Types of Owls in Georgia (Full Guide)

The Peach State’s natural habitat is more than succulent fruit, urban settings and weeping willows. Instead, much of northern Georgia has mature hardwood forests. In the south, a variety of wetland types exist, including forest, deciduous, evergreen, and shrub. These wetlands provide critical habitat for much of South Georgia’s flora and fauna. Georgia’s five habitat regions include mountains, foothills, coasts, wetlands, and coastal plains. Due to its diversity of habitats, countless bird species call Georgia home, including various species of owls. So is it important to know which owls are in Georgia?

The nine species of owl in Georgia’s woodlands include the barn owl, barred owl, burrowing owl, eastern screech owl, great horned owl, long-eared owl, northern sawmill owl, short-eared owl, and snowy owl. While many of these owls are part-time seasonal residents, others are permanent residents of Georgia’s wildlife community.

Read on to learn more about the lives of these nine species of owls!

barn owl

white grass

barn owl on post

young barn owl

length:

33cm to 39cm

span:

80cm to 95cm

weight:

250g to 350g

James P, XC621140. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/621140.

Learn more about barn owls

barn owl

The barn owl’s white face, buff belly and breast, short tail mixed with gray, rounded wings, and beautiful brown and gray back are certainly a striking sight. Their faces are quite distinctive because they are ear-shaped, and since the species lacks ear hairs, their heads have a smooth appearance. Barn owls also feature powder gray medium-length bills.

As the name suggests, barn owls prefer to nest in man-made structures like barns, but hunt in open areas like marshes and fields. This species mainly feeds on other birds and small mammals such as rabbits, rodents and mice. Since they hunt at night, they prefer nocturnal creatures, so squirrels and chipmunks are not usually attacked by this owl.

You can spot barn owls year-round in northern and southern Georgia.

eastern screech owl

Megascops asio

eastern screech owl

Eastern screech owl with rufous morph

Eastern screech owl sitting on hollow tree

Pair of Oriental Screaming Owls

length:

16cm to 25cm

span:

48cm to 61cm

weight:

170 grams to 190 grams

See:

whole year

eastern screech owl

Eastern screech owls love trees and blend in with the foliage because of their intricate plumage. You can find this owl throughout the year in all types of forests, especially near water.

Eastern screech owls love to eat earthworms, lizards, frogs, tadpoles, crayfish and any other type of small mammal they can catch. This is because this owl is small and pleasing to the eye. Their bodies are short and stocky, and their plumage is a collection of rusty red or gray banded spots. Their wings are small and round, and their tails are square. Facially, they have a V-shape above the eyes and prominent ear hairs.

The eastern screech owl is most common in Georgia, and the bird’s piercing yellow eyes are easier to spot than the owl itself.

great horned owl

Virginia Inguinal Swollen Lymph Nodes

great horned owl

Great Horned Owl in flight

male and female great horned owl

Great horned owl perched on tree stump

length:

46cm to 63cm

span:

140cm

weight:

910 grams to 2.5 kilograms

See:

whole year

great horned owl

As one of the most recognizable owls on the planet, when you think owls, you think great horned owls. This species is characterized by its gray plumage, medium length tail, round face, reddish heart, “V” shaped eyebrows and pointed beak. You can also spot a great horned owl by their prominent ear hairs and occasional red tinge on their chest.

These large owls are top predators in a variety of habitats. While they prefer to live in deciduous or evergreen woodlands where there are clearings, you can find great horned owls year-round in suburban settings, tundra, deserts, or many other places.

As professional hunters, this species will eat animals larger than itself, including other birds of prey. When not feeding on large prey, this owl will eat mice, scorpions, and other smaller animals.

snowy owl

swollen lymph nodes in the groin

snowy owl

snowy owl in flight

snowy owl standing in the snow

snowy owl landing

length:

53cm to 66cm

span:

125cm to 166cm

weight:

710 grams to 2.95 kilograms

See:

rare but in winter

snowy owl

Snowy owls are rare in Georgia, but the best opportunity is for a limited time between December and the end of February. They are easily recognizable due to their beautiful black and white plumage. The whiter the bird, the more likely it is a male, while females have a more intense coloration.

With large, rounded wingtips and a medium-sized tail, their distinctive yellow eyes provide an incredible contrast against their round, pure white faces. This owl has a small black beak.

If you are lucky enough to spot a snowy owl, it will be in coastal or freshwater areas, fields or airports. This species is particularly interested in hunting lemmings, but will eat other rodents.

burrowing owl

athena

burrowing owl

Burrowing owl landing

A flock of burrowing owls

Head tilted burrowing owl

length:

19cm to 25cm

span:

51cm to 61cm

weight:

170 grams

See:

Mainly between October and April

burrowing owl

Burrowing owls are found between October and April, frequenting large open areas where grasslands and plantations are sparse. As the name suggests, burrowing owls live in abandoned ground squirrel nests. They feed on insects, mammals, and small reptiles in their hunting areas.

You can recognize the Burrowing Owl by its mix of sandy brown and white short tail, wings and back, and mottled brown plumage. They have brown bards on their bellies and are mostly white with white eyebrows and white throats. With its distinctive yellow eyes, this species also has a yellow or gray beak of medium length.

This owl is one of the easiest owls to find in Georgia because they are not afraid to stand for long periods of time or hop around on the ground.

striped owl

Sandpiper

striped owl

barred owl in flight

Striped owl eating crayfish

Barred Owl Trimming Owl

Pair of striped owls

length:

43cm to 50cm

span:

31.5cm to 35.5cm

weight:

470 grams to 1.05 kilograms

See:

whole year

striped owl

The barred owl’s tail, wings, and back are completely striped in white and brown. Their abdomens tend to be a mixture of white and brown vertical lines, with brown horizontal lines on the upper abdomen. Their face looks like a number 8 above the eyes, and this species also lacks ear hair.

The striped owl is known for its deciduous and evergreen home, but can also be found in coniferous forests around the state. When not hunting, these owls roost in tree hollows. The barred owl likes variety in its dinner, so it will eat reptiles, grouse, rabbits, and whatever small mammals are available.

You’ll find these beautiful birds all around Georgia’s coastal plain.

long eared owl

Ant

length:

35cm to 37cm

span:

84cm to 95cm

weight:

210g to 370g

See:

Uncommon, but mostly in fall and winter

Learn more about the long-eared owl

long eared owl

Long-eared owls, as the name suggests, have long, cat-like ears. They are of medium size with an extra long ear tuft and orange face giving them a surprised cat shape. This species is silent most of the year, so they keep a low profile. During mating season, however, they become chatterboxes, using a low-pitched “purr” to attract mates.

Long-eared owls are uncommon in Georgia, but the best times to photograph them are mainly in the fall and winter. You can look for them anywhere in the state except in the southeastern region. Long-eared owls prefer open areas to nesting, hunting, and roosting in dense shrubs and trees.

They typically feed on small mammals and native rodents, including voles, mice, rats, and gophers, but they have also been known to eat snakes, lizards, bats, shrews, and other small birds.

short eared owl

Asio flammeus

Close-up of a short-eared owl

Short-eared owl in flight

Short-eared owl perched on a fence post

Short-eared owl flying

Short-eared owl nest with chicks and eggs

length:

34cm to 42cm

span:

90cm to 105cm

weight:

260g to 350g

See:

usually from november to april

female short-eared owl hooting

Jarick Matusiak, XC552057. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/552057.

short-eared owl hooting

Carl-Bigstrand, XC443556. Available at www.xeno-canto.org/443556.

Learn more about the Short-eared Owl

short eared owl

Short-eared owls are a striking combination of white, buff, and brown spotted plumage across their backs, short tails, and rounded wings. They usually have a white patch on their wings that can help you identify them. There is a comma-shaped mark under the wing near the bird’s wrist.

Facially, this species has yellow eyes with black outlines, with white centers interrupted by a tan spot on the forehead that runs throughout the face. These owls have tiny ear hairs and a small black beak.

The best time to spot short-eared owls is from November to April when they hunt in grasslands, fields and other open areas. The typical diet of this species is the occasional bird and small mammal, and young owls will also eat insects.

Northern Sawmill Owl

Feng Shui Grass

Northern Sawmill Owl

Northern sawmill owl perched on branch

Northern Sawmill Owl

length:

18cm to 21.5cm

span:

45cm to 60cm

weight:

100 g

See:

Between November and February, but fairly rare

Northern Sawmill Owl

This cute little owl has a big head that makes them look cartoony. Their wings and backs are speckled with white, and their chests and bellies have spaced brown stripes and a pure white lace. Their heads are round, without ear hair, and a figure-eight face of white and tan surrounds their piercing yellow eyes. The Northern Saw-wet Owl has a short, black beak.

You can find this species in forests but occasionally in large open areas where they prey on squirrels, deer mice, small birds and insects.

Although they are rare in Georgia, the best time to spot Northern Sawmill Owls is a short period between November and February.