Wildlife Wednesday 11/19/2025

Whooooo’s ready for our upcoming owl prowl? It’s #WildlifeWednesday and we will highlight the 3 owl species we are most likely to encounter on our grounds this time of year.

The Eastern Screech-owl is Ohio’s smallest and most common owl, occurring in all 88 counties. This little owl is about the size of an American Robin, though double the weight. It has wide yellow eyes and can be seen in two color morphs, red or gray.  It has small “ear tufts,” which are skin formations covered in feathers found in some species of birds. Resembling mammalian ears but unrelated to the owl’s ability to hear, these tufts help with camouflage, are used to look bigger and more threatening to predators, and may also help in courting a mate. The Eastern screech-owl’s vocalization is not actually a screech, but instead a combination of whistles, trills, and whinnies. It is very adaptable and can occupy a wide variety of habitats, including woodlands, suburbs, urban areas, and woodlots. It is even common in backyards. Its diet is more varied than any other North American owl, preying upon rodents, birds, insects, and worms.

The Great Horned Owl is the largest owl in Ohio and with its enormous yellow eyes and deep hooting call, it is the classic owl that jumps to mind from storybooks and drawings. It has ear tufts which are so large they resemble horns, giving the species its name.  Its preferred habitat includes woods interspersed with fields and open areas, as well as swamps, wetlands, meadows, orchards, and agricultural land, making The Wilderness Center and its surrounding area an ideal location for it to call home. The Great Horned Owl is almost strictly nocturnal, with peak activity occurring after dusk and before dawn. This massive powerful owl is at the top of the bird of prey food chain and has no predators.

Finally, we have the Barred Owl, a sizable owl with length measurements comparable to those of the Great Horned, but with only half the weight. The Barred Owl has dark black eyes, prominent facial discs, and lacks ear tufts. An extremely vocal owl, its call is described by the mnemonic “Who cooks for you, who cooks for you all?” Pairs will often perform duets with this song, vocalizing loudly for extended periods of time. The Barred Owl has a delicate and graceful flight style as it swoops through forests and prefers wooded areas over open spaces. While most active at night, the Barred Owl can sometimes be seen during the day roosting on tree branches and inside cavities. 

Join us this Friday from 7-8 PM as we hike our trails on an Owl Prowl night hike. Whoooo knows which owls  and other nocturnal creatures we might find?