All Owls are in the family Strigidae
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
This owl is one of the most fearsome raptors.
Large nocturnal owl
Will attack prey larger and heavier than itself, including cats, skunks and porcupines.
Quick Identification tips:
Their widely spaced ear tuffs and large yellow eyes make them easy to identify
They have a V shaped white throat that resembles a necklace.
They are common in Southern California
They have a Hoo-hoo-hoo-hooo sound
Western Screech Owl
Megascops kennicottii
Much smaller than the great horned owl
10-11 Inches tall
Roots in thick vegetation during the day, but will peek out of the the hole during the day to sun itself.
Nests in cavitiies in trees, like an old woodpecker hole
Quick Identification tips:
Small size
short ear tuffs that can lay flat
Big yellow eyes
Nests in cavitiies in trees, like an old woodpecker hole
It has a single note call that sounds more like a trill
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
Barn owls don't have any ear tuffs. They have dark eyes and a white, heart-shaped face surrounded by a narrow white or golden brown rim. They can catch mice in total darkness. They will live in wooden nest boxes built by people, and are a big help to farmers because they eat the mice that would eat crops.
Quick identification tips:
Barn owls are easily identified by their beautiful white, heart shaped face
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
This owl is one of the most fearsome raptors.
Large nocturnal owl
Will attack prey larger and heavier than itself, including cats, skunks and porcupines.
Quick Identification tips:
Their widely spaced ear tuffs and large yellow eyes make them easy to identify
They have a V shaped white throat that resembles a necklace.
They are common in Southern California
They have a Hoo-hoo-hoo-hooo sound
Western Screech Owl
Megascops kennicottii
Much smaller than the great horned owl
10-11 Inches tall
Roots in thick vegetation during the day, but will peek out of the the hole during the day to sun itself.
Nests in cavitiies in trees, like an old woodpecker hole
Quick Identification tips:
Small size
short ear tuffs that can lay flat
Big yellow eyes
Nests in cavitiies in trees, like an old woodpecker hole
It has a single note call that sounds more like a trill
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
Barn owls don't have any ear tuffs. They have dark eyes and a white, heart-shaped face surrounded by a narrow white or golden brown rim. They can catch mice in total darkness. They will live in wooden nest boxes built by people, and are a big help to farmers because they eat the mice that would eat crops.
Quick identification tips:
Barn owls are easily identified by their beautiful white, heart shaped face
