BIRD OWL

Owls are an amazingly diverse and interesting family of birds. They play a prominent role in the Harry Potter books and movies and have had symbolic roles throughout history. Why are owls so interesting? Let's go on an Owl Prowl to find out. 

Why owls, and not hawks or eagles?

There are 19 owl species in North America. Here are some of our favorites and some interesting owl facts.

The most striking appearance
The brilliantly white Snowy Owl. Hedwig, Harry Potter's owl, is a Snowy Owl.

Listen to the call of the Snowy Owl

The largest
Great Gray Owl--27 inches long

Listen to the call of the Great Gray Owl

The owl that will eat anything
The Great Horned Owl is the only animal that will regularly eat skunks.

Listen to the call of the Great Horned Owl

The owl with the greatest call
The Barred Owl can really cut loose.
Learn more about this species.

Listen to the call of the Barred Owl

The monkey-faced owl
The Barn Owl is sometimes called the monkey-faced owl.
Learn more about this species.

Listen to the call of the Barn Owl

Keep prowling
Visit an active Barn Owl nest box by viewing Nest Box Cam on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Birdhouse Network web site.

View video of these owls on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Macaulay Library web site.

Snowy Owl

Short-eared Owl

Owls say the strangest things
The Lab's CD, Voices of North American Owls, has some sounds you will not believe. 

Learn more about each of these North American owls by visiting their profiles in the All About Birds online bird guide.