Whoooo’s Who? Identifying Owls in Western Washington

A variety of owl species inhabit (or visit) Western Washington’s forests and coast. With wide wings, a head that swivels 270 degrees, lightweight body, and feathers that seem “specially designed to allow it to silently swoop down on prey,” an owl is a distinct bird—but differentiating between the different owl species found here in Western Washington can be a challenge. Here are many of owls found in Western Washington and ways to tell them apart.

1. Barred Owl
   

1. Barred owls have a distinctive barring pattern, with vertical bars running up their abdomens and horizontal bars across their chests.[/caption]Although a relatively new species in this area, the barred owl is one of the most common owls you will see in Western Washington. The barred owl is a large owl, with a height of up to 20 inches and wingspan of 39 inches. With dark eyes and a thick neck, a barred owl can be differentiated from a great horned owl, which is similar in size and appearance, because a barred owl does not have ear tufts, creating the “horns” that the great horned owl is known for. The barred owl was named after the distinctive barring pattern on its neck and breast, with vertical bars running up its abdomen and horizontal bars across its chest.
2. Great Horned Owl
   The great horned owl is easily distinguishable by its size and the “horns” on the top of its head. As its name suggests, the great horned owl a large owl, reaching 20 inches tall with a wingspan of 48 inches. The underpart of a great horned owl is usually pale brown with heavy, dark brown bars. The rest of its body is dark brown with black spots. While some great horned owls are lighter in color, they all have yellow eyes.
3. Barn Owl
   

1. Barn owls have heart-shaped faces and feathers that are golden and brown. They often have light underparts.[/caption]
   The barn owl has a unique, heart-shaped face and long legs, which help set it apart from other owl species that live in Washington. The barn owl has golden-colored feathers and very light underparts. You are most likely to see a barn owl in barns, silos, and sheds, where they are known to nest comfortably.
2. Northern Spotted Owl
   
3. The northern spotted owl is a rare sight. If you are lucky enough to spot a northern spotted owl, it will most likely be in a dense forest that has a thick canopy cover, variety of trees in different types and sizes, and a lot of downed wood, decaying logs, and snags. However, the loss of old growth forests led to a shortage of northern spotted owls in Washington State—and this was made even worse with the arrival of the barred owl, which competes against the northern spotted owl for both prey and habitat.
4. The northern spotted owl is 17 inches in length and has large, dark eyes and a round head. While physically similar to its largest competitor, the barred owl, the northern spotted owl has spots all over its body, while the barred owl has barring patterns. But, these two species are very similar. So similar in fact that they sometimes mate when they live in similar habitats.
   
   If you see a northern spotted owl, please report your sighting to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
5. Western Screech Owl
   

1. Western screech owls have yellow eyes and small ear tufts. With short, stocky bodies and thick necks, western screech owls can be identified by their block-like, almost square heads.[/caption]The western screech owl is one of the smallest species of owl found in Washington, with a height of just 10 inches and a wingspan of 20 inches. Adults are dark brown or gray and have small ear tufts. The western screech owl can usually be identified by its bright yellow eyes and square-shaped head.
   
   This small but stocky owl lives in Washington year-round and often nests in tree cavities, woodpecker holes, and nest boxes. Western screech owls prefer to live near water. They eat rodents, small birds, and large insects, along with the occasional fish or amphibian.
2. Northern Saw-Whet Owl
   The northern saw-whet owl is another small owl, with a height of just 8 inches and wingspan of 18 inches. The northern saw-whet owl has dark brown feathers with white and brown vertical streaks along its breast. It does not have ear tufts.
   
   Like the western screech owl, the northern saw-whet owl nests in tree cavities and nest boxes. Preferring dense, coniferous forests near water, the northern saw-whet owl moves from higher elevations to the valleys in the winter. With an appetite for small mammals, like shrews and mice, the northern saw-whet owl will also eat small birds and bats. Perhaps its most identifying feature is its seemingly fearless attitude.
3. Northern Pygmy Owl
   The smallest owl you can find in Western Washington is the northern pygmy owl, with a height of just 7 inches tall (that includes its long tail). The northern pygmy owl has “sharply streaked” undersides and distinctive black “eyes” on the back of its head to confuse predators. It hunts in the daytime and can often be mistaken for other brush-dwelling birds.
4. Snowy Owl
   

1. Snowy owls have yellow eyes that can take in more light than the human eye, which makes them deadly hunters after dark.[/caption]With appearances in cave paintings dating back 30,000 years, the snowy owl has been a captivating sight for quite some time. The snowy owl is medium in size with thick white feathers that keep it warm in freezing arctic temperatures. The female snowy owl is larger than the male, as the extra size is necessary to keep eggs warm during the winter. While almost entirely white, the snowy owl can sometimes have black and brown markings. It has bright yellow, forward-facing eyes that take in more light than the human eye and make it a deadly hunter at night.
   
   Not only are snowy owls skilled hunters, they are very defensive to their territories and will attack their own species if they feel the need to defend their territory with force. Snowy owls are known to dive bomb humans—there was even one report of a snowy owl attacking a pair of wolves!
   
   Snowy owl sightings in Washington are most likely to occur in coastal areas from November to mid-March, but sightings can be irregular season to season.

Sources

“Living With Wildlife,” Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/living/species-facts/owls#. Accessed 18 June 2022.

“Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina),” Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/strix-occidentalis-caurina. Accessed 18 June 2022.

“Report Wildlife Observations,” Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: https://wdfw.wa.gov/get-involved/report-observations. Accessed 18 June 2022.

“Snowy Owl Life History,” All About Birds: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snowy_Owl/lifehistory. Accessed 19 June 2022.

Kerle, Nick. “Species Spotlight: Snowy Owl - The Silent Hunter of the Night,” Alaska Wildlife Alliance: https://www.akwildlife.org/news/species-spotlight-snowy-owl. Accessed 19 June 2022.

Photo Source

Barred Owl - Photo by Robert Mitus on Unsplash

Barn Owl - Photo by James Lee on Unsplash

Western Screech Owl - Photo by Rúben Marques on Unsplash

Snowy Owl - Photo by Vlad Glonț on Unsplash

© Holly Duffy, June 2022