Birding Houston: Searching for Owls in Texas

Bird watching can be both exciting and relaxing, but when it comes to owls and bird watching, it can sometimes be spectacular. Although you will rarely catch sight of owls in Houston, Texas during the day, you can often glimpse them as the sun is setting or in the early dawn. There are several species of owls that can be found in or near Houston, Texas, and it is well worth the time to get out there and try observe some of these magnificent birds.

Barn Owl. This is the most common owl in North America. It is a large bird with a heart-shaped face. Its wings and breast are white. They do not have the ear tufts that many owls have, and their backs are marked with black and white spots. Barn Owls will nest in owl houses, and can be found in eaves and arches in more suburban areas. They prefer grasslands, marshes and fields. You can bird watch for them at Smith Oaks Sanctuary, as well as Bear Creek Park in Houston, Texas.

Eastern Screech-Owl. A small bird, it has feathered ear tufts and gray, brown or reddish brown feathers. It likes woodlands, but can be found while bird watching in wooded urban areas. This is the most common owl in Houston, Texas. It will also nest in an owl house. This bird of prey eats songbirds, but the starling has been known to take over its nesting site for its own babies! Look for them in the early evening or pre-dawn of Houston, Texas. Screech owls can be curious, and so they may be watching you back.

Great Horned Owl. This bird’s feathered ear tufts look like horns, hence its name. The largest owl in Houston, Texas, this is the only owl that will eat a skunk (try to avoid bird watching when this is happening). A Great Horned Owl eats larger prey than most owls, too, including possums, rabbits and sometimes other birds of prey (including owls, falcons and ospreys). This owl will live anywhere – woods, deserts, mountains, and cities. You are also most likely to see this owl during the day as it hunts during breeding season in Houston, Texas.

Burrowing Owl. These owls have been sighted on Bolivar Peninsula and Fort Travis Park in Houston, Texas. As its name implies, it likes to burrow a hole in the ground to nest, and will often take over the burrows of skunks, armadillos or tortoises. It likes sandy prairies and beaches. This is a small bird without ear tufts, with bars on its front and spots on its back. It hunts during the day as well as at night, so you have a good chance of glimpsing it when you are bird watching in Houston, Texas.

Barred Owl. A large bird without ear tufts, this bird prefers the swamps and woodlands of Houston, Texas and nests in tree cavities. It will also nest in an owl house. You can see these owls at Bear Creek Park and other spots in Houston, Texas where there is plenty of woods. If the Barred Owl has access to a large source of crayfish, its belly may turn pink. Its call is the familiar “who cooks for you?” sound. Barred Owls will avoid Great Horned Owls, so if you see a Great Horned, you won’t be seeing any Barred.

Source list:

Personal experience

http://www.houstonaudubon.org

http://www.americanbirdguide.com/owl.shtml

http://www.allaboutbirds.org