Search
Close this search box.

Love The Birds is reader-supported. When you purchase through one of our links we may earn an affiliate commission (at no cost to you).

10 Michigan Owls: Notable Species (w/ Pictures & Videos)

big grey owl in the wild

Are you curious about the owl you spotted in your yard?

Do you hear weird noises and believe it's an owl but aren't sure which one?

Fortunately…

This article will reveal the types of owls in Michigan, how they sound, and the areas where they're likely to show up.

Let's go!

Introducing The 10 Owls of Michigan

1. Great Horned Owl

great horned owl with yellow eyes

  • Length: 18.1 to 24.8 inches  
  • Wingspan: 39.8 to 57.1 inches
  • Weight: 910 to 2500 grams

The Great Horned Owl is the largest owl native to Michigan.

These 5-pound silent raptors terrorize creatures in their vicinity for survival. Mice, snakes, rabbits, frogs, and a variety of birds make up their diet.

Did you know: Great Horned Owls are the only raptors known to hunt and eat skunks! They have little or no sense of smell.

As such, they can survive in any environment and have territories throughout the state. Great Horned Owls live in deserts, marshes, forests, and urban areas and are mostly seen perched on poles and atop buildings. Or roosting on a tree limb.

It's easy to recognize a Great Horned Owl by its size, but also its deep hoots.

Hear this mellow sound after dark? Then, "the Tiger Owl," must be lurking: 


2. Eastern Screech Owl

small red owl with big ears and yellowish eyes

  • Length: 6.3 to 9.8 inches 
  • Wingspan: 19.8 to 24 inches
  • Weight: 121 to 244 grams

One of the smallest owls in the state, Eastern Screech Owls are also the most common Michigan Owls.

These midget owls can be found in abundance throughout the state, except in Northern Michigan. And they aren't shy either. Screech owls make a home in trees with cavities and even in unexpected nest sites, like street lamps and high foot traffic walkways.

They are also known as "Miniature Great Horned Owls" because of their resemblance, but their resilience is a similar trait.

Did you know: Songbirds expose the location of small owls by mobbing them in their roost sites.

A surefire way to tell there's one nearby is to listen for the trilling call that sounds like a horse whinnying:

Eastern Screech Owls would readily move into nest boxes 10-30 feet up in a live tree or pole.


3. Barn Owl

yellow and orange owl in a garden

  • Length: 12.6 to 15.8 inches
  • Wingspan: 39.4 to 49.2 inches
  • Weight: 400 to 700 grams

Despite being the most widespread owls on the planet, Barn Owls are a rare sight in Michigan.

There's a high chance of spotting Barn Owls in Southern Michigan or from the south of Detroit.

Michigan's severe winters also contribute to the Barn Owl's endangered population in the state.

Unfortunately, these light-feathered owls don't fare well in such extreme weather conditions.

Even though they're rare, Barn Owls have an unmistakable appearance among Michigan owls. They have a white heart-shaped face and underbelly that gives them a ghostly appearance. Their buff back plumage is also unlike what you'd see in any other owl.

Furthermore, Barn Owls sound different. They give a discernible high-pitched screech in flight.


4. Barred Owl

grey barred owl on a branch

  • Length: 16.9 to 19.7 inches 
  • Wingspan: 39 to 43.3 inches
  • Weight: 470 to 1050 grams

Unlike the Barn Owl, Barred Owls are much more popular in the Great Lake State - heads-up, don't mix up their names.

While they're common, don't expect to see them out in the open, like hawks or other raptors.

Barred owls typically live in mature forests amidst dense trees but sometimes dwell in cities. The good thing is, they're inquisitive, so they aren't the hardest to spot.

If you scan trees in their territory properly, you sure will find one roosting on a tree branch looking back at you.

Moreover, these owls are known to respond swiftly to playback recordings of their "Who cooks for you?" call.

Here’s what this Michigan owl sounds like:

They are also quite vocal even during the day. And especially from January to Mid-April when they're looking for mates.


5. Short-Eared Owl

short-eared owl on a log

  • Length: 13.4 to 16.9 inches
  • Wingspan: 33.5 to 40.5 inches
  • Weight: 206 to 475 grams

The Short-eared Owl is a migrant Michigan Owl with distinct black-rimmed eyes.

Short-eared Owls come from their breeding ground in the far north to settle across the nation.

These owls may be endangered species in Michigan, but you'll find them in certain places at certain times.

You just have to know the places to look, and I'll show you where. What are birders for? 😉

First off, unlike most owls, they are terrestrial (land-dwelling) and are active during the day. But they do hunt using the revered silent flight of owls.

They are grassland species that lurk in between thickets, meadows, marshes, and bogs. Unfortunately, these habitats have taken a sharp decline in the state.

Regardless, Short-eared Owls have a more reliable range in southern Michigan.

Perhaps also in the northern half during the breeding season. One was spotted by a photographer inside a small village in Elkton.

Here's a Short-eared Owl in all its glory: 


6. Long-Eared Owl

long-eared owl on top of a tree looking down

  • Length: 13.8 to 15.8 inches
  • Wingspan: 35.4 to39.4 inches
  • Weight: 220 to 435 grams

Long-eared owls are the cat owls of Michigan. Not only do they look like one, but they also sound like a cat looking for a mate.

They are native to the Wolverine State and are year-round occupants of the northern and central parts. But folks in the southern half have also spotted these elusive owls during the breeding season in spring.

That's right. Long-eared owls may have a distinct look, but they don't give themselves up easily.

Long-eared Owls are not particularly vocal owls, but they are pretty loud when they call on the bright side. A calling adult male can be heard from a mile away!

7. Northern Saw-whet Owl

brown saw-whet owl looking below

  • Length: 7.1 to 8.3 inches
  • Wingspan: 16.5 to 18.9 inches
  • Weight: 65 to 151 grams

Saw-whets are officially the smallest owl species in Michigan. They are just about the size of Robins, but unlike Robins, they are incredibly hard to spot.

So much so that their population estimate in the state is unconfirmed. But rest assured that they're in abundance.

Coupled with their diminutive size, Saw-whets are strictly nocturnal and hide in plain sight.

In riparian forests where they roost, they sit at eye-level near tree trunks and watch passersby. But it's not uncommon to see them in city parks and urban areas.

Northern Saw-whet Owls might be one of the smallest raptors in the country, but they have the same diet as the bigger birds, only with smaller prey.

Did you know: Northern Saw-whet Owls get their name from sounding like a saw being sharpened on a whetstone.

But I believe this Michigan Owl hoots more like a beeper: 

Fun Fact: Owls are often seen as enigmatic creatures of the night. If you are interested to learn more about their role in folklore and tradition, then read our article entitled, "Owl Symbolism And Spirit Animal".


8. Great Gray Owl

great gray owl in the wilderness

  • Length: 24 to 33.1 inches
  • Wingspan: 53.9 to 60.2 inches 
  • Weight: 700 to 1700 grams

Great Gray Owls are the tallest owls in North America and are highly sought after by Michigan birdwatchers.

It's almost impossible not to recognize Great Grays with their oversized round heads and silvery gray plumage. When one's discovered, you'll find crowds trooping into the area - Snowy Owls have a similar status in the state.

Why?

Michigan is one of the few states where they can be found in the country. These large owls typically occupy the northern borders and the Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan (as do the rarer owl species in Michigan).

Funny enough, it's folks who aren't looking that get to discover these enormous avian predators first.

A homeowner once found one sitting in his backyard at Hesperia, Michigan.

9. Snowy Owl

snowy owl standing on a rock

  • Length: 20.5 to 27.9 inches
  • Wingspan: 49.6 to 57.1 inches
  • Weight: 1600 to 2950 grams

Snowy Owls are easily the most beautiful birds on the planet. It's not just because they're the actors of Hedwig (Harry Potter's pet owl), but their mesmerizing snow-white feathers and bulgy yellow eyes.

Moreover, they're the largest owl by body mass, and this completes their majestic look.

Their range is uncertain but spreads across the state when they troop in during winter months from the treeless Arctic Tundra where they breed.

Snowy Owls, like Short-eared Owls, are ground-dwelling, so you'll likely see them on the snow in open fields and near river banks.


10. Northern Hawk Owl

small owl perched on a branch

  • Length: 14.2 to 17.7 inches
  • Wingspan: 27.9 inches 
  • Weight: 240 to 454 grams

As you've guessed, these owls behave like hawks and act like hawks. They have short, pointed wings and tails, which is unlike other owls. Also, they are primarily active during the day.

Unfortunately, the Northern Hawk Owls is an incredibly elusive Michigan Owl. They barely make it into the state because Michigan falls into the extreme of their southern range.

But they aren't impossible to see either if you know where to look.

Northern Hawk Owls prefer open forests or marshy areas with coniferous trees, such as spruce. More particularly, these owls have been spotted in Dryburgh and Trout Lake, Michigan.

More reliably, you can join birders who troop in to see the Northern Hawk Owls and other amazing bird species at Eastern Upper Peninsula in the winter months.

Listen for their unconventional "ulululululul" rolling call that lasts about 14 seconds.

Fun Fact: We keep on mentioning the owls' hoots and variations but never about the reason! Proceed by reading the article, "Why Do Owls Hoot?" and know why they do this!


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What Kind of Owls Live in Michigan?

As stated in detail in the earlier part of this article, there are ten (10) kinds of owls living in Michigan, namely: 

  • Great Horned Owl
  • Eastern Screech-Owls
  • Barred Owl 
  • Great Gray Owl
  • Northern Saw-whet Owl
  • Short-eared Owl
  • Long-eared Owl
  • Barn Owl 
  • Snowy Owl 
  • Northern Hawk Owl

What is the largest owl in Michigan?

The Great Gray Owl is the largest (tallest) in Michigan by height and wingspan. They dwarf the great horned by as much as 10 inches and have a 3-inch longer wingspan. However, Great Horned Owls are larger by size. Female adults typically weigh over 5 pounds, while the largest Great Gray only scrapes the 4-pound mark. On the other hand, our winter visitors, Snowy Owls, can weigh over 6 pounds.

How do you attract owls in Michigan?

The best way to attract owls is to install a properly-sized nest box in a quiet and suitable (like an abandoned barn for Barn Owls) location. Also, you can leave patches of bush overgrown and tree branches unpruned to give them a home and hunting ground.  

Where to find owls in Michigan?

Owls live close to farmlands, marshes, woodlots, and open fields where rodents, squirrels, ducks, geese, and various birds abound. They can also be found in urban and suburban locations with a similar ecosystem as mentioned above. Look in parks, cemeteries, and woods, with big trees where they can roost without disturbance. 

When do owls mate in Michigan?

Most Owl species in Michigan begin mating during spring. A pair of owls are known to mate for life and use the same nest each year.

Watch the courtship and mating process of a pair of Great Horned Owls below:

Wrapping Up

Michigan welcomes more owls than most states in the U.S.

The tallest of them all, the sedentary Great Gray Owl, is a rare but spectacular sight if you get to see one. But the ferocious Great Horned Owls are our largest native owls and much easier to see.

Hopefully, you now have a good night's sleep knowing that you figured out the mystery owl in your neighborhood.

And if you're looking to attract a breeding pair to your property, perhaps your yard, install an appropriate nest box.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top