Number 22

Owls are birds of prey that actively

feed and hunt throughout the night
and during twilight hours. Often
mysterious to man, owls figure
largely in myths, folklore and
superstition. Their large eyes,
nocturnal nature and eerie calls
have led to fear and loathing by
many. Owls play an important role
in the balance of forest and open
land environments. Much like
hawks, owls prey on rodent,
reptile and small game populations
at night.
Owls feed on a variety of animal
species from insects, small
mammals and reptiles, to the
occasional fish. Typically solitary
feeders, owls may occasionally
gather in winter roosts or at an
abundant food source

Habitat

Distributed in furtherance
of the acts of Congress of
May 8 and June 30, 1914.
Employment and program
opportunities are offered to
all people regardless of
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North Carolina State
University, North Carolina
A & T State University, US
Department of Agriculture,
and local governments

Owls are found across all of North

Carolina, with the exception of
some marine habitats. Owls are
largely forest birds with most
requiring hollow trees or dark,
dense vegetation to seek refuge
during the day. Since much of
their diet is typically rats and mice,
prime feeding habitat occurs along
fields and transitions where
rodents and insects abound.

Large Retinas - Vision is 50-100

times better than
humans in poor light.
Many Rods -

Binocular
Vision -

Large Head
with Wide Ear
Spacing -

High concentrations
of rods (lightgathering cells).
Fixed eyes view the
same scene from
slightly different
angles - improving
depth perception.
Disk-like design
receives sound at
minute thresholds;
large ear openings and
asymmetric ear
positions improve
hearing.

Stealth
Feathers - Leading wing
feathers have softserrated edges for
noiseless flight.
Regurgitation - Owls absorb
nutritious foods
through stomach
walls but regurgitate
pellets of indigestible
hairs, feathers, bones,
and claws.

North Carolina
Cooperative Extension Service
North Carolina State University
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
College of Forest Resources

Page 2

HABITAT
Forests, fields, and
brushy habitats;
Benefits from openings
and clearings.
Nests in crow, heron or
hawks nests, tree
cavities

Abandoned fields,
pastures, and marsh
areas; Benefits from
openings and nest
boxes.
Nests in man-made
structures: silos, barns,
and buildings

Mature hardwood
floodplain forests;
Benefits from long hardwood rotations and
snag management.
Nests in hollow trees
often over water

FOOD

Rabbits, woodrats,
Voles, rats, and mice
mice, grouse, squirrels,
and other birds

Snakes, frogs, turtles,

small mammals, and
occasional birds

DESCRIPTION

Mixed forest, woodlots,

swamps, and suburban
parks; Benefits from a
mix of forest, field, and
edge management.
Nests in hollow trees,
abandoned flicker and
woodpecker cavities
Mice, snakes, frogs,
insects, flying squirrels,
chipmunks, and
mourning doves

length: 20-23 inches

wingspan: 60 inches
weight: 3.5 lbs.

length: 15-20 inches

wingspan: 44 inches
weight: 20 - 24 oz.

length: 20 inches
wingspan: 44 inches
weight: 2 lbs.

length: 10 inches
wingspan: 22 inches
weight: 6-7 oz.

Prominent ear tufts;

brown plumage above,
mottled with grayish
white; light gray
underside with dark
bars; a white band of
feathers on the upper
breast; rust colored face

Long-legged, light color

with a heart-shaped
face; (also known as
monkey-faced owl)
white or pale cinnamon
belly with buff or rusty
upper feathers

Rounded head, brown

eyes; lacks ear tufts;
gray-brown plumage
with white spots on the
back; whitish or grayish
underparts barred with
buff or deep brown

Small owl with ear tufts;

it exhibits two color
phases: gray and red;
chestnut red during red
phase, brownish-gray
during gray phase; pale
breast and belly are
streaked with dark gray
or chestnut

N.C. Cooperative Extension Service

Working With Wildlife # 22 - Owls

Page 3

TIPS FOR OWL MANAGEMENT

Species

General
Create a diversity of stand ages and open
areas
Create and maintain early successional
vegetation using openings, field edges,
and corridors
Maintain and create snags in large
diameter trees
Manage bottomland hardwoods in large
blocks and long rotations

Direct Improvements

Erect nest boxes

Construct brush piles for small game
Supplement planting of grain crops to
increase rodent and small game
populations

Cavity
Floor *

Cavity
Depth

Barn Owl 10 x 18 15 x 18

Screech
Owl

7 3/4 x
9 1/4

9 1/4 x
22

Barred
Owl

12 1/4 x
12 1/4

13 x 23

Entrance Entrance
Hole
above
Size
floor
4

11 1/2

12

7 x
3 1/2

*add 2 to floor dimensions for roof

Prepared by:
Mark A. Megalos, Extension Forestry Specialist,
Scott J. Phelps, Extension Forestry Associate,
Edwin J. Jones, Department Extension Leader
N.C. Cooperative Extension Service

Working With Wildlife # 22 - Owls

Page 4

Resource Material
Owls: The Night Hunter. C. Fergus, Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Wildlife Notes # 175 - 8. 4p.

Other Wildlife Notes Available:

No. 1 - Endangered Species
No. 14 - Snags and Downed Logs
No. 2 - Eastern Gray Squirrel
No. 15 - Managing Edges for Wildlife
No. 3 - White-tailed Deer
No. 16 - Building Songbird Boxes
No. 4 - Songbirds
No. 17 - Woodland Wildlife Nest Boxes
No. 5 - Wild Turkey
No. 18 - Low Cost Habitat Improvements
No. 6 - Wood Duck
No. 19 - Pools for Amphibians
No. 7 - Cottontail Rabbit
No. 20 - Hummingbirds and Butterflies
No. 8 - Bobwhite Quail
No. 21 - Bats
No. 9 - Ruffed Grouse
No. 22 - Owls
No. 10 - Black Bear
No. 23 - Managing Beaver Ponds
No. 11 - Raccoon
No. 24 - Herbaceous Plants for Wildlife
No. 12 - Mourning Dove
No. 25 - SIP Wildlife Opportunities
No. 13 - Wildlife Terms

FOREST STEWARDSHIP
a cooperative program for
improving and maintaining all of the
resources on private forestland

9-94-4M-WWW-22
N.C. Cooperative Extension Service

Working With Wildlife # 22 - Owls