There are at least 13 species of hooter happen inOhio . The barred bird of Minerva is the most rife owl species in Ohio . Although they are obtain all over the body politic , these bird of Minerva are more rife in the east and south . They are also widespread in West Virginia and Kentucky , two nearby states . As nocturnal hunter , banded owl usually take down small mammals like mice , squirrels , and rabbits .
Please take a minute to learn the article below to find out more about other owl species found in Ohio .
Different Types of Owls in Ohio
Short-eared Owl
The Short - eared Owl ( Asio flammeus ) is a various avian species , measure between 13.4 to 16.9 inches ( 34 - 43 centimetre ) in length and weigh 7.3 to 16.8 ounces ( 206 - 475 g ) . With a wingspan ranging from 33.5 to 40.5 column inch ( 85 - 103 cm ) , it overtop the skies with thanksgiving . Despite its modest sizing , it account for 0.3181 % of owl sighting .
sighting are common in Ohio , especially in the Appalachian Mountains , along Lake Erie , and in the Scioto River Valley . This versatile owl prefers forested parks and woodlands where it can hunt small rodents and birds , with larger prey being its infrequent objective . It thrive in assailable space .
unawares - eared Owls are opportunistic hunters who use depleted - light or nocturnal hunt scheme . They nest in tree cavity and usually lay one to eleven great deal of eggs .
Snowy Owl
The Snowy Owl ( Bubo scandiacus ) commands care with its majestic presence , gasconade a length ranging from 20.5 to 27.9 inches ( 52 - 71 cm ) and weighing between 56.4 to 104.1 ounces ( 1600 - 2950 g ) . Its wingspan spans from 49.6 to 57.1 inches ( 126 - 145 centimeter ) , an impressive slew in flight .
While they make up only 0.2729 % of all owl sightings , they may be found all over North America . Two excellent locations in Ohio for owl viewing are Hocking Hills National Park and Lewis Field at Oberlin College . These amazing shuttle are adaptable in their choice of environment , subsist in forests and tundra likewise . trivial mammalian like coney and hares are the main quarry for snowy owls , though they also occasionally eat fowl and other creatures .
Thesebirdsbuild their nest in trees , on high ground , or even on rocky rock outcrop and cliffsides . The females spend about 28 days carefully brood batch of three to eleven testis .
Northern Saw-whet Owl
The Northern Saw - whet Owl ( Aegolius acadicus ) may be diminutive in size , measuring between 7.1 to 8.3 inches ( 18 - 21 cm ) in distance and librate a mere 2.3 to 5.3 ounces ( 65 - 151 gm ) , but its presence is remarkable . With a wingspan spanning from 16.5 to 18.9 inches ( 42 - 48 cm ) , it navigates the skies with agility .
Accounting for 0.1454 % of owl sighting , they can be found across Ohio , notably in the Appalachian Mountains and the Great Lakes part , often near H2O bodies like lakes and rivers . This elusive metal money principally inhabits boreal woods , feeding on humble vertebrates and dirt ball .
Nesting in Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree bodily cavity or on cliff , its existence faces challenges from human encroachment and climate change , though it ’s currently not considered threatened by the IUCN .
Barred Owl
bear 16.9 to 19.7 inches ( 43 - 50 centimetre ) in length and 16.6 to 37.0 ounces ( 470–1050 g ) in weight unit , the Barred Owl ( Strix varia ) is a fearsome bird . Its wingspan ranges from 99 to 110 centimeter ( 39.0 to 43.3 inch ) .
According to eBird , this species visits the landscape at a pace of 1.54 % . In Ohio , they are frequently observed , especially in the Amish country around Lancaster and Holmes counties , in the Muskingum County orbit around Millersburg , and at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center along Lake Erie .
The common eastern and central Americanbarred owlpreys on small mammals , birds , and carrion in open woodlands and urban environment . In rarified orbit or tree cavities , the female build their nest and deposit clutches of two to five eggs , which they then incubate for over a calendar month .
Great Horned Owl
The Great Horned Owl ( Bubo virginianus ) , with its imposing military posture and length of 17.7 to 24.8 column inch ( 45 - 63 cm ) and weight of 32.1 to 88.2 ounces ( 910 - 2500 g ) , is sure to draw attention . Its wingspan ranges from 39.8 to 57.1 inches ( 101 - 145 cm ) , making it an levy presence . With a wide head and unparalleled facial features , it is the biggest owl in North America and the sixth largest in the world .
This splendid animal frequents a issue of environments in the United States , most notably Ohio , where reports of sightings are common , specially in area like Cleveland and Akron . They are various hunters who direct small animals , birds , and reptiles . They excel at nighttime hunting but also take vantage of daytime openings . Their status as fierce nighttime marauder is cement by the fact that their nests are perch high in Tree or on cliff walls , frequently close to water supply supplies .
Eastern Screech Owl
The Eastern Screech Owl ( Megascops genus Asio ) is a petite marvel , measure between 6.3 to 9.8 inch ( 16 - 25 cm ) in duration and weigh a mere 4.3 to 8.6 ounces ( 121 - 244 thou ) . With a wingspan traverse from 18.9 to 24.0 inches ( 48 - 61 cm ) , it ’s a diminutive yet formidable hunter . Despite its small size , this bird of night commands aid , account for 1.16 % of owl sighting .
Brecksville Reservation , Rocky River State Forest , and Cuyahoga Valley National Park are some of the good places in Ohio to see them . This specie , which is ripe at concealing while foraging for big insects , birds , and little mammals , lives well in eastern forest and southerly Ontario .
Eastern Screech Owls start mating in late winter or early spring , producing two to six new year . They craftily build up their nest in Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree cavities or on the soil among low-spirited shrubs for avoid being eaten by predators .
Long-eared Owl
The Long - eared Owl ( Asio otus ) boasts a lithesome shape , value between 13.8 to 15.8 inches ( 35 - 40 cm ) in length and weighing from 7.8 to 15.3 ounces ( 220 - 435 g ) . Its wingspan span from 35.4 to 39.4 inches ( 90 - 100 cm ) , allowing graceful flight through Ohio ’s sky .
While reports of this mintage account for only 0.1096 % of all owl encounters , the Appalachian Mountains , the Northwest , and Beaver Island are good places to observe them . It thrives in unspecific spaces with break up Tree and bushes , and it can be incur throughout North America , Europe , and Asia in temperate and circumboreal Sir Henry Joseph Wood .
It is a nocturnal hunting watch that mostly aim mice - sized quarry , but it also consumessmall animals , birds , and insects . March through May is breeding time of year . female deposit clutches of three to five eggs , which the male person carefully brood for 28 days . After hatching , the fledglings take about 50 twenty-four hour period to mature and become able of navigating the world on their own .
Barn Owl
Barn Owls , characterized by their distinctive center - shape facial phonograph recording , are a sight to behold with a distance spanning from 12.6 to 15.8 inches ( 32 - 40 cm ) and weigh between 14.1 to 24.7 ounces ( 400 - 700 g ) . With a wingspan of 39.4 to 49.2 inches ( 100 - 125 cm ) , they glide gracefully through Ohio ’s landscapes
Although they calculate for only 0.0566 % of all owl sighting , Athens , Pike , and Ross Counties are the best places to find them . These nighttime hunters haunt farm , suburb , and woodlands , chiefly consuming small mammalian such as rats and mouse , however they do occasionally embark into liberal areas in search of food .
These amazing animals make their nests in cave , burrows , or tree hollows , where females spend about 28–34 days incubating clutch of two to eighteen testis before the offspring take to the air .
Northern Hawk Owl
The Northern Hawk Owl ( Surnia ulula ) tolerate out with its medium size , measure between 14.2 to 17.7 column inch ( 36 - 45 centimetre ) in length and weigh from 8.5 to 16.0 ounces ( 240 - 454 g ) . With a wingspread of 27.9 inch ( 71 curium ) , it voyage Ohio ’s landscapes with comfort .
While sightings are rare , fantabulous blot for observation include Raptor Ridge Wildlife Preserve in Greenville and Lake Erie Nature Preserve . Thriving in boreal forests , its range extend from Alaska to Newfoundland , Manitoba to the Yukon Territory . Adaptable to various habitats , it preponderantly raven on small rodents , birds , and insects , occasionally scavenging carrion .
Nesting in tree diagram cavities or on drop-off , the Northern Hawk Owl look threats from habitat fragmentation , climate change , and hunting , though it ’s not presently jeopardise .
Boreal Owl
Even though the Boreal Owl ( Aegolius funereus ) is only little — its duration ranges from 8.3 to 11.0 inches ( 21 - 28 cm ) and its weight order from 3.3 to 7.6 ounces ( 93 - 215 g)—its existence is noteworthy . Its wingspread is between 21.6 and 24.4 inches ( 55 and 62 curium ) , and it flies across Ohio ’s terrain with goodwill .
The slide of Lake Erie and the Appalachian Mountains are prime locating for sighting . Its statistical distribution stretches from middle Alaska to Labrador and south to New England , where it flourish in boreal forests . It move into residential area and near to soundbox of water , but it prefers overt spaces with lots of trees and bush for nesting .
It is an expert Orion , mostly focusing on low mammals such as mice and voles , but it also occasionally takes design at birds . Boreal Owls nest in Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree cavities or on elevated pole , and they exhibit nesting use include building novel nests every year .
Great Gray Owl
The Great Gray Owl ( Strix nebulosa ) commands attention with its impressive stature , measuring between 24.0 to 33.0 inches ( 61 - 84 cm ) in length and weighing from 24.7 to 60.0 ounces ( 700 - 1700 g ) . With a wingspread spanning from 53.9 to 60.2 inches ( 137 - 153 cm ) , it predominate the skies .
sighting are rarified , although they sometimes happen , specially at night , in and around major cities like Cleveland , Columbus , Cincinnati , Dayton , and Akron . Their ambit includes much of Canada and the United States , ca-ca them the largest owl in North America .
They are primarily carnivorous , feast on gnawer , hare , vole , and other small mammals as well as bird and reptiles . The females spend 34–37 days incubating clutches of two to four egg while they cuddle in Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree cavities or military man - made nest . After around 12 hebdomad , youthful owls fledge , and by 18 month , they are completely independent .
Burrowing Owl
Despite its small size—7.5 to 9.8 inches ( 19–25 centimeter ) in length and 5.3 ounces ( 150 g ) in weight — the Burrowing Owl ( Athene cunicularia ) is a compelling sight . Its wingspread is 21.6 inches ( 55 cm ) , which it uses to glide smoothly over the terrain of Ohio .
Brecksville - Broadview Heights and Cuyahoga Valley National Park are democratic spot for sighting . Its habitat , which is located in eastern North America , stretch from southerly Canada to the Gulf ofMexicoand westward to the Rocky Mountains .
Its food consists mostly of huge louse and rodent , with the rare meal ofbirdsand other mammalian . It thrives in spacious grassland , forests , and even urban options . Burrowing owls smartly dig underground burrow that are excavated by badger , soil squirrels , and prairiedogs .
