When it comes to owls in Canada, Nova Scotia has low owl diversity compared to much of the rest of the country. Nevertheless, 8 species of owls in Nova Scotia can be found with decent regularity. If you’re interested in learning more about the appearance, abundance, and behavior of these Nova Scotia birds of prey, then this article is for you! Keep reading as I discuss the owls of Nova Scotia.
Table of Contents
8 Owls In Nova Scotia
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 the most readily observed owl in Nova Scotia. These large gray owls with black eyes are quite vocal compared to their counterparts in the province, with many birds sounding off in the middle of the day.
Barred Owls are distributed throughout Nova Scotia. They are fairly adaptable, being found in an assortment of forested tracts. Mixed forests that contain both deciduous and coniferous trees are preferred, but any area with extensive trees and minimal fragmentation may be used.
Barred Owls of Nova Scotia are year-round residents, and birds make minimal movements throughout the year. They may be present in residential areas with enough trees, and they may even nest in a birdhouse with enough space to accommodate their large size.
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)
Nova Scotia is not considered by many ornithologists to be within the breeding range of Boreal Owls, but evidence from a study in 2004 and 2005 found that these small owls breed in Cape Breton Highlands National Park and eastern mainland Nova Scotia.
Therefore, it seems that a small population of these elusive Nova Scotia owls has long been overlooked. To date, there have been 10 records of Boreal Owls in Nova Scotia.
Boreal Owls are irruptive, but not to the degree of Snowy Owls. This means that some of the observations of these creatures may be migrants who have lost their way. Nova Scotia certainly hosts plenty of suitable habitat for these raptors, as they seek out mixed forests for breeding and coniferous sites for wintering.
The best way to detect these rare Nova Scotia owls is by listening for their deep hoots at night.
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 common throughout the entirety of Nova Scotia. They may be found at any time of year, but they are most vocal in mid-winter when pairs duet with one another in preparation for the mating season. Aside from Snowy Owls, these owls of Nova Scotia are the largest in the province, making them apex predators in Nova Scotia.
Great Horned Owls are adaptable, being capable of surviving in areas with substantial forest or areas with scarcely any trees at all. They are often the apex predators within a landscape, as they are capable of taking a wide variety of prey. These owls of Nova Scotia may be found in abandoned buildings, as such places provide them with great roosting habitat.
Dense forests are usually not favorable habitats for Great Horned Owls. Instead, watch for them in groves of trees with open space nearby. They are often the only owl species in this specific habitat.
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 uncommon in Nova Scotia, with only 49 records within the province on eBird. Indeed, Nova Scotia is outside of the normal range of Long-eared Owls. This means that most records consist of migrating birds that run astray from their typical migratory route. This may happen when strong westerly winds push through in autumn or spring when Long-eared Owls are migrating.
Unfortunately, several of the records of Long-eared Owls in Nova Scotia involve injured or dead birds. These instances occur after strong wind events or storms that push migrants to their limits. Several Long-eared Owls have been recovered around Pictou.
Of course, the far western portion of mainland Nova Scotia and its surrounding islands have turned up decent numbers of Long-eared Owls that are searching for refuge after navigating over the Atlantic Ocean. Only a couple of records have been made in eastern Nova Scotia.
Long-eared Owls typically winter in dense coniferous cover. Such places may host wayward owls in Nova Scotia as well. Checking thick stands of trees in parks near any of the coasts after a significant weather event may produce a Long-eared Owl.
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 somewhat mystical birds of prey. There are just over 75 records in Nova Scotia, and this species is presently considered to be an uncommon winter resident and rare breeder.
These enigmatic owls display behavioral traits that would presumably help researchers gain a solid understanding of their ecology. For instance, Northern Hawk Owls are diurnal, and they perch atop tall trees during hunting attempts. Despite these traits, these raptors remain among the most understudied birds in North America.
Ornithologists have confirmed the presence of breeding hawk owls in Nova Scotia, however, the extent of Northern Hawk Owl breeding in the province is unknown.
Winter presents the best opportunity to observe these birds. During this time, one may be able to find a hawk owl perched atop a building, sign, utility wire, or tree. Like other northern owls, hawk owls may have irruptive years in which they show up in greater numbers than usual.
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 tiniest owls of Nova Scotia. Despite their small size, they brave the chilly Canadian winters and remain in the province throughout the year. Their breeding habitat often consists of coniferous forests, but mixed forests may also be used. Woodlands with minimal deciduous trees are not typically used for nesting in Nova Scotia.
Northern Saw-whet Owls are cavity nesters. Therefore, these small owls may use a birdhouse with a suitably large entrance if it is available to them. Saw-whets are rather secretive by nature, making them difficult to observe at any time of year.
The wintering habitat of Northern Saw-whet Owls is usually a stand of coniferous trees. It seems that they prefer a roost to be situated near water. They routinely use the same roost, so an accumulation of whitewash may give away their position.
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 in Nova Scotia are fairly common. Here, they are found year-round. However, they are regular yet uncommon breeders. This means that it is difficult to locate these birds in the summer. Therefore, winter is the best time to try to observe these animals in Nova Scotia.
Short-eared Owls may be found in an assortment of habitats that contain open expanses. Therefore, grasslands, pastures, marshes, salt plains, and even agricultural fields may be used as winter habitat. In the summer, they look for open areas with little to no trees and dense vegetative cover for their nest. The more trees on a landscape, the less likely Short-eared Owls are to be present within a habitat.
Birds in the northern portion of their wintering range may remain in a habitat during the breeding season if there are ample opportunities for food. The best time to observe Short-eared Owls is dusk and dawn.
Snowy Owl
- Scientific Name: Bubo scandiacus
- Length: 53 – 66 cm
- Weight: 25 – 88 ounces
- Wingspan: 125 – 166 cm
These gorgeous, frosty-looking owls are fairly common in Nova Scotia during the winter, as many choose to spend the coldest time of the year in the province. Of course, since owls don’t hibernate, this means that they have to migrate if they wish to escape winters in their breeding range. Compared to the arctic tundra, Nova Scotia is a tropical paradise in winter.
Although Snowy Owls are large and seemingly obvious with their white plumage, they can be quite cryptic in winter when snow blankets the ground.
These Nova Scotia owls are accustomed to living in landscapes devoid of trees during the breeding season when they nest on the arctic tundra. Therefore, Snowy Owls are more commonly found sitting on the ground instead of high in a tree. Rocky shorelines, sandy beaches, and flat fields are all good places to search for Snowies.
Snowy Owls are irruptive birds, meaning there are some years in which far more move south than usual. In such years, these birds of prey may be rather common in Nova Scotia. Though they are expected in the winter, there are several dozen summer records of Snowy Owls in the province.
Accidental Nova Scotia Owls
Those who have read other articles discussing the types of owls in Nova Scotia will notice that several additional owl species were likely mentioned. These owls may have been reported in Nova Scotia before, but they are not regular visitors. In fact, most accidental Nova Scotia owls have only been reported a few times. Here are a few owls that are rare in Nova Scotia along with the number of times that they’ve been reported on eBird:
- Barn Owl (4 reports)
- Burrowing Owl (2 reports)
- Great Gray Owl (1 report)
Therefore, 11 owl species have been reported in Nova Scotia, but only 8 are expected with somewhat regularity in the province.