Learn everything you could want to know about these winged beauties, their classification and the many different types of owls. Owls are birds, all of whom belong to the order Strigiformes. Approximately of the owl species that belong to the group share quite a few traits. Most of the species are solitary creatures except when it comes to the breeding season. Their bodies, eyes and ears have evolved to support their nocturnal lifestyle.
Owls are well known for their upright stance, broad heads and large eyes. They have binocular vision and a nictitating membrane over each eye that allows them to move independently from each other.
The system of classifying owls is quite simple. Within the Strigiformes group, there are only two divisions, which are called families. Barn owls tend to have heart-shaped faces. True owls have round faces.
The family of barn owls are scientifically called the Tytonidae family. The second family is known as the Strigidae family. The Strigidae family contains most of the owl species, about of the total owl species.
These species are typically split between about 19 genera, but they can change and shift as scientists conduct research on individual species. All of the species in this family are spread in between these two genera. Many species of owls are endangered, and many more are threatened. As you move through our list of species and types of owls, look for an asterisk next to their names to describe the level of risk associated with each species.
One asterisk means that the species is on the list of threatened or vulnerable animals. These owls face dramatic or abnormal population decreases and growing threats to their survival. Two asterisks mean that the species are either endangered or in critical danger of becoming extinct if no conservation efforts are implemented to save them.
Owl populations are declining due to habitat loss, climate change and poaching. The case study of the Snowy Owl explains the threats in real-world circumstances. Fortunately, conservation projects around the world are working to address the challenges owl species face. If you want to support these efforts with volunteer hours or financial contributions projects run by organizations like the Owl Research Institute can help point you in the right direction.
If you want to help owls in your local area, look up the owls that live in your region and whether or not their populations are struggling.
There will often be an organization that will help you get started on a regional project. Of course, you can always donate to a worthy cause, but we caution you to always do your research when donating to an organization.
Time to give you a brief description of each of the genera of owls and highlight a few species that stand out within the genera. Finally, we give you a complete list of the rest of the current species that belong to that genera. The most prominent family of owls is called the true owls. Scientists also call them typical owls. This arrangement of species lives throughout the world, found on every continent except for Antarctica.
After the family classification, the next level is called genus. The following list presents the collection of species found within each genus. Unfortunately, more than two dozen species of owls have become extinct over the last half-century. The Glaucidium is arguably one of the recognizable genera of owl. There are approximately 29 species distributed over the globe. They are either called Pygmy owls or Owlets because of their small size, even into adulthood.
The Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl has the widest distribution of all of the pygmy owls. They are abundant species throughout their entire habitat. This small owl breeds in Arizona and southern Texas in the United States and south into Mexico and further down through Bolivia, Argentina, and Paraguay.
They prefer to make their homes in a range of semi-open woodland habitats. One of the unique aspects of this little owl is that instead of being strictly nocturnal, they are crepuscular.
That means they often hunt during twilight and dawn, making them one of the more common owls to see throughout their region. The Eurasian Pygmy-Owl is the smallest owl living in Europe. Their Latin name indicates that they are sparrow-sized. The Eurasian Pygmy Owl has been classified from the beginning of the system since they were described by Carl Linnaeus in They make their home in the boreal forests in the Northern and Central regions of Europe through Siberia.
This name accurately describes its unique appearance. They make their home on the Indian subcontinent bars and are sometimes found in the Western Ghats. This small owl is somewhat visually unique since they have no apparent facial disk typical of many other owl species. As a result, these owls are sometimes considered a subspecies of various other species within the genus. However, they currently have full species status.
This species habitat is restricted to the state of Baja California Sur in Mexico. Their feathers are brown and white and in patterns similar to bark, with black triangles outlined in white on the back of their head like eyespots. The plumage helps the owl blend into the trees in which they live.
These small true owls belonging to the genus Aegolius are a variety of screech owls. In the past, these owls were considered to be ill omens. Seeing one of them could mean that you were about to fall on ill luck. Today, the birds are known for their haunting call and their small but distinctive forms instead of their tendency to bring good luck or bad. They are not typically very vocal birds, but their contact calls to warn about danger or defense are distinctive.
They received this name because of the Swedish naturalist, Peter Gustaf Tengmalm. Although the Boreal owl has quite the spread of habitat and is classed as a Least Concern species due to its high population rates, humans rarely see them.
These owls are shy and have an elusive reaction to any human activities. They also prefer inaccessible taiga forest habitat in the northern regions of the globe and are difficult to simply stumble across. The Northern Saw-whet Owl is another of the better-known owls in this genus.
One of the smallest owl species in North America, they are native to North America. Their migratory pattern carries them throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. These owls often live in dense thickets near the ground, closer to their preferred prey. Unfortunately, they are so small that they are frequently preyed on by other owl species and raptors. Their call has been described as the sound of a saw getting sharpened on a whetstone.
It is pretty distinctive, but only heard when the owls are looking for a mate in breeding season. Eared owls include species of owls that have head tufts resembling ears similar to mammals. This genus includes owl species that you could find in almost every part of the world.
Most of the owls in this group have large populations. They are a medium-sized species with cinnamon, black and white plumage covering their bodies in vertical and horizontal stripes. These owls were initially classified in the Bubo genera when described by Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot in They have since moved to Asio due to DNA sequencing.
However, they have kept their specific epithet clamator. The Short-Eared Owl has habitats on almost every continent, not including Australia and the Antarctic.
Eleven subspecies are grouped under the primary species that give this owl such a large spread around the globe. They prefer to live in the open country and can often be seen as sitting in a defensive pose. They also have an extensive breeding range throughout most of Europe, the Palearctic and North America. These owls are partial to semi-open habitats, such as the edge of woodlands. They prefer to hunt over the open ground but to keep their nests in wooded areas.
These petite true owls measure between seven and 10 inches tall. Those in the northern part of the range migrate for winter, while those in warmer, tropical climates are year-round residents.
The demure Northern saw-whet owl Aegolius acadicus is seven to eight inches tall and is one of the smallest owls found in North America. These true owls earned their name because their call is reminiscent of a saw being sharpened on a whetstone.
Due to their small size and nocturnal nature, these owls are heard but not frequently spotted. Northern saw-whet owls inhabit woodlands and feed on small mammals. The beautifully marked striped owl Asio clamator has distinctive ear tufts in addition to its black, white, and cinnamon-colored streaks. This true owl can be found only in Central and South America. It has a huge range that includes marshlands, savannas, and woodlands.
Comfortable at elevations ranging from sea level to 1, feet, these large owls roost in thick tropical foliage to avoid detection. The tawny fish-owl Ketupa flavipes is found in Southeast Asia and China.
These large owls are noted for their ear tufts, which droop to the side, and their widespread yellow eyes. As its common name suggests, this true owl species feeds on fish as well as other aquatic creatures.
Inhabiting areas ranging from subtropical habitats to temperate forests, these birds are always close to rivers, lakes, and streams. A relative of the Eastern screech owl, the Western screech-owl Otus kennicottii is a true owl that can be found along western portions of North America down into Central America. The Western screech-owl is most often found in open woods or at the edges of forests.
The bird nests in cavities excavated and abandoned by woodpeckers. These nocturnal hunters are well camouflaged in their forest habitat thanks to their muted earth tone colors. The large, orange-faced spotted wood-owl Strix seloputo can be found in several distinct areas throughout Southeast Asia. A true owl, the spotted wood-owl lives in open forests or woodland habitats and can usually be found near water. It has striped coloration that helps it hide in shaded canopies.
This earless bird feeds primarily on small rodents, which it hunts from a perch. Also known as the Tengmalm's owl in part of its range, the boreal owl Aegolius funereus is found in the northern U. This true owl is mostly brown with distinctive white spots across its crown. Boreal owls nest in cavities in the subalpine and boreal forests they inhabit. Small nocturnal hunters, boreal owls hunt small mammals, birds, and insects from perches.
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