In Florida, there are many different kinds of owls of Florida. Almost seven types of owls live there, but, Barred owl is the most famous one.
And I also like barred owls the most!
Today, we will examine five owl species that are widely spread in Florida.
[su_quote][su_animate type=”fadeInLeft” duration=”1.5″]These include the Barred Owl, Burrowing Owl, Eastern Screech, Barn Owl, and Great Horned Owl.[/su_animate][/su_quote]
Every type of owl has special traits that help them live in their surroundings and do the things they need to do.
[su_animate type=”fadeInLeft” duration=”1.5″]So, let’s go![/su_animate]
TOP 5 MOST COMMON OWLS OF FLORIDA
What is the most common owl in Florida? These are as follows:
BARRED OWL
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FACTS |
|
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Strix varia |
| LIFESPAN | Up to 20 years in the wild |
| TOP SPEED | 40 mph (64 km/h) |
| WEIGHT | 1.1-2.3 pounds (500-1040 grams) |
| LENGTH | 16-24 inches (41-61 cm) |
| KINGDOM | Animalia |
| PHYLUM | Chordata |
| CLASS | Aves |
| ORDER | Strigiformes |
| FAMILY | Strigidae |
| GENUS | Strix |
| SPECIES | S. varia |
The barred owl has brown and white feathers that are striped. It is a big owl and imagin how owl look without feathers!
It lives in thick forests, wetlands, and areas near rivers.
Barred owls eat small mammals like squirrels, rats, mice, and voles. They also eat reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.
Barred owls live in Florida all year long. People often hear them making a sound like “who cooks for you, who cooks for you all”.
Barred owls compete with the smaller spotted owls; in some areas, they take over their homes.
The populations in the eastern United States have grown and spread out.
But, the barred owls in Florida are in danger because their homes are being destroyed and divided into smaller pieces.
BURROWING OWL
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FACTS |
|
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Athene cunicularia |
| LIFESPAN | 6-8 years in the wild |
| TOP SPEED | 40 mph (64 km/h) |
| WEIGHT | 6-7 ounces (170-200 grams) |
| LENGTH | 7.5-10 inches (19-25 cm) |
| KINGDOM | Animalia |
| PHYLUM | Chordata |
| CLASS | Aves |
| ORDER | Strigiformes |
| FAMILY | Strigidae |
| GENUS | Athene |
| SPECIES | A. cunicularia |
The burrowing owl lives in ground burrows. It is a small owl.
This owl has brown and white feathers, and its legs are long. Burrowing owl is mostly seen in Florida!
It enjoys open grasslands and grasslands. The burrowing owl hunts and eats insects, small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles.
The burrowing owl population in Florida is decreasing because their homes are being destroyed.
Scientists are working hard to help this species by creating artificial burrows and safeguarding their habitat.
EASTERN SCREECH OWL
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FACTS |
|
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Megascops asio |
| LIFESPAN | Up to 14 years in the wild |
| TOP SPEED | 25-30 mph (40-48 km/h) |
| WEIGHT | 4.2-8.6 ounces (119-244 grams) |
| LENGTH | 6.3-9.8 inches (16-25 cm) |
| KINGDOM | Animalia |
| PHYLUM | Chordata |
| CLASS | Aves |
| ORDER | Strigiformes |
| FAMILY | Strigidae |
| GENUS | Megascops |
| SPECIES | M. asio |
The eastern screech owl appears like a small owl. It has ear tufts, and its feathers have spots with brown.
This owl lives in places with plenty of trees, like town parks and areas outside of cities.
The eastern screech owl eats insects, frogs, lizards, mice, and other small mammals.
The owl species is found often and is commonly spotted in many places in Florida. Eastern screech is popular for making trilling and whinnying sounds.
BARN OWL
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FACTS |
|
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Tyto alba |
| LIFESPAN | Up to 20 years in the wild |
| TOP SPEED | 50 mph (80 km/h) |
| WEIGHT | 14-24 ounces (400-680 grams) |
| LENGTH | 12-15 inches (30-38 cm) |
| KINGDOM | Animalia |
| PHYLUM | Chordata |
| CLASS | Aves |
| ORDER | Strigiformes |
| FAMILY | Tytonidae |
| GENUS | Tyto |
| SPECIES | T. alba |
The barn owl is a medium size owl, and its feathers are dull in color. It also has a facial disc that is shaped like a heart.
This owl lives in open places, such as farms, fields with grass, and prairies near the coast.
The barn owl mostly eats small mammals like rats, mice, voles, and shrews. It is mostly known as the owl of florida.
The number of barn owls in Florida has decreased because their homes are being destroyed, and people are bothering their nests.
Conservation programs provide places for barn owls to build nests and keep their homes safe.
GREAT HORNED OWL
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FACTS |
|
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Bubo virginianus |
| LIFESPAN | Up to 13 years in the wild |
| TOP SPEED | 40 mph (64 km/h) |
| WEIGHT | 2-5.5 pounds (0.9-2.5 kg) |
| LENGTH | 18-25 inches (46-64 cm) |
| KINGDOM | Animalia |
| PHYLUM | Chordata |
| CLASS | Aves |
| ORDER | Strigiformes |
| FAMILY | Strigidae |
| GENUS | Bubo |
| SPECIES | B. virginianus |
Great horned owl is a big owl that has prominent ear tufts. This owl lives in kinds of forests and areas with some trees.
The great horned owl eats mammals like rabbits, skunks, and squirrels. It also eats birds, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates.
Great owls often live in Florida, but some populations are in danger because their homes are destroyed and broken apart.
We must protect woodland habitats to ensure the great horned owl can survive for a long time.
WHAT OWL IS NATIVE TO FLORIDA
Nearly 7 species of owl live in Florida, but one of them is a migratory owl that lives its own life according to climate.
The resident 6 species of owls are the barred owl, burrowing owl, eastern screech, barn owl, northern saw whet owl, and the great horned owl!
The seventh owl is a migratory owl known as the Short-eared owl
But the barred and burrowing owl are the most seen owls of Florida!
WHAT IS THE LARGEST OWL IN SOUTH FLORIDA?
Great Horned is one of the largest owls of Florida.
The great horned owl has another name, the tiger owl because it has special feathers on its head that look like ears.
The great horned owls have feathers that combine grey and brown and light feathers on the bottom with brown stripes.
Horned owls have a reddish-brown or grey face.
Furthermore, they have a white patch on their throat.
But did you know? That Blakiston fish owl is the biggest owl species in the entire world!
VIDEO OF OWLS IN FLORIDA
CONCLUSION
The owls of Florida are quite interesting birds. They have adapted to different habitats and ecosystems.
The Barred Owl is famous in Florida, but the Burrowing Owl is also seen much there. You can also find the Eastern Screech Owl, Barn Owl, and Great Horned Owl in Florida.
These owls have special features that help them live comfortably in their environment.
I hope you love this article; kindly tell us which one you like and why!
FAQ.s
HOW MANY OWL SPECIES ARE THERE IN FLORIDA
According to a study, nearly seven species of owl are found in Florida.
These owls are The burrowing owl, eastern screech-owl, barn owl, barred owl, great horned owl, short-eared owl, northern saw-whet owl, and the.
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