OWLS in Utah Barn Owl UP Flammulated Owl US Western Screech-Owl UP Great Horned Owl CP Snowy Owl # A Northern Pygmy-Owl UP Elf Owl # *A Burrowing Owl US,RW Spotted Owl RP Great Gray Owl # A Long-eared Owl UP Short-eared Owl UP Boreal Owl # O Northern Saw-whet Owl UP

Barn Owls

Habitats Found throughout the world Open country such as pastures, fields and prairies

Characteristics Diet: small mammals such as rats, voles, mice, shrews, and large insects, lizards and sparrows. Nocturnal

Nesting Early spring and fall but can nest year round. Nest in barns, silos, eaves of houses, firetowers, chimneys, nest-boxes. One to thirteen eggs per nest, usually 5-8.

Young Need 6-10 weeks to develop If they make it past the first two years they usually live about 7-8 years.

Adaptations Hunt at night using sight and sound Ear holes behind each eye. Feathers act as funnel for sound. Swallow prey whole

Very quiet when flying

Owl Pellets Owls do not have teeth, so they cannot chew bones of their prey to digest it, so they must spit the bones out Stomach muscles press hair of prey around bones so that they do not get caught in the owl’s throat Ball of hair is called a pellet