Owls in British Columbia
British Columbia has 5 owl species in our range data, 5 of them resident all year. Here is when each one is around, when it nests, what it sounds like at night and which ones will use a nest box.
- Owl species
- 5
- Resident all year
- Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, Western Screech-Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Barn Owl
- First to nest
- Barred Owl, February
- Use nest boxes
- Barred Owl, Western Screech-Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Barn Owl
The owls of British Columbia, one by one
Barred Owl
Strix varia · 16.9–19.7 in
Year-round resident, nests February–May. Expanded into the Pacific Northwest in recent decades.
Look for: round head with dark eyes and no ear tufts; horizontal barring on the chest, vertical streaks on the belly; mottled brown-grey overall.
Call: The classic 'Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?' hoot.
Eats: Small mammals, birds, amphibians and crayfish, hunted at night.
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus · 18.1–24.8 in
Year-round resident, nests February–April.
Look for: large owl with prominent ear tufts ('horns'); white throat patch and heavy barring below; yellow eyes.
Call: Deep, booming 'hoo-hoo hoooo hoo-hoo' duets in winter.
Eats: Powerful generalist — rabbits, skunks, other owls, ducks and rodents.
Western Screech-Owl
Megascops kennicottii · 7.5–9.8 in
Year-round resident, nests April–June.
Look for: small grey or brown owl with ear tufts; yellow eyes and dark bill; fine streaks and bars below.
Call: An accelerating series of soft hoots — a 'bouncing ball' song.
Eats: Insects, mice and small birds taken at night.
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Aegolius acadicus · 7.1–8.3 in
Year-round resident, nests April–June.
Look for: tiny owl with a big round head and no ear tufts; white y between the yellow eyes; rusty streaks on a white breast.
Call: An endless, mechanical, evenly spaced 'too-too-too'.
Eats: Deer mice and other small rodents, hunted at night.
Barn Owl
Tyto alba · 12.6–15.8 in
Year-round resident, nests February–December. Fraser Valley and southern Vancouver Island.
Look for: pale, heart-shaped white face; golden-buff back speckled with grey; dark eyes and long pale legs.
Call: A blood-curdling, rasping shriek — not a hoot.
Eats: Voles and mice, located by hearing alone.
Owl nesting calendar for British Columbia
Owls nest earlier than most backyard birds, which is why winter is the best time to hear them calling. In British Columbia the order runs:
- Barred Owl: February–May, clutch of 1–5 eggs, incubation 28–33 days.
- Great Horned Owl: February–April, clutch of 1–4 eggs, incubation 28–37 days.
- Barn Owl: February–December, clutch of 2–18 eggs, incubation 29–34 days.
- Western Screech-Owl: April–June, clutch of 1–7 eggs, incubation 21–30 days.
- Northern Saw-whet Owl: April–June, clutch of 4–7 eggs, incubation 27–29 days.
Owl boxes in British Columbia
4 owls here take to nest boxes. Sizes matter more than style:
- Barred Owl: 7–8 in entrance, 13 × 13 in floor, mounted 12–20 ft. Mount by January.
- Western Screech-Owl: 3 in entrance, 8 × 8 in floor, mounted 10–30 ft. Mount by March.
- Northern Saw-whet Owl: 2 1/2 in entrance, 6 × 6 in floor, mounted 10–20 ft. Mount by March.
- Barn Owl: 6 in entrance, 16 × 24 in floor, mounted 10–20 ft. Mount by January.
Add 2 to 3 inches of wood shavings, since owls bring no nest material. Skip rodent poison anywhere near the box: owls eat the poisoned rodents.
Hearing owls without disturbing them
- Listen on still, dry nights in the weeks before nesting starts; that is when pairs call most.
- Avoid playing recorded calls, which pulls owls off territory and away from eggs.
- Keep outdoor lights off near tree lines; owls hunt by sound and low light.
Owl eggs
Frequently asked
What owls live in British Columbia?
We have range data placing 5 owl species in British Columbia: Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, Western Screech-Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Barn Owl.
Which owls stay in British Columbia all year?
Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, Western Screech-Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Barn Owl are resident in British Columbia year-round.
When do owls nest in British Columbia?
The earliest nester is the Barred Owl, starting around February. Barred Owl: February–May; Great Horned Owl: February–April; Western Screech-Owl: April–June; Northern Saw-whet Owl: April–June; Barn Owl: February–December.
Can I put up an owl box in British Columbia?
Barred Owl: 7–8 in entrance, 13 × 13 in floor, mounted 12–20 ft. Western Screech-Owl: 3 in entrance, 8 × 8 in floor, mounted 10–30 ft. Northern Saw-whet Owl: 2 1/2 in entrance, 6 × 6 in floor, mounted 10–20 ft. Barn Owl: 6 in entrance, 16 × 24 in floor, mounted 10–20 ft. Have it up a month before nesting starts.
How do I tell owl calls apart in British Columbia?
Barred Owl: The classic 'Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?' hoot. Great Horned Owl: Deep, booming 'hoo-hoo hoooo hoo-hoo' duets in winter. Western Screech-Owl: An accelerating series of soft hoots — a 'bouncing ball' song. Northern Saw-whet Owl: An endless, mechanical, evenly spaced 'too-too-too'. Barn Owl: A blood-curdling, rasping shriek — not a hoot.
Sources
- Barred Owl — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Barred Owl life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Barred Owl — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
- Great Horned Owl — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Great Horned Owl life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.