The owl order, Strigiformes, consists of the barn owl family, Tytonidae, and the typical owl family, Strigidae.

In the barn owl family there are 11 species, most of which live in Asia and Africa.

The Common Barn Owl lives in open woodlands in temperate and tropical areas of the world. It is not found in the northern parts of the Northern Hemisphere nor on some Pacific islands. It does not migrate.

This owl is from 15 to 20 inches (38-51 cm) long. It has long, feathered legs and, like other barn owls, has a heart-shaped face. It is sometimes called “monkey-faced owl.” Its plumage is a flecked cinnamon color on the back and off-white on the belly. It lacks ear tufts. Barn owls can catch mice in darkness, locating them by sound. The shrill cries, hisses, and snorelike calls of owls have given many deserted buildings the reputation of being haunted.

The common barn owl is Tyto alba.

Of the 121 species of typical owls, 18 live in North America. The most common of these owls include the following:

The Screech Owl lives in woodlands from Alaska and Canada south to central Mexico. It ranges in length from 7 to 10 inches (18-25 cm). It is reddish brown or gray with whitish undersides, and has ear tufts on the top of its head. The screech owl is a night hunter and nests in tree cavities. Its call is a tremulous whinny-like whistle.

The screech owl is Otus asio.

The Great Horned Owl lives in woodlands and open country from the tree line in northern Canada and Alaska south to Mexico. It is 20 to 23 inches (51-58 cm) long and has large ear tufts and a white patch on its throat. The feathers are dark brown on the back and lighter with crosswise barring on the belly. This owl hunts mostly at night but is seen abroad in daylight. Its call is a series of deep hoots.

The great horned owl is Bubo virginianus.

The male Great Horned Owl chooses a nesting place. Then he courts a female. He makes special calls, and he performs flying displays. He may offer the female a fresh mouse or other food. He may preen, or comb, her feathers with his beak.

After mating, a female owl usually lays three or four eggs. She sits on the nest and incubates, or warms, the eggs. On her belly, the female has a brood patch. This is a place where the skin is almost bare. It helps her body to warm the eggs directly.

While the female is sitting on the eggs, the male hunts. He finds food for both of them. In some kinds of owls, the male also has a brood patch and helps keep the eggs warm.

When great horned owlets hatch, they are blind and have a thin coat of down—fine, soft feathers. The adult owls feed the owlets every 15 to 20 minutes all night long.

Soon, the owlets have a heavier down coat. They grow strong and active. At 30 days, these owlets can hop about the nest and nearby branches. Gradually, their adult feathers appear. They will fledge, or be ready to fly, between 63 and 70 days after hatching.

Great horned owls bring small prey to the very young chicks. As the owlets grow, their parents offer bigger prey. The owlets quickly learn to tear this prey apart. They stay in the nesting area for several months. During this time, they learn to hunt for themselves, even though their parents continue to feed them.

The Barred Owl, from 17 to 24 inches (43-61 cm) long, lives in wet woodlands east of the Rockies, from Canada south to Central America. This owl has gray-brown plumage with horizontal barring on the neck and vertical barring on the belly. Its back is brown, speckled with white. It has no ear tufts. The barred owl nests in tree cavities or on branches, and hunts at night. Its call consists of two groups of four or five loud hoots.

The barred owl is Strix varia.

The Long-eared Owl lives from Canada southward to northern Mexico, and throughout Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. It may be 13 to 16 inches (33-41 cm) long. This owl has a long ear tuft centered over each eye. It is grayish brown with vertically streaked undersides. The long-eared owl lives in densely branched trees or thickets and is seen only at night. Its call is a low, moaning whoo.

The long-eared owl is Asio otus.

The Short-eared Owl lives in open country and marshes on all continents except Antarctica. For winter, those living in cold regions migrate to warmer climates. This owl is a streaked, tawny-brown color with a short ear tuft centered over each eye, and is from 13 to 17 inches (33-43 cm) long. It hunts during the day and usually nests on the ground. Its call is a bark-like keeyow.

The short-eared owl is Asio flammeus.

Less common species of typical owls found in North America include those listed below.

The Snowy Owl inhabits the Arctic tundra. It is 20 to 27 inches (51-69 cm) long and has white feathers with dark flecks or bars. The long days of Arctic summers have accustomed the snowy owl to hunt by day. Its chief food is the Arctic lemming. When there are food shortages in winter, the snowy owl migrates southward.

The snowy owl is Nyctea scandiaca.

Snowy owls are as white as the snow in their home in the far north. These birds of prey live in northern Canada and Alaska, as well as in northern Europe and Asia. Because of their color and their silent flight, their prey may not see or hear them coming.

Snowy owls have especially thick feathers and extra body fat. The feathers and fat help these owls survive in very cold climates. In winter, when food is scarce, a snowy owl may go into a sleeplike state for up to 40 days. It uses very little energy. It needs no food. The owl becomes active again when the weather warms and food is available.

People welcome snowy owls because they kill rats, mice, and other rodents.

The Great Gray Owl, largest of North American owls, lives in northern forest from Alaska to central California. It may reach 33 inches (84 cm) in length. It has a black chin spot and an unusually long tail—about 12 inches (30 cm) long. Its feeding and migratory habits resemble those of the snowy owl.

The great gray owl is Strix nebulosa.

The Hawk Owl resembles a hawk, not only in appearance but also in manner of flight and in the sound of its call. It is a day hunter of the northern forests. The bird is about 15 to 17 inches (38-45 cm) long and has a dark, mottled brown coloring with white underparts. This owl lacks the keen hearing and silent flight of most other owls.

The hawk owl is Surnia ulula.

The Elf Owl, smallest of North American owls, lives in woodpecker holes in trees and cacti of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It is 5 to 6 inches (13-15 cm) long. It hunts for insects at night.

The elf owl is Micrathene whitneyi.

An elf owl catches its food with its feet. It eats all kinds of insects, as well as mice, lizards, and spiders. The elf owl sits on a perch, watching. Then it darts out to catch a flying insect. Or, it flies around and scares an insect. Then it catches the insect as it jumps. When feeding owlets, this bird may make a trip a minute, catching and bringing insects to the nest.

Because they eat insects, elf owls are one of a very few kinds of owls that migrate. When winter comes to the United States, the elf owls living there fly south to Mexico. It is warmer in Mexico, so the elf owls there can still find plenty of insects to eat.

The Burrowing Owl lives on prairies in long burrows dug by such animals as prairie dogs and badgers. It is a brown owl, 9 to 11 inches (23-28 cm) long. It hunts by night.

The burrowing owl is Athene cunicularia.

Burrowing owls nest in underground tunnels. They often borrow homes from prairie dogs or ground squirrels. But if burrowing owls have to—and if the soil is easy to dig—they will use bills and feet to dig their own homes.

A male burrowing owl chooses a burrow and “decorates” it with grass. He performs courtship flights and sings to a female. After mating, the female lays eggs. She then incubates them in the dark nest chamber. The male owl feeds her. Later, both parents feed the chicks. If the owlets sense danger, they make rattling sounds. The rattling scares away such enemies as coyotes and foxes. These animals think the sounds are made by rattlesnakes.

Burrowing owls eat insects that they catch as they fly. They also eat mice, rats, and ground squirrels. They often hunt by sitting on a fence or other low perch to watch for prey.

The Saw-whet Owl, 7 to 8 inches (18-20 cm) long, ranges from southern Alaska to the mountains of Mexico. It hunts for rodents at night. Its whistling call resembles the sound of a saw being whetted (sharpened).

The saw-whet owl is Aegolius acadicus.