By Chris Bensley
There’s something captivating about seeing an owl in the wild—a quiet flash of wings at dusk, the steady gaze of round yellow eyes watching from the shadowed branches. In New England, the forests, fields, and even urban parks are home to several species of owls, each with its own rhythms, calls, and territories. Finding them takes patience, a bit of luck, and a willingness to slow down and immerse yourself in their world.
The Great Horned Owl
The Great Horned Owl is often called the "tiger of the sky," and once you’ve heard its deep, resonant hoots echoing through a winter forest, you’ll understand why. My first encounter with one happened on a cold November morning. I was running at the edge of a forest at dawn enjoying the quiet solitude when a loud swooping sound of giant wings whooshed by me and the enormous Great Horned Owl flew inches over my head, obviously startled by my proximity to her nest.
I stopped, my heart racing, and I marveled at its mighty size. My experience was rare, as most times spotting Great Horned Owls requires great patience. Try visiting forests or large parks at dusk. Listen carefully for their low, haunting hoots, and bring binoculars to help you spot them in the treetops, often perched high in the branches, blending seamlessly with the tree bark.
Great Horned Owl
Size: Large, around 18-25 inches with a wingspan up to 5 feet.
Features: Known for their "horned" feather tufts and striking yellow eyes, they have a deep hoot that’s iconic.
Habitat: Found in diverse habitats, from deep forests to city parks.
Active: Primarily crepuscular, active at dusk and dawn.
The Barred Owl
Barred Owls are often easier to spot than Great Horned Owls, especially if you’re near water. They are most active at dusk, but they can also be spotted during the day, especially in overcast weather. Swamps, forest edges, and areas near rivers are prime spots for them, so bring your patience, and practice their unmistakable call, “Who, who, who cooks for you”—it works more often than you’d think!
One early spring day, I was walking with friends near a forested marsh in New Hampshire when I saw one perched on a low branch, about ten feet away. We all froze. There it was, a beautiful Barred Owl, its dark eyes calmly assessing us. We whispered in excitement and carefully lifted our binoculars. The owl stayed for a few minutes before gliding back into the trees, leaving us awestruck by its silent flight and intense gaze.
Barred Owl
Size: Medium, around 17-20 inches with a wingspan up to 4 feet.
Features: Barred brown and white plumage with large, dark eyes. Their call sounds like, “Who cooks for you?”
Habitat: Prefers forests near water, often spotted in swampy areas.
Active: More likely to be seen during the day, especially on overcast days.
The Eastern Screech-Owl
The Eastern Screech-Owl may be one of the smallest owls in New England, but finding one is an experience you won’t soon forget. They’re masters of camouflage, blending perfectly into tree cavities where they roost during the day. In fact, I spent two years exploring a neighborhood park before I finally found one.
It was early summer, and I was walking through a grove of oaks, scanning for small openings in tree trunks. Suddenly, there it was—a tiny, reddish-gray owl, barely larger than my hand, peeking out from a small cavity in the tree. It was a rufous-morph screech-owl, its colors perfectly matching the bark around it. I took a quiet seat on a nearby log and watched as it sat, half-asleep, only occasionally cracking one eye open.
Eastern Screech-Owls often stay within small territories, so once you’ve found one, you can return to the same area and likely spot it again. Look for them in suburban parks or wooded neighborhoods, especially near water, and check for small holes in tree trunks where they might be roosting.
Eastern Screech-Owl
Size: Small, about 6-10 inches with a wingspan under 2 feet.
Features: Camouflaged in gray or rufous (reddish-brown) colors with a soft trill call.
Habitat: Common in suburban woodlands and tree-lined neighborhoods.
Active: Primarily nocturnal and roosts in tree cavities.
The Snowy Owl
The Snowy Owl is high on my bucket list as I’ve never seen one of these magnificent birds. Peter Alden’s guided numerous field trips to look for them when large numbers of Snowy Owls migrated south from the Arctic. Irruptions when food is short up in the Arctic many venture south into the northern Great Plains or coastal New England.
The best spots in Massachusetts include Salisbury, Plum Island, Cranes Beach, Logan Airport edges, Plymouth area, the Outer Cape, Martha's Vineyard (especially Chappy) and Nantucket. Look for them perched on a wooden post, gazing at the surrounding field. Even from a distance, it was easy to spot its piercing yellow eyes and white plumage. Snowy Owls are more likely to be found during the day than other owls, especially in open areas like salt marshes, sand dunes, beaches, fields, and airport grounds. If you’re hoping to spot one, keep your eye on the news for reports of irruptions and head to coastal or open areas early in the morning. Bring a telescope on a tripod as they are often far away and shy.
Snowy Owl
Size: Large, about 20-27 inches tall with a wingspan of 4.5-5.5 feet.
Description: Known for their bright white plumage with dark markings. Snowy owls are one of the few owl species active during the day.
Habitat: During the winter months, they migrate south from the Arctic and can be found in open fields, along coastlines, and at airports.
Behavior: Often seen hunting during the day, especially during irruptions (mass migrations).
Other Owls to Spot
There are other rarer owls that visit here in winter. The diurnal flying Short-eared Owl glides over coastal salt marshes. Groups of Long-eared Owls roosting in dense pines are sometimes located. They look like skinny Great Horned Owls. Birders who discover such a roost lay several strong sticks against that preferred roosting tree to aid other birders.
The tiny Saw-whet Owl can be a regular visitor but very elusive. Best way to find one is a continuous racket made by chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and jays that scold a discovered Saw-whet in a dense coastal spruce or pine.
Every 5 or 10 years someone finds a huge Great Gray Owl or a diurnal-feeding Northern Hawk-Owl or a Boreal Owl down here in mid-winter from the boreal forests of Canada. Look for alerts on eBird and follow the crowds. We at Spark Birding may organize a carpooling trip on such news at short notice. Such rarities often stick around if birders (especially photographers) give it space. These vagrants often show little or no fear of us humans as most have never seen one of us. It’s a fact that most people have never seen a wild owl and would really like to. Perhaps that is you?
Tips for Finding Owls in New England
Each owl species has its own habits, preferred habitats, and schedules. Here are some tips to help you find and observe them:
Learn Their Calls: Each owl species has a distinct call, which is often the best way to locate them. Great Horned Owls have a deep, resonant hoot, Barred Owls have a hooting pattern that sounds like “Who cooks for you?” and Screech-Owls have a trilling call.
Timing Is Key: Dawn and dusk are the best times to find most owls. However, Barred Owls and Snowy Owls are more likely to be active during the day, especially on cloudy days.
Look for Owl Signs: Look for owl pellets (regurgitated bones and fur), whitewash (droppings on tree bark), and feathers. These signs often indicate where an owl might be roosting. The best time to search for owl pellets below a roost or nest tree is a few days after a snow event when they may really stand out.
Respect Their Space: When you spot an owl, move slowly and quietly, and give them plenty of distance. Avoid using bright lights or flash photography, as owls are sensitive to light, especially at night.
Return to Known Owl Sites: If you find an area where owls are active, return there over time. Many owls have territories and tend to stay within specific areas, so returning to known sites can increase your chances.
The Thrill of Owling
Owls are more than just beautiful birds—they’re a reminder of nature’s mysteries, of life that thrives in the hours when most of us are indoors. Whether it’s the towering silhouette of a Great Horned Owl, the ghostly glide of a Snowy Owl across a snowy field, or the quiet, hidden presence of an Eastern Screech-Owl in a suburban park, finding owls in New England is a special experience. Embrace the patience and quiet required, and you’ll find yourself in a world that feels truly magical
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