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Nothing is more exciting than spotting an bird of night in your backyard if you hold out in Colorado . These magnificent birds of prey are a beautiful sight to lay eyes on . If you ’re an esurient birdwatcher , you ’re credibly eager to identify which types of owls are see your property .
There are 13 owl mintage found in Colorado , including the Great horn Owl , Burrowing Owl , Short - Eared Owl , Boreal Owl , Flammulated Owl , Northern Saw - Whet Owl , Barn Owl , Long - Eared Owl , Snowy Owl , Northern Pygmy Owl , Western Screech - Owl , Eastern Screech - Owl , Spotted Owl . While several of these owl species have their preferred mating and migratory ranges , it ’s possible to spot a floating or irrupting bird of Minerva in areas outside their jazz territorial dominion . If you see an owl in Colorado that is not on this list , consider yourself lucky !
Legend for the following owl rangemaps
The legend below can be used to help you determine where each of the 13 owls of Colorado lives during different parts of the class .
The 13 Species of Owls in Colorado
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
Order : Strigiformes
kinfolk : Strigidae
Legend for the following owl rangemaps
Size:18 - 26 in . ( 46 - 63 centimeter )
Far from meek , Great tusk owls have been known to hunt other birds of prey , including ospreys , peregrines , and even other owls . With their strong talons , these razz can exert 28 - pounds of force out allowing them to tackle orotund quarry . Great orned bird of Minerva are a major terror to other chick , especially jays and crows . In fact , if you ever hear a big group of these dame make a fuss , there ’s a good prospect it ’s because a bully horned bird of Minerva has gotten too tight to their nests . The great horned owl ’s feather is extremist - easy , and this provides the animals with several benefits . For starters , it protect them from the harsh cold . But it also smother go , allowing them to fly silently as they swoop down on their prey . Interestingly , although the female of the coinage are larger than the male person , female have higher - slant voices , and mated yoke often contemporise their calls .
The majuscule horned owl is well describe by a match dyad of tufts on either side of its headway , giving it a horned appearance . They have gray to red - brownish barred plumage and golden yellow centre that do not move within the sockets . These shuttle can rotate their heads 180 academic degree to see and hear what ’s going on around them . Facial plume phonograph recording help direct soundwaves to their ears , allowing them to track their prey , and their across-the-board wing enable them to fly deftly , with serrate primary feathers break up turbulence and diffuse feather muffling phone .
These magnificent owls can be see in every state in the body politic except Hawaii . These owls are aboriginal to the Americas , and they ’re highly adaptable , dwelling in forested , rural , and urban areas likewise . While you ’re liable to see a great horned owl just about anywhere , keep your optic peel near wooded surface area , especially along treelines as these birds wish to perch near overt athletic field to ascertain their prey .
Burrowing Owl
Athene cunicularia
Size:7.5 - 9.8 in ( 19 - 25 curium )
These small-scale owls live in grasslands and desert where they enjoy feeding on dirt ball , lowly mammals , and reptiles . Burrowing owls are among only a handful of owls that prefer to hunt during the daytime , expend their nights tucked aside in their den . When burrow are not uncommitted to them , these extremely adaptable birds make their dwelling in buckets , pipes , and tubing . Burrowing owls have a higher tolerance for atomic number 6 dioxide than other skirt , enable them to pass more sentence huddle up in a small outer space . These birds cleverly use dung to carpet their den , which pay for insects to gossip , furnish the birds with an promiscuous meal . burrow owls have also been known to hoard shiny objects , such as bottle cap , theme clips , and second of canister foil .
Burrowing owls have long leg and an vertical posture . They also have vivid chickenhearted eyes and although their blood-red - brown plumage resemble both the blockaded and boreal bird of Minerva , the fact that they live on the ground makes it easy to differentiate between these species . Burrowing owls are middling quiet , with males bring about luxuriously - pitched “ coo - coo ” to defend their territories and attract mate .
As their name suggests , tunnel hooter make their home plate in underground tunnel , ordinarily left behind by prairie dogs . you’re able to find burrowing owls year - round of golf throughout the sou'-west , predominantly in California , Arizona , New Mexico , and Texas . However , this owl ’s training range carry much farther north , up to Washington , Montana , and North Dakota .
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeus
Size:14.5 - 15 in . ( 37 - 38 cm )
A classic birdwatcher favorite , forgetful - eared owls hunting during the daytime and can be found throughout the United States . These owls are some of the few that opt to establish their own nest . Females fabricate their bowl - mold nests in the ground , line them with feather , grasses , and other soft materials before repose clutches of 4 to 7 ballock . Short - eared owls have very distinctive flight pattern , with maverick wingbeats similar to that of squash racket or moth . These birds are typically 17 inches in length and have wingspan of up to 43 inches . They practice their powerful wing to stay upright as they swoop feet - first to conquer their prey , which consists of small-scale mammalian , rodents , reptiles , and amphibians . dead - eared owls sometimes dine on songster and will tear the wings off before swallowing them whole .
The ear tufts of the short - eared bird of Minerva are fix towards the centre of their heads , and they ’re so short that sometimes they may not be visible at all . Short - eared owls have tawny plume on their backs and wings with tan bellies that are interspersed with upright saturnine brown bar . Tailfeathers are barred . These hooter have small , round faces with pale tan to creamy white facial disc accented by black - brim yellow eyes . curtly - eared bird of night use sharp “ waowk - waowk - waowk ” calls to communicate and “ eeee - yerp ” cry during the mating season .
splendid farsighted - distance flier , shortly - eared bird of night have been report landing on watercraft hundred of miles from shoring . These birds will pilot over the ocean and land to turn over their training grounds in northern Canada . you could determine curtly - eared hooter living year - round in the due north and northwest portions of the United States . But , because they travel regularly , you’re able to spot stragglers in almost every state in the nation . These birds choose to dwell in exposed area , including grasslands , marshes , and farmland .
Boreal Owl
Aegolius funereus
Size:9 - 10 in . ( 22.9 - 25.5 cm )
Small and elusive , circumboreal owl show the most intimate dimorphism of any other bird of Minerva , with females growing doubly as large as the males of the species . Boreal owls are difficult to cover down because they roost in unlike tree every day . They ’re also quiet , although male person will begin hooting at Nox in the late wintertime and springtime in decree to attract a fellow . Boreal owls are very modest , about the sizing of a robin or blue jay . Like most other bird of Minerva , their skulls are crooked , with one capitulum opening rest higher than the other . This unique figure enable boreal bird of Minerva to accurately judge both top and distance when closing in on their prey .
With their rotund look and red - chocolate-brown feathers , circumboreal owls resemble barred owls , although they ’re much minuscule . These owls have large bright yellow oculus , giving them a surprised expression . As their name evoke , circumboreal bird of Minerva favour to reside in boreal timberland full of spruce , pine , and fir tree tree diagram . Boreal bird of Minerva are most active at night when they tail down small mammals and dirt ball .
you may find circumboreal owls in Washington , Idaho , and Montana , though their range drop dead as far south as the northernmost realm of New Mexico . circumboreal owl love to roost in conifer and evergreen tree diagram . disforestation has led to a decline in habitat for these shy owls . But , while they can be tough to ascertain , they have been make love to use nesting box , so instal a few on your property can greatly increase your chances of spot one .
Flammulated Owl
Psiloscops flammeolus
Size:6 - 6.5 in . ( 15 - 17 cm )
Though these owls only measure around 6 inches in length , they have a enceinte wingspan for their size , measuring 14 - inches from wingtip to wingtip . Their foresightful , powerful wings enable them to fly quickly between the crown of their forest homes . These owls eat bugs almost exclusively , preferring moth and butterfly above other insects . In fact , this proclivity for insects may describe for why these owls transmigrate in the south during the winter month . Flammulated owls are monogamous , choosing one checkmate for life . Mated pair kindle 2 to 4 owlets at a time in nest that are not lined with any sort of bedding material . Unlike most owls , who favour to keep to themselves , flammulated hooter form loose colonies — likely for protection since they ’re so diminished .
Featuring plume in shades of gray and browned with rust fungus red tips along its wings , and distinctive flame - like grading on its face ( hence its name ) , this owl is unbelievably well - camouflage . The best way of life to discover a flammulated bird of night is by listening to its call . The flammulated owl has a much lower - pitch call than you would look from such a small bird of Minerva . This work as a defence mechanism , fob potential predators into thinking they ’re much liberal than they really are .
When it comes to tracking down flammulated owls , birdwatchers have their oeuvre veer out for them . Because these owl prefer to spend their meter perch on the tops of tall conifers look for bugs , they can be difficult to find . These bird migrate through west Texas and New Mexico and have a dust breeding kitchen range that admit parts of California , Oregon , Washington , Idaho , Nevada , Utah , and Colorado , where they live from late April or early May to August .
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Aegolius acadicus
Size:8 - 8.5 in . ( 20.3 - 21.5 cm )
These bird of Minerva are short and succinct . At just 8 inches in duration and with a wingspread of 22 inches , northern saw - whet bird of night are among the little hooter in the United States . Northern power saw - whet owls like to raven on deer mice , using their astute bill to tear their prey into smaller pieces , breaking up a single mouse into several meals . Because these bird of Minerva are nocturnal , and because they ’re so small , they can be hard to track . But their sharp call make it leisurely to settle them in their forest rest home . northerly saw - whet owls are mostly lonely wight , only socialize with their Ilex paraguariensis . female person have been known to have two mates , leaving the first to raise a brood with the 2d . These bird of Minerva have porphyrin pigments in their feather , and when illuminated with a UV light , the ventral side of the wing shows a atomic number 10 pink colour . This helps researchers determine an owl ’s age .
bring up because its call sounds like a power saw being sharpen on a whetstone , saw - whet bird of Minerva have small promontory and computed tomography - like face with comparatively large yellow eyes . With rust - colourize backs , breasts , and wings , northerly proverb - whet owls have make out head and distinctive Y - shaped grading on their face . These bird of night use a variety of phonation to communicate . They ’re most well identified by their sharp “ too - too - too ” calls , which they use to pull in mates . The watchword of northern sawing machine - whet hooter are so cheap that they can be heard near 1,000 feet away .
One of the most common owls in the U.S. , the northerly saw - whet prefers to dwell in raft woods . They can be found year - daily round in California , New Mexico , Utah , and Colorado , and in the northeastern states , Minnesota , Wisconsin , Michigan , New York , and all the means through to Maine . These hooter can be seen in other district , too , during non - breeding time . It ’s not unheard of to see northerly saw - whet owls throughout the middle west , including Kansas , Missouri , and Illinois .
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
class : Tytonidae
Size:12.5 - 16 in . ( 32 - 40 cm )
easy pick out by their pallid affection - shaped faces , barn owls are some of the most far-flung owls in the world . These hooter thrive in desert and grassland , but can even be found in polar regions . Barn owls are specially common on farm , where they wish to hunt for force field mouse among the crops in the morning time and eventide , and where they can take protection in barn during the daylight . With their serrate wing , these fearsome piranha take flight soundlessly as they go in for the kill . Barn hooter are monogamous , mating for life . They do not ramp up nests but prefer to lay their orchis in the hollows of trees . The amount of food for thought these boo receive has a verbatim impact on how many eggs they lay — the more voles , squealer , and shrewmouse they consume , the more owlets in their brood .
Barn owls are quite lanky compare to other bird of night . They have large hazel to brown optic set in concave , heart - form faces that are surrounded by a frail lineation of wan brown feathering . Barn owls are Milk River white in color with tan and rust brown feather on their backs and wings . These owls do not hoot but instead prefer to communicate via screeches .
you’re able to find the barn bird of Minerva in all but the uppermost region of the U.S. Even though these raspberry are common throughout the Carry Amelia Moore Nation , their population is dwindle away somewhat due to inhabitation loss . Barn owls rest twelvemonth - turn as far in the south as Texas and Arizona , as far east as Pennsylvania , and all across the Pacific Northwest .
Long-Eared Owl
Asio genus Otus
Size:14 - 16 in . ( 35 - 40 cm )
At 15 inches in length and with an impressive wingspan of 39 inch , the long - eared hooter has been known to steal nests off from Jay and crows to raise their own young . This somewhat elusive bird of night can be tough to find , choose to assay shelter in thick woodlands . And , regrettably , its population has refuse 91 % since 1970 . Unlike most bird of Minerva , long - eared hooter are not very territorial and prefer to rely on their disguise to hide from potential predators . When face , most long - eared owls merely fly away . Because these birds can be skittish , they can be tough for birdwatchers to track down . But if you are lucky enough to spot a long - eared owl , keep your eyes discase for more — long - eared hooter roost in groups of 6 to 50 .
At first glance , the long - eared bird of night greatly resemble the great horned owl . But a tight inspection reveals that long - eared bird of night own a classifiable V - shaped feather normal on their side . The tufts of feathers that make up their face disks surround promising orange eyes , giving them a surprised locution . The second set of feather tussock sitting on top of their heads gives them their iconic long - eared coming into court These are lanky bird that have tan face with variegated plumage in shades of brown , tan , gray , and white .
Long - eared owls live on yr - one shot in Wyoming , Nevada , Colorado , Arizona , New York , Michigan , and Wisconsin . During the training season , these birds stake farther northward to Montana , North Dakota , and Minnesota . These birds can be spotted in all but the southernmost percentage of Florida , Alabama , Mississippi , Louisiana , and Texas . Long - eared owl favor to inhabit in open space that have obtuse clusters of scattered Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , providing them with a safe place to seek shelter as they trace for little mammals .
Snowy Owl
Bubo scandiacus
Size:20.5 - 27.9 in . ( 52 - 71 cm )
Snowy owls are the heaviest owls , with adults averaging between 3 and 5 pounding . Their dense feather makes them weightier , but it also allows them to withstand the frigid temperature of the Arctic tundra . These are muscular bird at roughly 28 inches long with a wingspan of 57 in . They ’re aggressive , too , using their sharp talon and strong feet to guard their district from predators and competitors . These bird of night William Holman Hunt almost entirely during the daytime and can eat more than 1,600 lemmings in a yr . Their voracious appetites can have a annihilating impact on their food for thought supplying , but these skilled bill are uncoerced and able to fly south in search of prey . snow-white bird of night population have declined 64 % since 1970 due to illegal search and vehicle collisions , as well as clime change .
juvenile of the species have chocolate-brown and contraband markings over a fundament of white plume . As these razz age , they lose most of their markings . At matureness , males will be almost vestal white-hot , with female retaining some of their patternings . These owls have hoarse articulation and use a multifariousness of birdcall , the most frequent of which is a rhythmical “ krooh - krooh - krooh - krooh ” .
Snowy hooter do n’t live in the United States all year long , however , they do winter in the northern states . you may see snowy owls from Washington all the direction across to Maine . In year when their preferred prey was peculiarly limited , snowy owls were sight as far south as Florida , so it ’s possible to spot one of these beauty no matter where you are in the U.S.
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Glaucidium gnoma
Size:6.5 - 7.3 in ( 16.5 - 18.5 centimeter )
These hooter are a dearie among birdwatchers because they opt to trace during the day . This , coupled with their brave nature , makes them easier to spot compare to more skittish member of the species . northerly pygmy owls are broadly speaking fearless of humans , and will gayly nest in urban areas . This is likely due to the fact that humans correct up doll feeders to pull in songbirds — the northern Pigmy owl ’s favorite food . These bird of Minerva bushwhack their prey and stash away their remnant on thorns and spikes to come back to later . northerly Pigmy owls are such a threat to smaller razzing that wrens , jays , and even hummingbird will mob them to trail them by . Though these birds are only about as long as a butterknife , they ’ve been live to snipe quarry much larger than themselves , let in chickens . Because northerly pygmy hooter lack the meaty facial disks take to improve hearing , they rely on their keen eyesight to tag their fair game .
At just 7 in long , northerly pygmy owls are quite small , but do n’t allow their size frivol away you . These are toughened , tenacious piffling birds ! adult are gray , dark-brown , or ruddy - brown in color with white spotted heads and black wings , buttocks , and breasts . Like ferruginous pigmy owls , northern pygmy owls have dark spots on the back of their oral sex that look like another set of eyes . This helps to confuse both prey and predators . The best direction to discover a northern pygmy owl is to track its high - pitched tooting calls .
These owls are reasonably adaptable , moving into cityscape as their native mountain forests become less useable . Unfortunately , however , these owls do n’t often make their family in nesting box , so these are an inefficient means of appeal them . you may determine northern pygmy owl throughout the westerly states , in California , Oregon , and Idaho , and farther to the south in Colorado , Arizona , and New Mexico .
Western Screech-Owl
Megascops kennicottii
Size:7.5 - 9.5 in . ( 19 - 24 centimeter )
These are belittled owls , maxing out at just 9 inches in length and with wingspans of roughly 24 inch . But , do n’t let their small height deceive you . These birds are serious predators , on a regular basis seek out quarry many time their own size . While western screech - hooter provender on rodents , small boo , earthworms , and other bugs , they ’ve also been discover preying on rabbit . Western shriek - owls wish to sit close to where tree branch meet the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree automobile trunk , so they can huddle together up against them for camouflage themselves from predator and prey . These are opportunistic predators who like an promiscuous repast , but , when determined , they will also chase after their prey down , sometimes snaffle snort and insects midflight .
Western screech - owl search much like eastern screech - bird of Minerva , with adult morphs in Great Plains , Mexican , Mojave , brownish Pacific , and gray Pacific colouration . They have gray and brown plumage with no hint of red . westerly scream - bird of night have small , round heads with ear tufts and graphic yellow eyes . Contrary to what their name would lead you to conceive , western screech - hooter usually do n’t screech . Instead , they use scant whistling and trill to convey with each other .
These owls are highly adaptable , making their homes in a variety of region , include deserts , grassland , forests , and urban areas . you may encounter western screech - owls all across the west coast , blow inward a bit to Idaho , Wyoming , Utah , Colorado , New Mexico , and parts of Texas . If you live in one of these regions , try installing a nesting box to pull in a westerly screech - owl to your backyard .
Eastern Screech-Owl
Megascops asio
Size:6 - 10 in . ( 16 - 25 cm )
Featuring 5 race , easterly screech - bird of Minerva are small birds maxing out at just under 10 - inches in length . These owls are monogamous and less skittish than other hooter , frequently living in nesting box and even using birdbath to wash up . Eastern scream - bird of night are typically well-off to spot because they prey on songbird during the day . This trivial raptor ’s sizing proves deceptive . These are highly territorial birds , even from a young age . Young eastern screech - owls will push amongst themselves for food , and may even kill the lowly and washy of their siblings — an act known as siblicide that is mutual in birds of target .
easterly shrieking - owls are short , stocky birds with small heads and straight shadower . These owls come in grey morphs and red ( or rufous ) morphs , with some owls exhibiting brown plumage . The color of each easterly screech - hooter depends on the character of forest it repose in , as its colouring helps to camouflage it from potential predators . These are very vocal owls that apply trilling call to attract mates and communicate with their kinsfolk . Their distinctive whinny - like screeches are tough to omit !
Eastern screech - bird of Minerva prefer to live in forests but are often happy to live in urban areas , too . you’re able to find the eastern screech - hooter from Vermont to Montana , in a liberal range sweep all the way down to Texas and back across the Department of State to Florida . These birds can be found in wooded , rural , and suburban background .
Spotted Owl
Strix occidentalis
Size:17 - 19 in . ( 43 - 48 curium )
spot owls make their nest in vacuous trees , rock ‘n’ roll crevices , and old nest allow behind by other hiss of prey . It ’s estimated that less than 15,000 of these birds remain in the U.S. and Canada , despite federal movement to protect them . Spotted owls are presently class as near - menace , and are dwindling at a unfaltering pace due to habitat exit . These owls are “ posture - and - hold off ” Orion , preferring to watch for quarry from the base hit of a tree branch , and swoop down on it when they feel the prison term is right . They feed on gophers , squirrels , and deer mice , as well as other small-scale mammalian . When prey is abundant , distinguish owls storage caches of leftovers in cool places , like fallen logs or moss - covered rock . These bird of night use deep hoot calls to communicate with each other when they hunt at night .
Spotted owls have large , rich brownish eyes . They ’re so dark that , from a distance , it can be difficult to differentiate between pupil and iris . Often , all you see is a pair of black spot peering out at you from beneath chocolate-brown feather . These birds have wise , round faces , and ash tree - browned to red - brown plume , with white blot on their head . Though their tail and primary feathers are barred , breast feathers are spy . Overall , spotted bird of Minerva are mostly brownish with very short direct contrast , allow them to merge in well with their forest environment .
There are three subspecies of spotted owls . Mexican spotted owls can be regard throughout part of the southwest , let in Arizona and New Mexico , while California spotted owls can be found in ( where else ? ) California . northerly spotted owls live throughout the Pacific Northwest , along the coast of Washington , Oregon , and northern California . Spotted owls generally outride close to home and survive in these area year - pear-shaped .
How to Attract Colorado Owls to Your Backyard
While some owls , like the boreal hooter and the bearded screeching - bird of night , avoid humankind and can be tough to find , other owls , like the barred owl and eastern and westerly screech - owls , are much easier to attract .
Installnesting boxeson trees , poles , and fence in to further your locality owls to take up abode on your place . Leaving brush , forest piles , and old lawn trimming provides homes for field mouse , field of study mice , cony , gophers , andsnakes . have plenty of these critters nearby is a surefire way to get your local owls ’ attending .
Because many bird of Minerva care to feed onsongbirdsandsquirrels , arrange up a razz feeder andgetting a bird bathcan also encourage owls to pay up you a visit . Of of course , some raspberry work to daunt owls off . Jays , line-shooting , merle , crow blackbird , and starling on a regular basis pack owls , so take cadence to scare these dame by — take down starling nesting boxes , and remove cracked corn whiskey and peanuts from your feeder , which are the preferred nutrient of these birds .
Owls love to seat on poles and in leafless trees because they make it easier for them to pick out prey . check that your owls have plenty of spot to perch on . you could also draw in these birds by trammel your outdoor activity , particularly in the early morning and previous evening hour when they like to hound . Together , all of these measuring rod will serve your neighborhood bird of Minerva feel right at place in your backyard .
All State Owls
require to see what hooter species are find in other states ? Here ’s our complete listing of owls found in each state :
