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| LONG ISLAND OWLS |
| Great Horned Owl - Largest Owl seen on Long Island: 18-25 inches tall, wing span 48-60 inches - Bright yellow eyes - Long Feather ear tufts (horns) - White bib or collar on throat - Heavily barred breast - In flight looks neckless, large head, hawklike - Commonly called "hoot owl": call is series of 3-8 hoots. Can be heard for miles. - Found in woodlands mostly, but also in parks & orchards, common on Long Island |
| Eastern Screech Owl - One of smallest owls in east: 7-10 inches, wing span of 18-24 inches - Two color phases (morphs): red & gray - Bright yellow eyes - Only eastern owl with prominent ear tufts - Heavy streaks on breast - Cavity nester - Call is mournful, descending whinny type call - Found in woodlands, suburbs, parks & orchards, common on Long Island |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl - Smallest owl found on Long Island: 7-8 inches tall, wing span 18-21 inches, weighing about 4 ounces - Wide, rounded head with no tufts - Bright yellow eyes - Reddish brown with red/brown streaks on breast - Black bill - Juvenile is chocolate brown with white "v" between eyes - Call is mellowed, whistled, mechanical toot repeated in endless succession (8-100 times per minute). Sounds like saw being sharpened - Found in dense, deep woods. |
| Short-eared Owl - Medium sized: 13-17 inches tall, wing span 39-44 inches - Rounded head with small, hard to see ear tufts - Bright yellow eyes emphasized by dark face disks - Tawny colored with boldly streaked breast - Mothlike flight, buffy wing patch shown in flight - Call sneezy, raspy, high barking - Found in marshes, dunes, airport edges, open country |
| Barred Owl - Large owl: 16-23 inches tall, wing span 38-45 inches - Large rounded "puffy-looking" head, no ear tufts - Dark brown eyes - Gray/Brown in color, whitish spots on back. - Barred pattern across chest, streaked lengthwise on belly - Call usually series of hoots with last note sliding down in tone; ("who-cooks-for-you-all....") - Found in deep woods & swamps |
| Long-eared Owl - Crow-sized: 13-16 inches tall, wing span 36-42 inches - Long feathered ear tufts set close together - Bright yellow eyes - Slender in shape - Rusty facial disk - Underparts streaked lengthwise - Call one or two long "hooo's", also catlike whine and doglike bark - Found in deep woods, dense groves. Hunts over marshes & fields |
| Snowy Owl - Large owl: 21-28 inches tall, wing span 50-65 inches - Smooth, heavy appearance - Head rounded, no head tufts - Bright yellow eyes - Black beak - Thickly feathered legs & feet - Adult male almost all white, female has dark, heavy flecking - Irruptive species, only seen every few years on LI - Call is deep booming "hoo", but usually silent - Found marshes, beaches, dunes, open country |
| Barn Owl - Medium size: 14-20 inches tall, wing span 40-45 inches - Often called "monkey-faced" owl due to white heart- shaped face. - Dark eyes, no head tufts - Tawny, or golden, above with white or pale cinnamon below - Flight is mothlike, appearing "ghost-like" at night due to white underparts, large head, broad wings - Call shrill rasping hiss, and/or maniacal shriek - Found in open country, farms, groves, barns |
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| Eastern Screech Owl Photo by Cal Vornberger |
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| Great Horned Owl copyright E.R.Degginger |
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| Short-eared Owll copyright Jim Roetzel |
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| Long-eared Owll copyright Ron Austing |
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| Barn Owll copyright Anthony Mercieca |
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| Barred Owll copyright Bob Curtis |
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| Snowy Owl Photo by James Galletto |
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| Saw-whet Owl copyright Ron Austing |
| For more information on Owls, go to ENature.com |