The swamps and forests of Louisiana are a great habitat for a wide range of owl species, and some have even adapted to live in suburban or urban park and recreation areas. These amazing birds are great assets to our communities, especially at keeping rodent populations down. Below is a list of 8 species of owls in Louisiana, in it we’ll look at pictures for each of those species as well as learn a few facts about them.
8 types of owls in Louisiana
The 8 species of owls in Louisiana are the Great Horned Owl, Barn Owl, Burrowing Owl, Eastern Screech-owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Barred Owl, Long-eared Owl, and the Short-eared Owl.
1. Great Horned Owl
Scientific name: Bubo virginianus
Length: 18.1-24.8 in (46-63 cm)
Weight: 32.1-88.2 oz (910-2500 g)
Wingspan: 39.8-57.1 in (101-145 cm)
The Great Horned Owl is the largest of Louisiana’s owl species. While they can adapt to pretty much any environment (as evidenced by the fact that they are found throughout all of North America), the deciduous and evergreen forests as well as the swamps in the state are all great habitats for these birds.
Great Horned Owls begin nesting in late winter, much earlier than most other owls. They have an extremely varied diet which can even include skunks and other birds of prey, and will occasionally hunt in broad daylight.
2. Barn Owl
Scientific name: Tyto alba
Length: 12.6-15.8 in (32-40 cm)
Weight: 14.1-24.7 oz (400-700 g)
Wingspan: 39.4-49.2 in (100-125 cm)
Living up to their name, Barn Owls do like to nest in old barns and other sheltered areas, but prefer open spaces like fields to hunt. Louisiana is in their year-round habitat; often Barn Owls fly south for the winter.
Even though Barn Owls have amazing low-light vision, many scientific tests indicate that they can also hunt entirely by sound. Female Barn Owls who have more spots on their bellies are thought to be more resistant to parasites a