Owls are regarded with intrigue and fascination worldwide. The nocturnal habits and secretive natures of these birds make them alluring to all, but are there owls in Ontario?
Fortunately for Ontarians, there are plenty of Ontario owls to be found! The different types of owls in Ontario are quite diverse, as 11 species call the province home. From small owls in Ontario to large and everything in between, this article is the definitive guide to Ontario owls. Please continue reading as I discuss facts about owls in Ontario.
Table of Contents
11 Owls In Ontario
Barn Owl
- Scientific Name: Tyto alba
- Length: 32 – 40 cm (~12.5 – 16 inches)
- Weight: 14 – 24.7 ounces
- Wingspan: 100 – 125 cm (~39.5 – 49 inches)
Seeing Barn Owls in Ontario is an extremely rare occasion, so those visiting the province should not expect to observe these birds of prey. Here, there have been fewer than 150 eBird records submitted, with most observations being Barn Owls in southern Ontario.
Barn Owls seek out open habitats with quiet, safe roosting locations nearby. Grasslands, wetlands, and agricultural landscapes are used by these raptors. They will often roost in human structures such as barns or sheds where they can be sheltered from the elements and potential predators. Barn Owls will even nest in birdhouses with large enough entrance holes to accommodate them.
Unfortunately, Ontario winters are too intense for Barn Owls, and the largely forested province is not otherwise very appealing from their perspective. Nevertheless, wayward Barn Owls have ended up in the province, but they are certainly not common owls in Ontario.
Barred Owl
- Scientific Name: Strix varia
- Length: 43 – 50 cm (~19 inches)
- Weight: 16.5 – 37 ounces
- Wingspan: 99 – 110 cm (39 – 43 inches)
Barred Owls are large, year-round residents in many parts of Ontario. They prosper in the mixed forests that can be found in southern Ontario. However, they are not owls of northern Ontario, being entirely absent from this part of the province.
Barred Owls may be found in tracts of boreal forest, but they often struggle in this habitat. Otherwise, they are fairly adaptable, as they can flourish in urban environments that have an adequate amount of trees. Therefore, Barred Owls are among the most numerous of the owls in Ottawa and Toronto.
Despite their large size, Barred Owls are not always easy to find. Luckily, they are the most vocal of the Canadian owls, so those with a keen ear may be able to hear them as they occasionally sound off during the day.
Boreal Owl
- Scientific Name: Aegolius funereus
- Length: 21 – 28 cm (8.3 – 11 inches)
- Weight: 3.3 – 7.6 ounces
- Wingspan: 55 – 62 cm (21.5 – 24.5 inches)
Despite being year-round residents with a considerable distribution, there are fewer than 1,000 eBird records of Boreal Owls in Ontario. There are several reasons for the lack of Boreal Owl sightings, and none have to do with the scarcity of these owls.
Rather, Boreal Owls are not frequently detected due to their small size and remote habitats. True to their name, they live most of their lives in boreal forests where they are cavity nesters. Therefore, establishing a nest box is a good way to attract these birds.
Boreal Owls are very secretive during the breeding season, but it seems that they do not regularly breed anywhere south or east of Parry Sound. However, birds may wander south in the Toronto and Ottawa metropolitan areas in winter as they search for food.
Eastern Screech-Owl
- Scientific Name: Megascops asio
- Length: 16 – 25 cm (~6.25 – 10 inches)
- Weight: 4.25 – 8.5 ounces
- Wingspan: 48 – 61 cm (~19 – 24 inches)
These tiny owls with ear tufts are adapted to live in a variety of different habitats, but they would do very poorly in boreal forests. Instead, look for them in parks, windbreaks, and urban areas where they are rather common.
Although they are among the most common types of owls in southern Ontario, they are not found north of Sudbury. There are two different types of Eastern Screech-Owls, with both the red and gray morphs being present in Ontario.
Despite being common year-round residents, Eastern Screech-Owls are rarely seen due to their small size and cryptic coloration. Those who listen closely may be able to hear one of the two songs that they utter at night. Eastern Screech-Owls are some of the most common owls in Toronto.
Great Grey Owl
- Scientific Name: Strix nebulosa
- Length: 61 – 84 cm (~24 – 33 inches)
- Weight: 24.75 – 60 ounces
- Wingspan: 137 – 153 cm (~54 – 60 inches)
Great Grey Owls are the largest owl by length in the world. These incredible owls are distributed throughout Ontario’s boreal forests. Therefore, they breed in tracts of boreal forest north of Sudbury.
However, don’t let the sizable range of these raptors fool you – Great Grey Owls are rare and elusive. Luckily, they are more habitual than most owls. Therefore, if you can find one of the meadows where they hunt, you may be able to routinely observe this species.
Great Grey Owls may wander south during the winter in times when food is scarce. In such instances, they may end up near large cities such as Toronto and Ottawa.
Great Horned Owl
- Scientific Name: Bubo virginianus
- Length: 46 – 63 cm (~22 inches)
- Weight: 33 – 88 ounces
- Wingspan: 101 – 145 cm (40 – 57 inches)
Great Horned Owls are among the most common types of owls in Ontario, and for good reason. These imposing raptors can adapt and thrive in many different environments.
This has enabled these birds of prey to thrive throughout much of Ontario. In fact, Great Horned Owls are about equally as common owls in northern Ontario as they are owls of southern Ontario.
They seek out open habitats that feature collections of scattered trees where they can safely roost during the day. Therefore, agricultural settings, prairie edges, and river corridors may be good places to search for this owl in Ontario.
Long-eared Owl
- Scientific Name: Asio otus
- Length: 35 – 40 cm
- Weight: 7.75 – 15.25 ounces
- Wingspan: 90 – 100 cm
Long-eared Owls are year-round residents within Ontario. Although there have been nearly 5,000 records of this Ontario owl species submitted to eBird in the province, they are quite unassuming and difficult to find.
Long-eared Owls are not too choosy when selecting their summer breeding habitats. Areas with good shelter near productive hunting habitat is often what is chosen for a nesting spot. Therefore, a dense stand of trees near a fairly open area within a woodland or along a woodland edge is often the choice.
These creatures typically roost in dense conifers during the winter. Such roosts are very important, as they allow Long-eared Owls to rest and seek shelter from the elements and potential threats. Good roosts will often be caked in owl poop. If you stumble upon a roosting Long-eared Owl during winter, please keep your distance, as disturbing the bird could endanger its life.
Northern Hawk Owl
- Scientific Name: Surnia ulula
- Length: 36 – 44.75 cm
- Weight: 10.5 – 12 ounces
- Wingspan: 74 – 81 cm
Northern Hawk Owls are exceptionally intriguing birds. They are truly unique in the animal kingdom, as they have the head of an owl and the reminiscent of a Cooper’s Hawk. These owls of Canada are rare, but Ontario may be about the best place in North America to see these special birds.
Northern Hawk Owls are present year-round in Ontario. Here, they breed in recently burned tracts of boreal forest adjacent to wetlands or other semi-open areas that provide good hunting opportunities.
While Northern Hawk Owls may show up in southern Ontario, they are not expected owls in Toronto given that this area is not within their breeding range. However, birds usually appear around there in the winter when a lack of abundant food up north forces them south. Hawk owls frequently perch on prominent, exposed perches during the day.
Northern Saw-whet Owl
- Scientific Name: Aegolius acadicus
- Length: 18 -21 cm (7 – 8 inches)
- Weight: 2.5 – 5.5 ounces
- Wingspan: 42 – 48 cm (16.5 – 19 inches)
Northern Saw-whet Owls are the smallest owls of Ontario on average, and they are arguably the cutest. However, don’t be fooled by their adorable appearance – these small owls in Ontario can be fierce (at least, from a vole’s perspective). Alas, they look delicious from a hawk’s perspective, so they have to lay low during the day to survive.
Northern Saw-whet Owls breed in both coniferous and mixed deciduous and coniferous forests, making them regular owls of eastern Ontario. Research suggests that saw-whet owls will select areas with substantial vole populations as breeding locations, meaning they often choose new breeding sites annually. They will nest in birdhouses with adequately sized entrance holes if available.
Northern Saw-whet Owls are quite migratory, so many vacate Ontario in the winter and head to warmer locations in the United States to spend the winter. Even so, some Northern Saw-whet Owls remain in southern Ontario for the winter.
Short-eared Owl
- Scientific Name: Asio flammeus
- Length: 38 cm (15 inches)
- Weight: 7.3 – 17 ounces
- Wingspan: 85 – 103 cm (33.5 – 40.5 inches)
Short-eared Owls are year-round residents in Ontario. They avoid boreal forests, but they find the open areas near the Great Lakes and Hudson Bay to be very alluring. It is here where the best concentrations breed.
In the nonbreeding season, Short-eared Owls move south and become more widely distributed in the province. Open areas like airports, marshes, and grasslands, are excellent places to find this Ontario owl species.
Short-eared Owls are most active at dawn and dusk, meaning those who know where they spend their winters may be able to get some good looks at these magnificent owls before darkness sets in.
Snowy Owl
- Scientific Name: Bubo scandiacus
- Length: 53 – 66 cm
- Weight: 25 – 88 ounces
- Wingspan: 125 – 166 cm
Snowy Owls are beautiful white owls that—according to eBird data—have been reported more than any other owl species in Ontario. This is pretty remarkable for a bird that is absent for Ontario summers, but they are certainly captivating and hard to miss in winter.
Considerable numbers of Snowy Owls begin moving into Ontario in October. They will then seek out open locations like wetlands, airports, or lake shores as locations in which they spend their winters.
Snowy Owls are irruptive, meaning there are some winters when they are far more numerous than other winters. The more difficult food is to find up north, the more Snowy Owls will move into Ontario in the winter.