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Owls in Massachusetts
Owls Are Everywhere
Some species can be found in dense forests or small wood lots. Others may prefer swamps, or open marshes, grasslands, or even residential neighborhoods.
Do You Have Owls in YOUR Neighborhood?
It is very possible, but because they are nocturnal (active at night), they often go unnoticed. Usually the best indication that there is an owl in the area is its call. Make sure you don't disturb the owl, as it might abandon its nest.
You can build an owl nest box and see if an owl will move into your neighborhood.
Learn About Owls
Take an owl program at one of our Wildlife Sanctuaries. Some of these programs include viewing of a live owl that would not survive in the wild due to injury or familiarity with people.
Tell Us About Your Owl Discoveries
There are 11 owls you may see – or hear – in Massachusetts.
You can report your discoveries on our Owl Reporter form, which also includes an interactive Google map where you can pinpoint the location where you saw and/or heard the owl.
These reports provide valuable information about the owl population in the state. Reports of owls that breed in Massachusetts will be added to our Breeding Bird Atlas project. And Snowy owl sightings will help Norman Smith with his Snowy owl research.
Owls You Might See in Massachusetts
Owls That Breed in Massachusetts
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Great Horned Owl |
hear its call see a photo read more |
These large owls can be found in a variety of habitats throughout most of the state. They are commonly heard in winter - any time from December through February - as they seek mates.
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Barred Owl |
hear its call see a photo read more |
Barred owls can be found in most of Massachusetts other than the southeast, and can be heard calling year-round - a call that is commonly known as who cooks for you, who cooks for you all? |
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Eastern Screech-Owl |
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Unlike the Barred Owl, this owl is more common from the Connecticut River east, as it prefers deciduous forests. They can be heard calling in late winter and early spring. |
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Northern Saw-whet Owl |
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Saw-whets are small owls - the smallest in the eastern US at 7 - 8 inches long. Although they are not often seen - or heard - in the wild, an active banding program has banded a good population of Northern saw-whet owls in Massachusetts.
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Long-eared Owl |
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This seldom-seen Massachusetts owl prefers conifer forests and dense thickets. Few sightings of the Long-eared owl have been recorded in the state in the last 2 decades.
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Barn Owl |
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Barn owls are very recognizable, with their white, heart-shaped face. They prefer to hunt in open country. They readily nest in abandoned structures with convenient openings. Our Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary Nature Center has a Barn owl nest box under the eaves.
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Short-eared Owl |
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| These owls not only prefer to hunt in open country - they actually nest on the ground. In Massachusetts, they are thought to breed only on the islands off Cape Cod.
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Owls That Do Not Breed in Massachusetts
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Snowy Owl |
hear its call see a photo read more |
These large owls breed in the Arctic, but can often be seen during their migrations spring and fall. Norm Smith, Director of Mass Audubon's Blue Hills Trailside Museum, runs a Snowy owl research program. Read all about Snowy owls and his research. You can also see a Snowy owl in a large outdoor flight cage at Blue Hills Trailside Museum.
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Boreal Owl |
hear its call see a photo read more |
| This small owl is also a northern breeder, and is only occasionally seen in Massachusetts. It is only slightly larger than the Northern Saw-whet owl - 8-11 inches long. This owl has the biggest difference between the size of the male and female - called "sexual dimorphism". And, like most owls, the female is larger than the male. |
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Great Gray Owl |
hear its call see a photo read more |
The Great Gray Owl is large and distinctive, but is only an occasional visitor to Massachusetts, breeding throughout Canada and on the west coast. It's an impressive sight in the air, with a wingspan up to 5 feet across.
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Northern Hawk Owl |
hear its call see a photo read more |
This medium-sized owl is also a denizen of the north, but food scarcity sometimes drives them south into Massachusetts in what are called "irruptions." Bird irruptions are irregular migrations to another area, usually in search of food.
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