Owls in California
California 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
- Great Horned Owl, Western Screech-Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Barn Owl, Burrowing Owl
- First to nest
- Western Screech-Owl, February
- Use nest boxes
- Western Screech-Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Barn Owl
The owls of California, one by one
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus · 18.1–24.8 in
Year-round resident, nests 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 February–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 February–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 December.
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.
Burrowing Owl
Athene cunicularia · 7.5–9.8 in
Year-round resident, nests February–July.
Look for: long-legged small owl that stands on the ground; bright yellow eyes and white eyebrows; spotted brown above, barred below.
Call: A soft, cooing 'coo-coooo'; young rattle like a rattlesnake.
Eats: Large insects and small rodents, hunted day and night.
Owl nesting calendar for California
Owls nest earlier than most backyard birds, which is why winter is the best time to hear them calling. In California the order runs:
- Western Screech-Owl: February–June, clutch of 1–7 eggs, incubation 21–30 days.
- Northern Saw-whet Owl: February–June, clutch of 4–7 eggs, incubation 27–29 days.
- Burrowing Owl: February–July, clutch of 4–12 eggs, incubation 28 days.
- Great Horned Owl: April, clutch of 1–4 eggs, incubation 28–37 days.
- Barn Owl: December, clutch of 2–18 eggs, incubation 29–34 days.
Owl boxes in California
3 owls here take to nest boxes. Sizes matter more than style:
- Western Screech-Owl: 3 in entrance, 8 × 8 in floor, mounted 10–30 ft. Mount by January.
- Northern Saw-whet Owl: 2 1/2 in entrance, 6 × 6 in floor, mounted 10–20 ft. Mount by January.
- Barn Owl: 6 in entrance, 16 × 24 in floor, mounted 10–20 ft. Mount by November.
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 California?
We have range data placing 5 owl species in California: Great Horned Owl, Western Screech-Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Barn Owl, Burrowing Owl.
Which owls stay in California all year?
Great Horned Owl, Western Screech-Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Barn Owl, Burrowing Owl are resident in California year-round.
When do owls nest in California?
The earliest nester is the Western Screech-Owl, starting around February. Great Horned Owl: April; Western Screech-Owl: February–June; Northern Saw-whet Owl: February–June; Barn Owl: December; Burrowing Owl: February–July.
Can I put up an owl box in California?
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 California?
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. Burrowing Owl: A soft, cooing 'coo-coooo'; young rattle like a rattlesnake.
Sources
- Great Horned Owl — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Great Horned Owl life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Great Horned Owl — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- Western Screech-Owl — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Western Screech-Owl life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Western Screech-Owl — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
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.