Ohio, often known as the "Buckeye State," boasts a surprising array of habitats, from the dense deciduous forests and rolling Appalachian foothills in the east to the extensive farmlands and lakeside marshes. This ecological diversity creates a welcoming environment for a variety of nocturnal predators, making it a fantastic state for owl enthusiasts.
While these silent hunters can be elusive, knowing their distinct calls, preferred habitats, and key identification marks significantly increases your chances of encountering one of Ohio's magnificent owl species. Here are eight owls you might spot (or more likely, hear) across the state.
1. Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) – The Apex Predator
The Great Horned Owl is Ohio's largest and most widespread owl, a formidable and adaptable hunter found year-round in nearly every habitat. Its powerful presence commands respect, and its deep hoot is a quintessential sound of the American wilderness.
Identification: This large, robust owl is easily recognized by its prominent ear tufts (feather tufts, not actual ears) and mottled brown and grayish plumage. It has striking yellow eyes set in a large facial disc.
Habitat & Behavior: Great Horned Owls are highly adaptable, thriving in diverse environments from dense forests and wetlands to suburban parks and even urban areas. They are opportunistic predators with a vast diet, preying on everything from rodents and rabbits to large birds, other owls, and even skunks. They are known for their early nesting, often starting in late winter.
Voice: Their deep, resonant hooting call, typically a rhythmic "hoo-hoo-hooo hoo hoo," is instantly recognizable.
2. Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) – Ohio's Most Common Little Owl
The Eastern Screech-Owl is Ohio's most common owl species, often found surprisingly close to human habitation in suburban yards and parks. These tiny, well-camouflaged owls are masters of blending in with tree bark, making them much easier to hear than to see.
Identification: Standing only about 8 inches tall, they come in two color morphs: a reddish-brown (red phase) or a mottled gray (gray phase). Both phases have prominent ear tufts and bright yellow eyes.
Habitat & Behavior: Eastern Screech-Owls prefer open woodlands, suburban backyards with mature trees, and parks, as long as suitable tree cavities for nesting and roosting are available. They hunt a wide range of small prey, including large insects, crayfish, frogs, lizards, small birds, and rodents.
Voice: Their distinctive, quavering, horse-like trill, often described as a "whinny," is a familiar sound on quiet Ohio nights.
3. Barred Owl (Strix varia) – "Who Cooks For You?"
The Barred Owl is a common and highly vocal owl in Ohio, particularly associated with dense, moist woodlands and swamps. Its distinctive call is one of the easiest owl vocalizations to learn and identify.
Identification: A medium-to-large owl with a rounded head and no ear tufts. Its plumage is a mix of brown and white barring, with vertical streaks on its belly and horizontal barring on its chest. Its striking dark brown eyes distinguish it from most other Ohio owls (except the Barn Owl, which looks very different).
Habitat & Behavior: Barred Owls prefer mature deciduous and mixed forests, especially those near water sources like rivers, swamps, and wetlands. They hunt a diverse range of prey, including small mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
Voice: Their famous call sounds like "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?" – a series of rhythmic hoots that carries well through the quiet night.
4. Barn Owl (Tyto alba) – The Ghostly Hunter
The Barn Owl is a unique and globally distributed owl species, recognizable by its distinctive heart-shaped face. In Ohio, it is a resident species, though its populations are localized and of conservation concern due to habitat loss.
Identification: Its most distinguishing feature is its pale, white, heart-shaped face, which often appears ghostly white in low light. Its upperparts are a mottled orange-buff and gray, while its underparts are pure white or pale buff, sometimes with fine spots. It lacks ear tufts.
Habitat & Behavior: Barn Owls are primarily found in open country, agricultural fields, grasslands, and marshes, where their preferred prey (rodents like voles, mice, and rats) are abundant. As their name suggests, they often roost and nest in human-made structures like barns, silos, and abandoned buildings.
Voice: Unlike other Ohio owls, Barn Owls do not hoot. Their calls are a repertoire of hisses, screeches, and clicks, often sounding eerie and unsettling.
5. Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) – The Diurnal Hunter (Winter Visitor)
The Short-eared Owl is a fascinating species for Ohio birders because it is primarily a winter visitor and migrant to the state. These owls are unique among North American owls for often being active during the day, particularly at dawn and dusk.
Identification: This medium-sized owl has a round head, relatively short "ear" tufts (often not visible), and piercing yellow eyes with dark patches around them. Its plumage is mottled brown and buff with streaks on the underparts. In flight, it shows long, broad wings with a distinctive dark patch at the "wrist" of the underwing. They have a buoyant, somewhat moth-like flight as they glide low over open fields.
Habitat & Behavior: In Ohio, Short-eared Owls are found in expansive open habitats such as grasslands, agricultural fields, coastal marshes, and reclaimed strip mines. They specialize in hunting voles and other small rodents, often quartering the ground in a systematic fashion.
Voice: Their calls are typically quiet hoots or barks, often heard during courtship or territorial displays.
6. Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) – The Elusive Roosting Owl (Rare Winter Visitor)
The Long-eared Owl is a very rare winter visitor to Ohio, making any sighting a significant event for birders. They are masters of camouflage and extremely elusive, often going undetected even when present.
Identification: This medium-sized owl is slender with very long, erect ear tufts set close together on top of its head, giving it a perpetually surprised or intense expression. Its plumage is heavily mottled brown and black, providing excellent camouflage against tree bark. Its orange-yellow eyes are set within a dark facial disc.
Habitat & Behavior: During winter, Long-eared Owls typically roost communally in dense conifer groves or thickets near open fields or grasslands where they hunt for small rodents. Their secretive nature makes them challenging to find.
Voice: Their primary call is a low, soft "hoo" note, repeated steadily, which can be easily missed.
7. Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) – The Tiny Northern Visitor (Rare Winter Visitor)
The Northern Saw-whet Owl is the smallest owl in eastern North America, and it is a rare and irregular winter visitor to Ohio. Its diminutive size, elusive nature, and strictly nocturnal habits make it particularly difficult to spot.
Identification: This tiny owl (only about 7-8 inches tall) has a disproportionately large, round head, no ear tufts, and bright yellow eyes. Its plumage is mottled brown on the back with streaks on the white underparts.
Habitat & Behavior: In its wintering grounds in Ohio, Saw-whet Owls prefer dense conifer or mixed forests, often near wetlands. They are primarily rodent specialists, preying on mice and voles.
Voice: Its unique call, a series of repetitive, mechanical "toot-toot-toot" notes, is reminiscent of a dull saw sharpening on a whetstone (hence its name).
8. Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) – The Arctic Wanderer (Very Rare Irregular Winter Visitor)
The Snowy Owl is a magnificent and unmistakable species that is a very rare and irregular winter visitor to Ohio. Their presence in the state is part of an "irruption" phenomenon, typically occurring every few years due to prey availability on their Arctic breeding grounds.
Identification: A large, striking owl, predominantly white. Males can be almost pure white, while females and immatures have varying degrees of dark barring. They have a round head and bright yellow eyes.
Habitat & Behavior: In Ohio, Snowy Owls are found in expansive open areas that mimic their tundra breeding grounds, such as agricultural fields, large airports, lakefront areas (especially along Lake Erie), and wide-open prairies. They often perch on the ground or low hummocks.
Voice: They are largely silent in winter, but their calls can include hoots, screeches, and croaks.
Where To See Owls In Ohio
Ohio offers a variety of excellent locations for owl watching, depending on the species you're hoping to see. Here are some of the top places, categorized by the types of owls you're most likely to encounter.
For a General Owl Experience & Rehabilitated Birds
Ohio Bird Sanctuary (Mansfield)
This is a fantastic place to see various owl species up close, as they care for and display rehabilitated native birds of prey, including Great Horned Owls. It's a great option for families and ensures a sighting.
For Common Resident Owls (Great Horned, Eastern Screech, Barred)
These species are widespread and can be found in many wooded areas across the state.
Suburban Parks and Backyards: Eastern Screech-Owls and Great Horned Owls are surprisingly adaptable and can often be found in areas with mature trees, even in suburban settings. Listen for their calls at dusk and dawn.
Large Cemeteries: Cemeteries with mature trees, such as Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus, Woodlawn in Toledo, and Spring Grove in Cincinnati, are known for hosting Great Horned Owls and sometimes Eastern Screech-Owls. The quiet environment and large trees provide ideal roosting and nesting sites.
Mature Forests and Wetlands: Hocking Hills State Park (Southeastern Ohio): With its dense forests, cliffs, and gorges, Hocking Hills is a good spot for Eastern Screech-Owls and potentially Northern Saw-whet Owls (especially in winter).
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area (Oak Harbor, Western Lake Erie): While famous for warblers, Magee Marsh's mix of marshes and woodlands also attracts Great Horned and Barred Owls.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Northeast Ohio): Areas like Horseshoe Pond (mixed evergreen forest) and Station Road Bridge (floodplain/swamp) are known for Barred Owls and Eastern Screech-Owls.
Salt Fork Eco Center and Mohican State Park: These areas in eastern Ohio, with their large tracts of deciduous forests, are excellent for Barred Owls.
For Winter Visitors & More Elusive Species (Short-eared, Long-eared, Northern Saw-whet, Snowy)
These owls often prefer open habitats or dense conifers and are best sought during the colder months.
Open Grasslands and Agricultural Fields
Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area (Wyandot County): This is a premier location for Short-eared Owls in winter, as well as Rough-legged Hawks.
Big Island Wildlife Area (near Marion): Another excellent spot for Short-eared Owls in winter, especially in the late afternoon.
Maumee Bay State Park (near Toledo, along Lake Erie): During winter, this park's open meadows are good for Short-eared Owls and occasionally Snowy Owls.
The Wilds (Muskingum County): Known for its expansive open areas, it's another traditional wintering ground for Short-eared Owls.
Along Lake Erie Shoreline (for Snowy Owls)
Lake Erie Birding Trail: During irruption years, Snowy Owls are most likely to be seen along the shoreline of Lake Erie, including areas like the Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve, Edgewater, and the East 55th Marina. They prefer large, open spaces similar to their tundra breeding habitat, including airports. Preserve is mentioned as a good place to look for them in winter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest owl in Ohio?
Great Horned Owls are the largest owls found in Ohio. They stand at about 3 feet tall and spread an imposing wingspan that reaches almost 5 feet in male adults.
How big do owls get in Ohio?
There's a wide variation in size among Ohio owls. The state is home to some of the largest owl species, such as Great Horned Owls and sometimes, the bulkier Snowy Owls. Mid-sized owls like Barred Owls, Long-eared Owls, and Barn Owls also live in the state. Ohio also hosts miniature robin-sized owls, like the Screech Owls and North Saw-whet Owls.
Are owls common in Ohio?
It depends. In total, eight owl species inhabit the Buckeye state but most of them will be primarily heard than seen. However, if you're searching, you will have some luck.
Watch this video from Cornell Lab of Ornithology about the unique characteristics of Eastern screech owls:
When do owls nest in Ohio?
The Great Horned Owls are the first nesters and start laying eggs as early as January. However, the rest of the owls breeding in Ohio won't start nesting till around March and April.
Wrapping Up
There you have it, the eight beautiful owls in Ohio. With your newfound awareness of their sounds and behavior, you might discover one near you soon enough. Or you could take an adventure hike into the many parks across the state to find one yourself. It's always a great feeling to have that first stare with the one you found by yourself.
Which species have you heard of or spotted in your neighborhood?
