Where do owls sleep?
Most owls sleep by day, perched close to a tree trunk in thick foliage or inside a tree cavity, relying on camouflage to stay hidden.
Where they roost
- Conifers and ivy-covered trunks for Great Horned and Barred Owls.
- Tree cavities and owl boxes for screech owls.
- Barns and silos for Barn Owls.
Getting through cold nights
Winter is courtship season for many owls, so they call at night and roost quietly by day. Mobbing crows or jays often reveal a roosting owl.
How to help in your yard
- Keep large old trees and snags.
- Mount a screech-owl box (3-inch hole) 10–30 feet up.
- Avoid rodent poisons, which kill owls that eat poisoned prey.
Frequently asked
Where do owls sleep at night?
Most owls sleep by day, perched close to a tree trunk in thick foliage or inside a tree cavity, relying on camouflage to stay hidden.
How do owls survive cold nights?
Winter is courtship season for many owls, so they call at night and roost quietly by day. Mobbing crows or jays often reveal a roosting owl.
Are owls awake during the day?
Most rest by day, though Burrowing and Short-eared Owls are often active in daylight.
Other birds
Species covered: Great Horned Owls, Eastern Screech-Owls, Barred Owls.
Sources
- Eastern Screech-Owl life history (Cornell Lab, All About Birds)
- NestWatch (Cornell Lab): Roost boxes and winter shelter
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.
Boxes for roosting birds
Cavity sleepers use the same boxes in winter that they nest in during spring.
Six-Room Wooden Birdhouse
A small wooden village of six roofed rooms on one base. About 20 cm long, 13 cm deep and 15 cm tall (7.9 x 5.1 x 5.9 in). Two finishes: natural wood or a dark scorched stain.Honest noteThis is a decorative piece. The rooms are too small and shallow to meet nest-box guidelines for most songbirds, the roof doesn't open for cleaning, and hummingbirds never nest in boxes. For a working nest box, see our nest-box guides.Specs Material: wood with water-resistant finish Six openings, front arched doorway
Classic Wooden Nest Box
A straightforward wooden nest box for small garden birds. The enclosed design gives cavity nesters shelter from weather and predators through the breeding season.Place in a quiet spot with a clear flight path to the entrance, and clean annually after fledging. Natural wood Enclosed cavity design For wrens, chickadees, tits and similar species
Wooden Nest Box with Perch
A simple wooden nest box (19.5 × 12 cm) with a small entrance perch, sized for small parrots and similar cavity nesters in aviaries or sheltered outdoor spaces.Made from natural wood with a hinged or sliding panel for cleaning between seasons. 19.5 × 12 cm Entrance perch included Natural wood construction
Hanging Wooden Nest Box
A lightweight wooden nest box that hangs from a branch, beam or hook. Suited to small birds that nest in enclosed cavities.Hang it in a sheltered spot out of full afternoon sun, and clean it out once a year after the breeding season ends. Natural wood Hanging design with attached loop For small cavity-nesting birds