Owls – Ohio’s Nocturnal Raptors

Owls, similar to hawks and falcons, are raptors. They are powerful birds with sharp talons, curved beaks, and exceptional eye sight, making them highly efficient predators. Unlike other birds in the raptor family, owls in Ohio are almost all nocturnal, meaning they are active at night.

Ohio has 8 resident owl species, including the barn owl, barred owl, Eastern screech owl, great horned owl, long-eared owl, Northern saw-whet owl, short-eared owl, and snowy owl. They range in popularity from the common barred owl to the threatened barn owl. Species such as the enormous snowy owl are only found in winter, while the Eastern screech-owl is found in every Ohio county.