Raptor Biology

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Raptor Biology

• OWLS OF KENTUCKY

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Common Barn Owl

• Classification
• Order Strigiformes
• Family Tytonidae
• Genus Tyto
• Species alba
• Subspecies partincola (Bonaparte)

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Common Names

• Other Names American Barn Owl, Citrus Owl, Ghost
  Owl, Golden Owl, Lechuza Mono, LEFFRAIE,
  Monkey-Faced Owl, Orange Owl, Queen-of-the Night,
  Spirit Owl, Stone Owl, Sweetheart Owl, Tawny Owl,
  White Owl.

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Distinguishing Features

• Medium-large in comparison with other North
  American owls, the Barn Owl has a large head
  without ear tufts and its facial configuration is
  distinctively long, somewhat triangular, and
  heart shaped.
• Its legs are quite long and it often takes a
  rather knock-kneed stance when perched.
• Has an expansive wingspan, it appears much larger
  in flight than when perched.
• Its face is distinctly white and has a general
  tawny body coloration.
• Because of the smooth plumage, the bird has a
  streamlined appearance.
• It has a long beak and beady black eyes.

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Rank in over-all size among the eighteen species
of North America Sixth
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Vital Statistics

• Vitals Male
• Weight 383.9 gr
• Total length 423mm
• Wingspan 1,066.1mm
• Individual Wing 324.9mm
• Tail Length 136.8mm
• Beak Length 23.4mm

• Female Rank
• 500.5 gr 6th
• 460.5mm 6th
• 1,102.6mm 4th
• 332.7mm 4th
• 176.4mm 6th
• 25.4mm 3rd

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Voice

• The Barn Owl makes a variety of sounds, including
  hissings, groaning noises, raspy screeches, beak
  snapping, and rather unearthly tonal
  fluctuations.
• The adult Barn Owl seems to be limited to five
  vocal sounds, plus the beak snapping, which is
  common among most owls and usually made when
  angry.
• It can be heard for a considerable distance and
  is rather menacing in character.

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The five basic adult calls are as follows

• Contact call
• Alarm cry
• Heavy growling sound
• Mating call
• 5. Rattling call

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Coloration and Markings

• Plumage coloration variations seem to have
  nothing whatever to do with sex, geographic
  locale, or age of the bird.
• The beak on the Barn Owls is a pale yellow tan.

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General Habits and Characteristics

• Is one of the most strictly nocturnal owls,
  disliking leaving its roost even on the cloudiest
  of days.
• Quite a heavy eater, it is not all fastidious in
  its habits and the nest area or roost is usually
  rather messy or cluttered with regurgitated
  pellets, bones, fur, feathers, and excrement.
• It is especially fond of windmills, churches,
  beneath bridges, and other such normally
  undisturbed places.

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• The Barn Owl is a bird of open country rather
  than a woodland owl and much less inclined to
  avoid the proximity of man than other owls.
• Very often in autumn and winter the Barn Owl
  becomes gregarious in its roosting and upward of
  ten or twelve birds may be found roosting
  together in the same tree or within the same
  ramshackle building.

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Enemies and Defenses

• As with practically all owl species, the Barn
  Owls greatest enemy is man.
• Where natural enemies are concerned, there is
  only one of any consequence, and it is the Great
  Horned Owl.

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Barred OwlClassification

• Order Strigiformes
• Family Strigidae
• Genus Strix
• Species varia
• Subspecies varia Barton
• georgica Latham
• helveola (Bangs)

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 Other Names

• Hoot owl,
• Rain owl,
• Round-headed owl,
• Swamp owl,
• Wood owl.

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 Distinguishing Features

• One of our largest owls, the Northern Barred Owl,
  is easily recognizable because of its distinctly
  barred plumage, its large rounded and ear less
  head, and a rather swollen appearance of its neck
  plumage.
• Because of the barred ruff encircling its throat
  it tends to have a peculiar double-chinned
  appearance.
• The barred owl has no ear tufts and dark brown
  eyes.

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Rank in over-all size

• Fourth

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Vital Statistics

• Vitals Male
• Weight 395.8 gr.
• Total Length 484.1 mm.
• Wingspan 1,073.1 mm
• Individual Wing 320.1 mm
• Tail Length 216.7 mm
• Beak Length 23.3 mm.

• Female Rank
• 506.0 gr. 4th
• 511.3 mm. 4th
• 1,111.3 mm. 5th
• 328.5 mm. 5th
• 253.7 mm 3rd
• 24.6 mm. 3rd

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Voice

• Without doubt this is the most vocal of all the
  owls of North America and the owl with the widest
  range of calls.
• This species also snaps its beak loudly and
  hisses in a penetrating manner when alarmed or
  angry.
•  

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 General Habits and Characteristics

• Most often nocturnal it is not so disinclined to
  hunt in the day. Next to the screech owl it is
  the most commonly seen owl.
• A relatively less aggressive owl, aggressiveness
  becomes apparent, however, if the bird is hungry.

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• Barred Owl has the habit of drinking water
  frequently and bathing often.
• Not infrequently this owl will visit campsites,
  take a low perch not very far from the fire and
  glare at the humans lounging about.
• The Barred Owl is a forest-loving bird and rarely
  strays too far from deep woods.

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 Enemies and Defenses

• Again man is the greatest threat. Natural enemies
  are the crow and Goshawk.
• Greatest enemy is Great Horned Owl.

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Long-eared OwlClassification

• Order Strigiformes
• Family Strigidae
• Genius Asio
• Species otus
• Subspecies wilsonianus (Lesson)
• tuftsi Godfrey

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Other Names

• American Long-eared Owl,
• Brush Owl,
• Lesser Horned Owl,
• Wilsons Owl.
•  

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 Distinguishing Features

• This is one of the most distinctive of all the
  North American Owl species, being quite heavily
  marked all over its plumage, having distinctly
  contrasting coloration.
• Ear tufts which tend to be more erect, narrower,
  and set somewhat closer together than other
  tufted owls.
• A medium-sized owl, it wears a constantly peeved
  expression.
• Eye color is bright golden-orange to
  yellow-orange.

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Rank in over-all size

• Eighth

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Vital Statistics

• Vitals Male
• Weight 258.5gr
• Total Length 339.2 mm.
• Wingspan 956.3 mm.
• Individual Wing 285.8mm
• Tail Length 148.1 mm.
• Beak Length 16.6 mm.

• Female Rank
• 282.0gr 8th
• 396.6 mm. 9th
• 1,000.0 mm. 8th
• 288.3 mm. 5th
• 154.9 mm. 8th
• 17.3 mm 7th

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Voice

• Has a variety of calls but not as extensive as
  Barred Owl.
•  

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General Habits and Characteristics

• Primarily a nocturnal owl, nevertheless often on
  the wing in the morning and the evening periods
  of twilight.
• Usually the daylight hours are spent well hidden
  in dense cover and for this reason the Long-eared
  owl is rarely seen.
• For the most part, the long-eared owl keeps to
  well-timbered areas, especially in close
  conjunction with water-streams, river, and lakes.
  

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 Enemies and Defenses

• Other than man, the greatest enemies seem to be
  revels, crows, and jays.
• Great Horned Owls will kill Long-eared owls as
  will barred owls.
• Defenses include a impressive display of ruffed
  feathers and the protective coloration.

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Short-eared OwlClassification

• Order Strigiformes
• Family Strigidae
• Genus Asio
• Species flammeus
• Subspecies flammeus (Pontoppidan)

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 Other Names

• Grass Owl,
• Marsh Owl,
• Meadow Owl,
• Northern Short-eared Owl,
• Plametto Owl,
• Prairie Owl,
• Swamp Owl.

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Distinguishing Features

• Essentially about the size of a large crow, it is
  only very slightly larger than the Long-eared
  Owl, but with a much wider distribution and far
  more often seen because of its diurnal habits.
• The ear tufts are very small and lay flat against
  the head.
• Facial disks are small.
• The eye color is bright lemon yellow.

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Rank in over-all size

• seventh

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Vital Statistics

• Vitals Male
• Weight 285.9 gr.
• Total Length 385.8 mm.
• Wingspan 1,042.8 mm
• Individual Wing299.1mm
• Tail Length 146.1 mm.
• Beak Length 16.9 mm.

• Female Rank
• 336.5 gr. 7th
• 403.2 mm. 8th
• 1,067.4 mm. 7th
• 318.9 mm 8th
• 154.3 mm 9th
• 17.7 mm 9th

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Voice

• The Short-eared Owl is not entirely silent during
  the non-breeding periods as is sometimes stated,
  but it is less vociferous than as compared to the
  courtship and nesting time.
•  

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General Habits and Characteristics

• Because of its frequent day-hunting activities,
  the short-eared Owl is one of the most commonly
  seen owls in North America, although it is very
  often mistaken for a Marsh Hawk.
• A rather unusual characteristic is the fact that
  it seems to take considerable sport in the
  harassment of large birds in flight.
• In preference of habitat, the short-eared Owl,
  is one of the most varied species, while
  primarily a bird of marshland and deep grass
  fields.
• Most often than not a ground-roosting bird.

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 Enemies and Defenses

• As is common among the more cosmopolitan of owls,
  man is the greatest enemy, but where natural
  enemies are concerned there are few which bother
  the short-eared owl.
• Occasionally one will be struck at by a Prairie
  Falcon or Red-shouldered Hawk or harassed by a
  crow, magpie, raven, or jay.
• In defense protective coloration plays a major
  role. A secondary defensive measure is and
  inclination to feign death.

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Screech OwlClassification

• Order Strigiformes
• Family Strigidae
• Genus Otus
• Species asio

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• Subspecies naevius (Gmelin)
• Aikeni (Brewster)
• Asio (Linnaeus)
• Bendorei (Brewster)
• Brewsteri Ridgway
• Cineraceus (Ridgway)
• Floridanus (Ridgway)
• Gilmani Swarth
• Hasbroucki Grinnell
• Kennicottii (Elliiot)
• Macfarlanei (Brewster)
• Maxwelliae (Ridgway)
• Mccallii (Cassin)
• Quercinus Grinnell
• Suttoni Moore
• Swenki Oberholser
• Yumanensis Miller and Miller

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• Generally speaking, with but few exceptions, the
  subspecies of Screech Owls exhibit the following
  geographical and climatic characteristics

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• Northern Screech Owl
• Southern Screech Owl
• Northern Screech Owl
• Southern ScreechOwl 
• Eastern Screech Owl
• Western Screech Owl
• Eastern Screech Owl
• Western Screech Owl

• Coarser markings
• Finer markings
• Larger in size
•  Smaller in size
•  Yellow or greenish-yellow beaks
• Slate-gray or blackish beaks
• Voice, a long, quavering single trill
• Voice, a short, bouncy double trill

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• Eastern Screech Owl- Increased rufous coloration
  generally and a distinct red-phase bird.
• Western Screech Owl-Decreased rufous coloration
  and no red-phase bird.

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Western Screech Owl
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Eastern Screech Owl
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Other names

• Demon owl,
• Dusk owl,
• Ghost owl,
• Gray owl,
• Little-eared owl,
• Little-horned owl,
• Little owl,
• Mottled owl,
• Mouse owl,

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• Quavering owl,
• Red owl,
• Scops owl,
• Scritch owl,
• Shivering owl,
• Spirit owl,
• Squinch owl,
• Trilling owl,
• Whistling owl.

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Distinguishing Features

• Screech Owls are one of the more strictly
  nocturnal owls and only on rare occasions will be
  abroad in daylight, must less likely hunt in the
  day time.
• Screech Owls is known as the Feathered Wildcat.
  
• Eyes are lemon yellow in color.
• These are tufted eared owls.

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Rank in over-all size

• Twelfth.

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Vital Statistics

• Vitals Male
• Weight 199.8 gr.
• Total Length 209.2 mm
• Wingspan 539.5 mm.
• Individual Wing 163.8mm
• Tail Length 80.6 mm
• Beak Length 15.2 mm

• Female Rank
• 208.3 gr. 12th
• 233.0 mm. 12th
• 563.0 mm. 11th
• 166.4 mm. 12th
• 88.8 mm. 11th
• 18.8 mm 10th

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 Voice

• Not a screech but quite charming in their calls.

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General Habits and Characteristics

• It will not hesitate to attack a bird, even
  another hawk or owl, or other creature larger
  than itself if motivated by hunger, brood
  protection, or self-defense.
• Despite the squalid condition of their nests as a
  rule, Screech owls are clean in their habits,
  often preening themselves and regularly taking
  baths.
• These owls favor an open-woodland type of
  terrain, especially when this is adjacent to
  grain fields, meadows, and marshes.

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• Apple orchards are a particular favorite of this
  race, not only because of the older apple trees
  often make good nest sites but they are also
  areas to which mice and insects are attracted.
• They roost in hollow trees.

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Enemies and Defenses

• Natural enemy is the Great Horned Owl along with
  most other owls that are larger.
• Prowling cats and tree climbing snakes will also
  kill the owl as prey.
• Protective coloration and hiding in hollow dens
  is its main defense.
•  

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Great Horned OwlClassification

• Order Strigiformes
• Family Strigidae
• Genus Bubo
• Species virginianus

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• Subspecies virginianus (Gmellin)
• Algistus (Oberholser)
• Heterocnemis (Oberholser)
• Lagophonus (Oberholser)
• Occidentalis Stone
• Pacificus Cassin
• Pallescens Stone
• Saturatus Ridgway
• Scalariventris Snyder
• Subarcticus (Hoy)
• Wapacuthu (Gmelin)

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Other Names

• Big-Eared Owl,
• Cat Owl,
• Hoot Owl.

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 Distinguishing Features

• Beyond any doubt whatever this owl is the
  fiercest, most aggressive, and most impressive
  owl of North America.
• The only large owls in North America with very
  distinctive ear tuffs.
• The feet and talons of the Great Horned Owl are
  large and extremely powerful and its eyes are
  highly conspicuous yellow, though often narrowed
  to mere slits.

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Rank in over-all size

• Second.

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Vital Statistics

• Vitals Male
• Weight 1,448.9 gr
• Total Length 509.4 mm
• Wingspan 1,335.7 mm
• Individual Wing 370.8 mm
• Tail Length 211.7 mm
• Beak Length 36.8mm.

• Female Rank
• 1,597.0 gr 2nd
• 598.3 mm 3rd
• 1,429.3 mm. 2nd
• 402.7 mm. 2nd
• 215.8 mm 5th
• 41.2 mm. 2nd

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Voice

• The Great Horned Owl come close to equaling the
  Northern Barred Owl in the amazingly wide variety
  of sounds it can make, ranging from deep beaming
  hoots to whistles, shrieks, screams, and hisses.

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General Habits and Characteristics

• It is a nocturnal hunter. Known as Winged
  Tiger.
• The owl is dangerous and does not make a very
  good pet.
• A wide variety of habitat is frequented but likes
  open woodland.

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 Enemies and Defense

• Has no natural enemies.

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Snowy Owl
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Elf Owl
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Burrowing Owl
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Spotted Owl
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Great Gray Owl