Strix varia

Habitat: Moist woods

Food: Insects, small vertebrates

Barred owls are large owls with round heads and NO ear tufts. They are brownish-gray with brown and white bars across their chest. (That’s why they’re called "barred" owls.) Their legs are covered with feathers. The barred owls’ eyes are dark brown, while most other owls have yellow eyes. Their beaks are sharp, but very small, so they are almost covered up by facial feathers.

Its large, brown eyes allow the barred owl to gather enough light to permit it to see well and function effectively in low light conditions. Its ear placement and acute hearing let the owl pinpoint minute sounds from a prey source and capture it in total darkness. Additionally, the feathers of an owl are fringed on the edges, helping to make their flight virtually silent; essentially, prey have no indication of an owl in their midst.

Bubo virginianus

Habitat: Woodland edges, woods

Food: Small mammals, birds

The Great Horned Owl is a large owl named primarily for the tufts of feathers on its head. These tufts give the owl a fierce "horned" appearance. In size, this owl is similar to both the Barred Owl and Great Gray Owl. However, the Great Horned Owl is best identified by the tufts of feathers on its head, large yellow eyes, and dark beak. The plumage of this owl is a fine example of effective camouflage. This raptor's back is a mottled arrangement of sooty browns with white and black. Upon its brown chest is a conspicuous white "bib" also called a "gular" or throat patch. This patch is typically hard to see because it is often hidden by the Great Horned Owl's lower "chin."

These owls lay from 2 to 3 white eggs. The eggs are laid in an abandoned nest of either a hawk or another large bird. Occasionally, the Great Horned Owl will nest in the hollows of broken tree branches, caves, or cliff outcroppings. They are usually the first species of bird to begin breeding with their courtship beginning in early January. This early breeding gives them an advantage over other birds by allowing them to take over the other birds' nests.

Otis asio

Habitat: Orchards, open woods

Food: Rodents and insects

Only occasionally seen, the Eastern Screech Owl is often mistaken for a baby Great Horned Owl. This owl is so small that it rarely exceeds eight inches in height - from the tips of its ear tufts down to its tail. Its diminutive size and camouflage coloring makes it nearly impossible to see when perched high in the tree tops. Indeed this owl's plumage ranges from rusty red to mottled gray, and it blends in perfectly with the bark of many trees. The Eastern Screech Owl's eyes and beak are as yellow and dark as the Great Horned Owl's.

The Eastern Screech Owl lays 4 to 5 white eggs, and it has the same nesting preferences as the American Kestrel. It doesn't make a nest of its own, but it inhabits old woodpecker cavities and niches in buildings.