Types of Owls in Pennsylvania: A Complete Guide
Pennsylvania is home to several types of owls, including the great horned owl, barred owl, eastern screech-owl, barn owl, and the tiny northern saw-whet owl. These fascinating nocturnal birds of prey can be found in the state’s forests, farmland, and wooded suburbs. This guide covers how many owls live in Pennsylvania, the common species, how to tell them apart, where to see them, and how to find owls in the state.
| Owl | Key Features in Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Great Horned Owl | Large, ear tufts, deep hoots |
| Barred Owl | Forests, dark eyes, who-cooks call |
| Eastern Screech-Owl | Small, ear tufts, trilling call |
| Barn Owl | Pale, heart-shaped face |
| Long-eared Owl | Slim, long ear tufts, secretive |
| Short-eared Owl | Open country, flies by day |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Tiny, forests, tooting call |
How Many Types of Owls Live in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania hosts several species of owls, most as year-round residents, ranging from large, powerful hunters to tiny forest owls. The most familiar are the great horned owl, a large owl with prominent ear tufts, and the barred owl, an owl of forests and wooded swamps known for its distinctive call. The small eastern screech-owl is common in wooded neighborhoods, the pale barn owl haunts open country and structures, and the tiny northern saw-whet owl lives secretively in forests. The slim, secretive long-eared owl and the day-flying short-eared owl also occur, especially the short-eared owl in open country in winter, and the snowy owl visits occasionally from the arctic during some winters. Owls are birds of prey, mostly active at night, with excellent hearing and vision, silent flight, and sharp talons. Pennsylvania’s forests, farmland, and wetlands support this diversity. Understanding the owls of Pennsylvania begins with these species, part of the wider group covered in our guide to types of owls.
Common Owls in Pennsylvania
Several owls are especially notable in Pennsylvania. The great horned owl is a large, powerful owl with prominent ear tufts, yellow eyes, and deep hooting calls, found in many habitats and capable of taking sizable prey. The barred owl is a round-headed, dark-eyed owl of mature forests and wooded swamps, famous for its rhythmic call often described as “who cooks for you.” The eastern screech-owl is a small owl with ear tufts, occurring in gray and reddish color forms, that lives in wooded areas and neighborhoods and gives a trilling or whinnying call. The barn owl is a pale, ghostly owl with a distinctive heart-shaped face, often nesting in barns, silos, and nest boxes, though it has declined in the state. The northern saw-whet owl is a tiny, secretive owl of forests, with a repetitive tooting call, and the long-eared and short-eared owls round out the group, the short-eared owl often hunting over open ground by day. Each owl has its own look and voice, as explored in our guide to owl symbolism.
How to Tell Pennsylvania Owls Apart
Telling Pennsylvania’s owls apart is easier when you use size, head shape, eye color, and voice. Start with size, since the great horned owl is large, the barred and barn owls are medium-sized, the screech-owl and long-eared owl are small, and the saw-whet owl is tiny. Look for ear tufts, which the great horned owl, screech-owl, and long-eared owl have but the barred, barn, short-eared, and saw-whet owls largely lack. Note eye color, since the barred owl has dark brown eyes while most other Pennsylvania owls have yellow eyes, and the barn owl’s heart-shaped white face is unmistakable. Voice is very helpful, from the great horned owl’s deep hoots to the barred owl’s “who cooks for you,” the screech-owl’s trill, and the saw-whet owl’s tooting. Habitat and behavior help too, since the short-eared owl hunts over open ground, sometimes by day. By combining size, ear tufts, eye color, face shape, and voice, you can identify Pennsylvania’s owls, as explored in our guide to types of owls in Ohio.
Where to See Owls in Pennsylvania
Owls can be found throughout Pennsylvania in a range of habitats, depending on the species. The great horned owl occurs in forests, wooded edges, and open areas across the state, and the barred owl inhabits mature forests, wooded swamps, and river corridors. The eastern screech-owl lives in wooded neighborhoods, parks, and forests, readily using nest boxes, while the barn owl favors open country, farmland, and marshes, often nesting in structures. The northern saw-whet owl breeds and winters in forests, especially conifers, and can be surprisingly common though hard to detect, and the short-eared owl hunts over open fields, marshes, and reclaimed strip mines, mainly in winter. The long-eared owl roosts secretively in dense stands of trees. Pennsylvania’s extensive forests, farmland, and state game lands provide excellent owl habitat. Because owls are mostly nocturnal, patience and listening at dusk and night are key, though the short-eared owl can be seen hunting in daylight. The state’s varied habitats make it a rewarding place for owls, as detailed in our guide to types of hawks in Pennsylvania.
How to Find Owls in Pennsylvania
Finding owls in Pennsylvania is rewarding with the right approach, since most are active at night. Listening is one of the best strategies, since owls are often heard before they are seen, so going out at dusk and after dark to listen for their calls can reveal their presence, from the great horned owl’s deep hoots to the barred owl’s “who cooks for you” and the saw-whet owl’s tooting. Owls often call more in late winter and early spring during the breeding season. Looking for owls at dusk and dawn, when some are active, and scanning likely perches such as tree branches, snags, and posts can produce sightings. During the day, you can sometimes find roosting owls by watching for mobbing songbirds that gather to scold a hidden owl, or by checking known roost sites, and the short-eared owl can be seen hunting over open ground on winter afternoons. Respecting owls by keeping your distance and avoiding disturbance is important. With patient listening and looking, you can enjoy Pennsylvania’s owls, as reflected in our guide to bird symbolism.
The Great Horned Owl, Pennsylvania’s Powerful Predator
The great horned owl deserves special attention as one of Pennsylvania’s most formidable birds. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the great horned owl is a large, powerful owl with prominent ear tufts, and it is one of the earliest nesting birds, often laying eggs in late winter. In Pennsylvania, this impressive owl is found in forests, woodlots, and edges across the state, where its deep, soft hooting carries through the winter woods, often beginning in the cold months when the owls are already establishing nests and courting. The great horned owl is a fierce and adaptable hunter, taking a wide range of prey from mice and rabbits to skunks and other birds, thanks to its powerful talons and silent flight. Its early nesting means that by late winter, pairs are often already incubating eggs while snow is still on the ground. The great horned owl’s power, wide diet, and haunting hoots make it a remarkable Pennsylvania owl, as explored in our guide to owl symbolism.
The Ecological Role of Pennsylvania’s Owls
Pennsylvania’s owls play a valuable role in the environment, and appreciating it adds to their appeal. As nocturnal predators, owls help control populations of rodents, insects, and other small animals, providing natural pest control that benefits both wild habitats and areas near people. The great horned owl takes a wide range of prey, while smaller owls like the saw-whet owl focus on mice and other small creatures. Owls occupy an important place in the food web, and their presence is a sign of a functioning ecosystem with enough prey to support these predators. Because some owls, like the barn owl, have declined due to habitat loss, protecting their homes matters for keeping owls part of Pennsylvania’s landscape. Valuing owls for their ecological role, as well as their beauty and haunting calls, deepens the enjoyment of encountering these fascinating birds in the state’s forests and farmland.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many types of owls are in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania hosts several owl species, including the great horned owl, barred owl, eastern screech-owl, barn owl, long-eared owl, short-eared owl, and northern saw-whet owl.
What is the most common owl in Pennsylvania?
The great horned owl and barred owl are among the most common owls in Pennsylvania. The great horned owl has ear tufts and deep hoots, the barred owl a “who cooks for you” call.
What is the smallest owl in Pennsylvania?
The northern saw-whet owl is the smallest owl in Pennsylvania, a tiny, secretive owl of forests, especially conifers, known for its repetitive tooting call.
What is the largest owl in Pennsylvania?
The great horned owl is the largest common owl in Pennsylvania, a powerful bird with prominent ear tufts, yellow eyes, and deep hooting calls, found in many habitats.
How do you tell Pennsylvania owls apart?
Use size, ear tufts, eye color, and voice. The barred owl has dark eyes and no ear tufts, the great horned owl has ear tufts, and the barn owl has a heart-shaped face.
How do you find owls in Pennsylvania?
Listen at dusk and night for their calls, especially in late winter, watch likely perches at dawn and dusk, and look for songbirds mobbing a hidden owl by day.
Where can you see owls in Pennsylvania?
Owls live in forests, wooded swamps, farmland, and open country across Pennsylvania. The short-eared owl hunts over open fields in winter, sometimes in daylight.
