of fairly low conservation concern as they have a total breeding population of approximately 72,000 individuals. Threats include habitat loss due to development, mining, overgrazing, and agriculture. Their population is declining, but they have expanded their range into the United States in recent decades.

Elf Owls are fairly common in Texas. They occur in many desert and woodland habitats, such as thorn forests, pine-oak forests, riparian forests, and well-wooded neighborhoods.

They are migratory and only found in the western part of the state during summer. They can be seen at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Big Bend National Park, and Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge.

11. Northern Saw-whet Owl

  • Scientific nameAegolius acadicus
  • Lifespan – 4 years (average), 10 years (maximum recorded)
  • Size – 7.1 to 8.3 in (18 to 21 cm)
  • Weight – 2.3 to 5.3 oz (65 to 151 g)
  • Wingspan – 16.5 to 18.9 in (42 to 48 cm)
  • Status – Least concern

The Northern Saw-whet Owl is a small owl that lacks ear tufts. Their undersides are mottled light brown and white, while their heads are light brown with white streaking, and they have a distinct white V between their yellow eyes. The upperside is brown with white spotting.

They produce a loud, too-too-too call.

These owls nest in holes in trees created by woodpeckers and also in nest boxes.

Northern saw-whet owl

The females lay four to seven eggs in each clutch, and the incubation lasts for 26 to 29 days. Once the nestlings have hatched, they remain in the nest for 27 to 34 days.

They feed almost exclusively on small mammals, especially mice, shrews, voles, bats and juvenile squirrels, pocket gophers, and chipmunks.

They also sometimes eat birds such as kinglets, chickadees, sparrows, warblers, waxwings, and robins. Insect prey items that are occasionally eaten are grasshoppers and moths.

The Northern Saw-whet Owl has a breeding population estimated to consist of 2 million individuals. That makes it a species of low conservation concern.

They face threats such as habitat loss due to logging and development. In some areas, they have declined in population size. Luckily they accept nest boxes, which may balance out the declines caused by the removal of nesting sites.

The Northern Saw-whet Owl is a rare migratory species that occurs in western Texas during summer. They occur in mature deciduous and coniferous forests, as well as shrub-steppe environments, swamps, woodlands, savannahs, and riverine forests. They are only found in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park and potentially in Davis Mountains Preserve.

12. Long-eared Owl

  • Scientific nameAsio otus
  • Lifespan – 11 years (average), 27 years (maximum recorded)
  • Size – 13.8 to 15.8 in (35 to 40 cm)
  • Weight – 7.8 to 15.3 oz (220 to 435 g)
  • Wingspan – 35.4 to 39.4 in (90 to 100 cm)
  • Status – Least concern

The Long-eared Owl is medium-sized and has its name-sake long ear tufts. The underparts of this species are pale buff with dark streaking. The upper side is greyish-brown with buff, brown and black patches. They have an orange face with two white lines between the yellow eyes.

This species is usually quiet, but they sometimes make a whoo call.

They usually nest on old stick nests made by other species, such as magpies, ravens, crows, and hawks. Rarely, they nest in tree and cliff holes or squirrel nests.

Between two and ten eggs are laid in each clutch. The eggs are incubated for 25 to 30 days, and the nestlings leave 20 to 27 days later.

They mainly feed on small mammals such as mice, voles, rats, shrews, rabbits, and pocket gophers. They also eat small birds, snakes, and lizards on occasion.

Long-eared Owls are a species of low conservation concern as they have a population size of 520,000 breeding individuals. The population is thought to be declining, and they are threatened by habitat loss and disturbance.

The Long-eared Owl is an uncommon migratory species that occurs in the northwest of Texas during winter. They inhabit dense forests and open coniferous and deciduous woodlands adjacent to open shrublands and grasslands.

They may be seen around Lubbock, at Big Bend National Park, and in Dallas.

13. Spotted Owl

  • Scientific nameStrix occidentalis
  • Lifespan – 10 years (average), 21 years (maximum recorded)
  • Size – 18.5 to 18.9 in (47 to 48 cm)
  • Weight – 17.6 to 24.7 oz (500 to 700 g)
  • Wingspan – 39.8 to 44.9 in (101 to 114 cm)
  • Status – Near-threatened

The Spotted Owl is a medium-sized owl that lacks ear tufts. They are brown overall, with white spots on the chest, belly, head, and upper parts. They have dark brown faces with whitish patches forming an X between the brown eyes.

This species’ most common call is a series of hoot notes.

Spotted Owls nest in broken-off tree tops, hollows in tree trunks, old squirrel and raptor nests, or mistletoe clumps.

Spotted owl

They sometimes nest on canyon walls and ledges in Texas and Mexico. Occasionally, they use human-made nesting holes. When making their own nest, they scrape a hole in the substrate of the nest site and line it with feathers.

Females lay one to four eggs in each clutch. The chicks hatch after 28 to 32 days, and the hatchlings learn to fledge after 34 to 36 days.

They mainly feed on small mammals, particularly flying squirrels and woodrats. They also sometimes feed on mice, voles, rabbits, hares, bats, and pocket gophers. Regarding other prey items, they eat insects, small birds, and amphibians.

The Spotted Owl is a species of significant conservation concern with a declining population of an estimated 15,000 breeding individuals.

The main reason for the decline is habitat loss due to cutting down old-growth forests, habitat degradation, human expansion, agricultural and water management practices, and mining. The presence of the Barred Owl within some of their range poses a threat as they can interbreed and compete for food.

The Spotted Owl is a highly localized resident species in western Texas. They inhabit densely covered, mature, undisturbed forest habitats containing large trees across their range.The pine-oak or mixed conifer forests include pine, Douglas-fir, or fir trees. They can only be seen at the Guadalupe Mountains National Park and the Davis Mountains Preserve.

Conclusion

Owls are a remarkable group of birds, and Texas has its fair share of them. The owls of texas range in size from the tiny Elf Owl to the giant Great Horned Owl, and they have a wide diversity of colors and patterns.

Many owls in Texas are widespread but still challenging to find due to their nocturnal habits. If you are lucky, you may find one roosting during the day or, in some cases, hunting during the day. The best way to find them is to listen out for their calls from dusk onwards and track them down.

Unfortunately, many owl populations have declined significantly over the past five decades due to several factors. The biggest threats that most species face are habitat destruction and the building up of poisons such as DDT in their prey items that indirectly kill the owls.

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3 comments
    • DDT is a chemical pesticide that was widely used in the past and is known for its long-lasting presence in the environment. When small animals or insects that form the diet of owls consume plants or other creatures contaminated with DDT, this poison accumulates in their bodies. This process is called bioaccumulation. When owls eat these contaminated animals, they ingest the accumulated DDT. Over time, the concentration of DDT can build up to harmful levels in the owls’ bodies through a process known as biomagnification. This can lead to health problems for the owls, including reproductive issues and even death.

  • Found a fledgling owl at my front door in Cypress Tx. What should I do ? It can’t fly. It stands about 10-12 inches high.