| Strigiformes characteristics | • Large heads and flattened faces (facial disks)
– Eyes on front of the head
– Can rotate head 270o
– Asymmetrical ears for better directional hearing
• Fluffy plumage
– Wings act as “baffles” for silent flying
• Primarily nocturnal
• Regurgitate pellets |
| What are the 2 families of owls? Which of them is the only one in the first family? | Tytonidae and Strigidae
Barn owl is the only owl in Tytonidea |
| Barn owl characteristics | • Distinctive “heartshaped” facial disk
• Dark eyes
• Long legs |
| Barn owl habitat, distribution and status | • Found in agricultural areas
– Lower Fraser,south VI
– Blue-listed
• Increasing urbanization of rural areas |
| Great horned owl characteristics | • Large size
• Long ear tufts outside of eyes
• Dark brown body, white throat patch |
| Short eared owl characteristics | • Medium size
• Ear tufts above eyes — Short, difficult to see
• Eyes circled with black
• Dark wrist patches – Visible in flight |
| Short eared owl distribution, habitat and status | • Throughout BC
– Open areas
– Esp. Fraser River delta
– Blue-listed |
| Long-eared owl characteristics | • Medium size
• Ear tufts above eyes – Long and close together
• Orange-brown facial disk |
| Long-eared owl disribution | Southern half of BC |
| Western screech owl characteristics | • Small size
• Ear tufts outside of eyes
• Gray-brown body – Bark marking |
| Western screech owl distribution and status | • Southern BC
– Coastal = blue-listed
• Is not on Haida Gwaii
– Interior = red-listed |
| Flammulated owl characteristics | • Small size
• Small ear tufts – Outside of eyes
• Dark eyes |
| Flammulated owl distribution, habitat and status | • Thompson-Okanagan
– Mature forest
– Blue-listed |
| Snowy owl distribution, habitat, and status | • Throughout BC in
winter
– Breeds on Arctic tundra
– Blue-listed |
| Snowy owl feeding and behaviour | • Diurnal
– Feed on lemmings |
| Great grey owl characteristics | • Largest owl in BC
• Mostly all gray
– Large facial disk with rings
• White “bow-tie” on throat |
| Geat grey owl distribution | • North, south Interior
– Uncommon |
| Northern hawk owl characteristics | • Medium size with long tail
• Whitish facial disk edged in black sideburns
• Diurnal |
| Northern hawk owl distribution | • East of Coast Range – More common in the north |
| Burrowing owl characteristics | • Medium size
• Long naked legs |
| Burrowing owl distribution, habitat, and status | • Thompson-Okanagan
– Grasslands
– Red-listed
• Recovery ongoing |
| Burrowing owl behaviour | • Diurnal – Perch on the ground or fence posts
• Nests in burrows
– Dig their own or used ones from badgers or ground squirrels
– Nest in colonies
• Juvenile alarm call
– Mimics a rattlesnake |
| Boreal owl characteristics | • Small size
• Yellow bill
• White spots on forehead |
| Boreal owl distribution | • East of Coast range
– More common in northern forests |
| Northern Saw-whet owl characteristics | • Small size
• Dark bill
• Buffy streaks on forehead |
| Northern Saw-whet owl distribution and status | • Throughout south BC
– Migratory, except Haida Gwaii (blue-listed) |
| Northern Pygmy-Owl characteristics | • Very small size
• Long barred tail
• Small spots on forehead
• Black false eye spots on back of head
• Yellow bill |
| Northern Pygmy-Owl distribution and status | • Throughout south BC
– VI: blue-listed |
| Barred owl characteristics | • Large size
• Gray-brown with vertical streaks on belly
• Dark eyes |
| Barred owl distribution | • Throughout BC
– Range is expanding
• 1969: First sighting on VI
• Now very common |
| Spotted owl characteristics | • Large size
• Rich brown – Spotted belly
• Dark eyes
• Can hybridize with barred owl |
| Spotted owl distribution, habitat, and status | • Southwest BC mainland
– Mature Douglasfir forests
– Red-listed
• <30 birds left |
