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Nothing is more exciting than spotting an hooter in your backyard if you live in New Mexico . These magnificent birds of prey are a beautiful mess to lay eyes on . If you ’re an esurient birdwatcher , you ’re probably eager to identify which types of bird of night are visiting your property .
There are 13 bird of night species found in New Mexico , including the Burrowing Owl , Boreal Owl , Western Screech - Owl , Barn Owl , Spotted Owl , Whiskered Screech - Owl , Long - Eared Owl , Northern Saw - Whet Owl , Short - Eared Owl , Elf Owl , Northern Pygmy Owl , Flammulated Owl , and Great Horned Owl . While several of these owl species have their preferred sexual union and migratory mountain range , it ’s potential to blemish a vagabond or irrupting bird of Minerva in domain outside their hump soil . If you see an owl in New Mexico that is not on this inclination , consider yourself lucky !
Legend for the following owl rangemaps
The legend below can be used to help you determine where each of the 13 owls of New Mexico survive during different parts of the yr .
The 13 Species of Owls in New Mexico
Burrowing Owl
Athene cunicularia
Order : Strigiformes
Family : Strigidae
Legend for the following owl rangemaps
Size:7.5 - 9.8 in ( 19 - 25 centimetre )
These pocket-size owls live in grassland and deserts where they enjoy feeding on insects , small mammals , and reptilian . burrow owls are among only a fistful of owls that prefer to hound during the daytime , spend their night tucked away in their dens . When burrows are not uncommitted to them , these extremely adaptable birds make their home in buckets , pipes , and tubing . Burrowing owls have a higher permissiveness for carbon paper dioxide than other birds , enabling them to pass more time huddled up in a pocket-size space . These birds cleverly utilise droppings to carpet their dens , which invite insects to visit , provide the birds with an well-to-do repast . Burrowing owl have also been known to hoard shiny objects , such as bottle hood , paper time , and bits of tin transparency .
Burrowing owls have foresighted legs and an unsloped posture . They also have pictorial yellow eyes and although their red - brown plumage resembles both the barred and circumboreal bird of Minerva , the fact that they dwell on the ground ready it wanton to tell apart between these species . Burrowing owls are moderately quiet , with male person producing high - pitched “ coo - coos ” to oppose their territories and attract mates .
As their name suggests , burrowing owls make their homes in underground burrows , usually result behind by prairie dogs . you may find burrow owls year - round throughout the SW , preponderantly in California , Arizona , New Mexico , and Texas . However , this owl ’s education stove prolong much farther north , up to Washington , Montana , and North Dakota .
Boreal Owl
Aegolius funereus
Size:9 - 10 in . ( 22.9 - 25.5 cm )
modest and baffling , boreal owls show the most intimate dimorphism of any other hooter , with female person grow twice as heavy as the males of the species . circumboreal owls are difficult to chase after down because they roost in different trees every day . They ’re also quiet , although males will begin hoot at nighttime in the late wintertime and springtime to attract a better half . Boreal bird of night are very minuscule , about the size of a robin redbreast or dark jay . Like most other bird of night , their skulls are asymmetric , with one capitulum opening perched higher than the other . This unique intent enables circumboreal owls to accurately judge both summit and distance when closing in on their prey .
With their rotund face and blood-red - brown feathering , circumboreal owls resemble barred owls , although they ’re much smaller . These bird of Minerva have magnanimous smart yellow centre , give them a surprised expression . As their name evoke , circumboreal owls prefer to rest in boreal forest full of spruce , pine , and fir tree . Boreal owl are most participating at nighttime when they cut across down small mammal and worm .
you’re able to receive boreal bird of Minerva in Washington , Idaho , and Montana , though their chain of mountains goes as far south as the northernmost region of New Mexico . circumboreal bird of Minerva love to perch in conifer and evergreen plant trees . Deforestation has led to a downslope in habitat for these unsure owls . But , while they can be tough to find , they have been eff to practice nesting boxes , so establish a few on your belongings can greatly increase your chances of spotting one .
Western Screech-Owl
Megascops kennicottii
Size:7.5 - 9.5 in . ( 19 - 24 curium )
These are small bird of Minerva , maxing out at just 9 inches in length and with wingspans of roughly 24 inches . But , do n’t let their modest stature deceive you . These birds are serious predators , regularly seeking out quarry many times their own sizing . While western screech - bird of Minerva provender on gnawer , small birds , earthworms , and other microbe , they ’ve also been see raven on rabbits . Western screech - owls like to sit close to where limb meet the tree torso , so they can huddle up against them in purchase order to camouflage themselves from piranha and target . These are timeserving vulture who like an easy repast , but , when determined , they will also chase after their prey down , sometimes grab birds and insects midflight .
westerly screech - bird of Minerva look much like easterly shrieking - owls , with adult morphs in Great Plains , Mexican , Mojave , brown Pacific , and gray Pacific color . They have gray and dark-brown feather with no hint of red . westerly scream - owls have small , round heads with pinna tufts and pictorial yellowed eyes . Contrary to what their name would lead you to trust , westerly screech - hooter usually do n’t screech . Instead , they use short whistles and trill to communicate with each other .
These bird of Minerva are extremely adaptable , making their family in a potpourri of region , including deserts , grassland , forests , and urban area . you could determine western screech - owls all across the west coast , drifting inward a number to Idaho , Wyoming , Utah , Colorado , New Mexico , and parts of Texas . If you go in one of these regions , try installing a nesting boxwood to pull a western screech - owl to your backyard .
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
fellowship : Tytonidae
Size:12.5 - 16 in . ( 32 - 40 centimetre )
Easily recognise by their pallid heart - shaped human face , barn owls are some of the most far-flung hooter in the humanity . These owls thrive in deserts and grasslands , but can even be ground in frigid region . Barn owls are particularly common on farms , where they like to hunt for area mice among the crops in the morning time and evening , and where they can take shelter in barns during the daytime . With their serrated wings , these dread predators fly noiselessly as they go in for the kill . Barn owls are monogamous , mating for life-time . They do not build nest but prefer to lie down their nut in the hollows of trees . The amount of intellectual nourishment these wench welcome has a unmediated impact on how many eggs they lay — the more voles , rats , and shrews they waste , the more owlets in their brood .
Barn hooter are quite rangy compared to other owls . They have large hazel to brown eyes set in concave , heart - mould face that are beleaguer by a soft outline of wan brown feathering . Barn owls are milk whitened in color with tan and rust brown feathering on their cover and wings . These owls do not hoot but instead prefer to put across via screeches .
you’re able to find the b owl in all but the uppermost region of the U.S. Even though these birds are unwashed throughout the nation , their population is dwindling somewhat due to habitation loss . Barn owls reside class - rhythm as far to the south as Texas and Arizona , as far east as Pennsylvania , and all across the Pacific Northwest .
Spotted Owl
Strix occidentalis
Size:17 - 19 in . ( 43 - 48 cm )
Spotted owls make their nests in hollow trees , rock crevices , and old nests leave behind by other birds of prey . It ’s estimated that less than 15,000 of these bird remain in the U.S. and Canada , despite federal efforts to protect them . Spotted owls are presently sort as almost - threatened , and are dwindling at a steady tread due to habitat loss . These owls are “ model - and - wait ” hunters , favour to watch for target from the condom of a tree branch , and pounce down on it when they feel the time is proper . They feed on gopher , squirrels , and deer mice , as well as other small mammals . When quarry is abundant , spotted owls storage caches of leftover in nerveless places , like fall logs or moss - covered rock candy . These bird of Minerva use cryptic hooting calls to pass along with each other when they hunt at nighttime .
spotty owls have large , deep chocolate-brown eye . They ’re so dark that , from a space , it can be unmanageable to differentiate between school-age child and iris . Often , all you see is a pair of black spots peering out at you from beneath browned feathers . These birds have impudent , round faces , and ash - brown to reddish - browned plume , with white spots on their heads . Though their tail and principal feathers are barred , breast plume are descry . Overall , patched owls are mostly dark-brown with very piffling dividing line , allowing them to blend in well with their forest surroundings .
There are three subspecies of spot owls . Mexican spotted owls can be seen throughout parts of the southwest , including Arizona and New Mexico , while California spy owls can be found in ( where else ? ) California . northerly distinguish owl live throughout the Pacific Northwest , along the coasts of Washington , Oregon , and northern California . pick out owls generally delay close to home base and live in these regions year - round .
Whiskered Screech-Owl
Megascops trichopsis
Size:6.3 - 7.9 in . ( 16 - 20 cm )
specially hard to chase down and observe , not much is know about bearded screeching - bird of Minerva . Very few nests have been witness because they live at high elevations at around 5,000 foot . What is cognize about whiskered screech - owls is that they are excellent hunters , sitting on perches to locate prey , and swoop on belittled birds and insects midflight . Whiskered screech - owls are most active at Nox , add up out at dusk to hunt . Grasshoppers , katydids , beetles , moth , and scorpions make up the bulk of their dieting . These hooter make their homes in Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree core out and old nest left behind by other wench ( unremarkably woodpeckers ) . They lay 3 or 4 egg in a clutch in nests roughly 22 feet off the ground . It ’s thought that less than 500 of these birds exist today , with populations declining as their native habitat decreases .
Whiskered screech - hooter resemble their eastern and westerly cousins . They have white-haired to brownish plumage , with some birds taking on a rust - red chromaticity . Whiskered screech - owls have golden - green eye , lowly auricle tussock , and whisker - like feather surrounding black gray beaks . The rhythmic cries of the bearded shrieking - owl sound like Morse code , with males using “ ook - ook - ook - ook ” calls . Females have higher - shift voices , and often spill the beans duo with their mate .
This rare owl can only be establish in the oaks , pines , and sycamores of the Sky Islands mountains in southwest New Mexico and southeast Arizona . Because these bird of night are so small , it ’s good to listen to their call to cover them down . bearded screech - owls tend to populate at gamy lift , and although they ’re difficult to see in the U.S. , they ’re somewhat easier to find in Mexico , which is home to most of their natural habitat .
Long-Eared Owl
Asio genus Otus
Size:14 - 16 in . ( 35 - 40 cm )
At 15 inches in duration and with an impressive wingspan of 39 inches , the long - eared owl has been recognize to slip nest away from Jay and crows to call forth their own young . This slightly problematical hooter can be hard to get hold , preferring to seek shelter in dense woodlands . And , unfortunately , its universe has worsen 91 % since 1970 . Unlike most owls , long - eared hooter are not very territorial and prefer to rely on their camouflage to hide from possible marauder . When face , most long - eared owls plainly vanish by . Because these skirt can be flighty , they can be tough for birdwatchers to go after down . But if you are prosperous enough to spot a long - eared owl , keep your eyes peeled for more — long - eared owls roost in chemical group of 6 to 50 .
At first glance , the long - eared bird of Minerva greatly resemble the swell horn bird of night . But a closer inspection reveals that long - eared hooter possess a typical V - shaped feather normal on their faces . The tufts of plume that make up their human face phonograph record surround bright orange eyes , giving them a surprised look . The second curing of feather tuft sit down on top of their heads give them their iconic long - eared visual aspect These are gangling birds that have tan faces with variegated plumage in nuance of brown , tan , gray , and white .
Long - eared owls survive class - cycle in Wyoming , Nevada , Colorado , Arizona , New York , Michigan , and Wisconsin . During the breeding time of year , these razz venture far north to Montana , North Dakota , and Minnesota . These birds can be spotted in all but the southernmost dower of Florida , Alabama , Mississippi , Louisiana , and Texas . Long - eared owls opt to survive in open spaces that have dense clusters of disperse trees , provide them with a secure home to seek shelter as they hunt for small mammalian .
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Aegolius acadicus
Size:8 - 8.5 in . ( 20.3 - 21.5 centimetre )
These owls are short and compact . At just 8 inches in length and with a wingspan of 22 inches , northern saw - whet bird of night are among the little owl in the United States . Northern power saw - whet owls like to predate on deer mice , using their penetrative honker to tear their target into lowly art object , breaking up a single mouse into several meals . Because these owls are nocturnal , and because they ’re so small , they can be hard to get over . But their sharp cries make it easy to locate them in their forest home . Northern adage - whet bird of Minerva are mostly solitary creatures , only socializing with their mates . Females have been live to have two better half , lead the first to erect a brood with the 2nd . These bird of night have porphyrin pigment in their feathers , and when illuminated with a ultraviolet illumination light , the ventral side of the wings demonstrate a neon pink colour . This helps researchers square up an hooter ’s age .
Named because its call sounds like a proverb being sharpened on a whetstone , saw - whet bird of Minerva have little heads and guy - alike faces with comparatively large jaundiced eye . With rust fungus - colourise backs , tit , and wings , northerly proverb - whet owls have spot head and distinctive Y - shaped markings on their aspect . These bird of night use a change of vocalizations to communicate . They ’re most easy identified by their strident “ too - too - too ” Call , which they use to attract mates . The cry of northern saw - whet hooter are so loud that they can be heard nearly 1,000 feet away .
One of the most common bird of night in the U.S. , the northerly saw - whet prefers to dwell in sight forests . They can be found year - round in California , New Mexico , Utah , and Colorado , and in the northeastern states , Minnesota , Wisconsin , Michigan , New York , and all the way through to Maine . These hooter can be seen in other soil , too , during non - breeding times . It ’s not unheard of to see northerly saw - whet bird of night throughout the midwestern United States , including Kansas , Missouri , and Illinois .
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeus
Size:14.5 - 15 in . ( 37 - 38 curium )
A classic birdwatcher pet , unretentive - eared owls William Holman Hunt during the daytime and can be found throughout the United States . These bird of Minerva are some of the few that favour to build their own nests . female fabricate their stadium - form nests in the ground , lining them with feathers , grasses , and other soft material before laying clutch pedal of 4 to 7 egg . Short - eared owls have very typical flight form , with irregular wingbeats similar to that of bat or moths . These birds are typically 17 inches in length and have wingspans of up to 43 inches . They use their powerful wings to stay erect as they swoop feet - first to capture their fair game , which consist of small mammals , rodents , reptiles , and amphibians . suddenly - eared owl sometimes dine on songbirds and will tear the wings off before swallowing them whole .
The ear tufts of the short - eared bird of Minerva are situate towards the middle of their principal , and they ’re so short that sometimes they may not be seeable at all . Short - eared owl have tawny plume on their backs and wings with tan bellies that are interspersed with vertical non-white brown streaks . Tailfeathers are bar . These hooter have minor , round faces with pale tan to creamy blank facial disks accent by black - brimmed yellow-bellied eyes . suddenly - eared owl employ keen “ waowk - waowk - waowk ” cry to communicate and “ eeee - yerp ” cries during the pairing time of year .
Excellent long - length fliers , abruptly - eared owls have been reported landing on watercraft hundreds of miles from shoring . These shuttle will fell over the sea and land to reach their raising grounds in northerly Canada . you could discover abruptly - eared bird of night know yr - round in the Second Earl of Guilford and northwest circumstances of the United States . But , because they locomote regularly , you’re able to spot straggler in almost every body politic in the land . These birds prefer to populate in undefendable areas , including grassland , marshes , and farmland .
Elf Owl
Micrathene whitneyi
Size:5.25 - 5.75 in . ( 13.3 -14.5 cm )
One of the smallest owls in the macrocosm , the elf bird of Minerva is less than 6 inches in length and only weighs about 45 grams . Because of their humble size of it , the elf bird of Minerva mostly preys on insects and small reptiles like lounge lizard . Elf bird of Minerva make their nest in Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , and the nests oftentimes become overrun with pismire , who like to feed on the resident elf hooter ’s leftovers . But , smartly , these owls have been sleep together to bring modest train of thought snake back to their nest , allow the reptiles to feed on the plaguy insects . Mated elf owl pairs often gang up up on local predator to protect their nests , a outgrowth called mobbing . It ’s not uncommon to see groups of these little bird of Minerva attacking squirrel , songbirds , and expectant owls to keep their young safe .
Elf owls are smaller than a smartphone , with brown feather accented with lily-white and orange spots . These birds have distinctive yipping shout that make them sound like small dogs or puppy . Elf owls prefer to run at night and wish to hang around brilliant luminance , which pull in louse . They make their home in the dig - out cacti and scrub brushing of the desert .
Even though these owls do not make the U.S. their lasting residence , preferring to dwell in Mexico , they do transmigrate to the southwestern United States during the breeding season . If you live in southern California , Arizona , New Mexico , or west Texas , keep your eyes peeled for these tiny raptors in the spring and summer months .
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Glaucidium gnoma
Size:6.5 - 7.3 in ( 16.5 - 18.5 cm )
These owls are a dearie among birdwatchers because they favour to hunt during the daylight . This , coupled with their courageous nature , make them easier to spot compared to more skittish members of the species . Northern pygmy owls are generally untroubled of humans , and will mirthfully cuddle in urban area . This is probable due to the fact that humans gear up up bird feeders to appeal songbirds — the northern Pigmy bird of Minerva ’s pet food for thought . These owls ambush their prey and store their leftovers on thorns and stiletto heel to fall back to later . Northern Pigmy owls are such a threat to smaller birds that wrens , jays , and even hummingbirds will mob them to track them aside . Though these doll are only about as long as a butterknife , they ’ve been love to attack prey much large than themselves , including chickens . Because northerly pygmy bird of night lack the meaty facial disks needed to better auditory modality , they swear on their nifty eyesight to track their prey .
At just 7 inches prospicient , northern pygmy owls are quite humble , but do n’t let their size fool you . These are tough , persistent little birds ! Adults are gray , brown , or red - brown in color with clean spotted head and blue wings , tails , and breasts . Like ferruginous pygmy owls , northern Pigmy owls have dark spots on the back of their headland that look like another set of eyes . This help to befuddle both target and piranha . The dependable manner to happen a northern pygmy owl is to trail its luxuriously - pitched tooting birdsong .
These owls are moderately adaptable , moving into cityscapes as their aboriginal mountain forests become less available . Unfortunately , however , these owls do n’t often make their homes in nesting boxes , so these are an ineffective means of attracting them . you’re able to incur northern Pigmy bird of Minerva throughout the western states , in California , Oregon , and Idaho , and farther south in Colorado , Arizona , and New Mexico .
Flammulated Owl
Psiloscops flammeolus
Size:6 - 6.5 in . ( 15 - 17 atomic number 96 )
Though these owls only measure around 6 inches in length , they have a large wingspan for their size , measuring 14 - in from wingtip to wingtip . Their prospicient , powerful wings enable them to fly rapidly between the crown of their timber place . These hooter eat glitch almost entirely , opt moths and butterflies above other insects . In fact , this proclivity for insects may describe for why these owls migrate to the south during the winter months . Flammulated owls are monogamous , choosing one mate for lifespan . paired couplet call down 2 to 4 owlet at a clock time in nests that are not lined with any sorting of bedding material . Unlike most bird of night , who prefer to keep to themselves , flammulated owls work wanton dependency — likely for protection since they ’re so modest .
Featuring feathers in specter of hoary and brown with rust red tip along its wing , and classifiable flame - corresponding markings on its typeface ( hence its name ) , this owl is incredibly well - camouflage . The best way to bump a flammulated owl is by listen to its call . The flammulated owl has a much miserable - pitch call than you would have a bun in the oven from such a little hooter . This act as a defence mechanics , tricking potential predators into thinking they ’re much big than they really are .
When it arrive to track down flammulated owls , birdwatchers have their piece of work ignore out for them . Because these bird of night prefer to spend their clock time perched on the peak of tall conifers look for bugs , they can be hard to find . These birds migrate through west Texas and New Mexico and have a scattered breeding kitchen stove that include parts of California , Oregon , Washington , Idaho , Nevada , Utah , and Colorado , where they go from late April or former May to August .
Great Horned Owl
genus Bubo virginianus
Size:18 - 26 in . ( 46 - 63 cm )
Far from meek , Great Horned owls have been known to hunt other birds of target , including ospreys , peregrines , and even other owls . With their firm talons , these fowl can wield 28 - pounds of force allowing them to undertake larger prey . expectant orned bird of night are a major threat to other birds , especially jay and bragging . In fact , if you ever hear a big group of these shuttle make a fuss , there ’s a good probability it ’s because a great horned hooter has gotten too penny-pinching to their nest . The cracking tusk owl ’s plumage is ultra - easy , and this provides the animals with several benefit . For starters , it protects them from the rough cold . But it also tone down sound , allowing them to fly taciturnly as they swoop down on their quarry . Interestingly , although the females of the species are turgid than the male person , females have higher - pitched voices , and mated pairs often synchronize their calls .
The not bad horned bird of night is easily key by a matching pair of tufts on either side of its head , giving it a horned appearance . They have gray to crimson - brown barred plumage and golden yellow eyes that do not move within the socket . These snort can turn out their heads 180 degree to see and pick up what ’s go on around them . Facial plume disk assist direct soundwaves to their capitulum , allow them to get over their quarry , and their all-encompassing wings enable them to fly dextrously , with serrated primary feathers dispersing turbulence and softer feathers muffling phone .
These magnificent hooter can be find out in every state in the nation except Hawaii . These owl are native to the Americas , and they ’re highly adaptable , inhabit in forested , rural , and urban region likewise . While you ’re nonimmune to see a swell horn hooter just about anywhere , keep your eyes peeled near wooded areas , especially along treelines as these Bronx cheer wish to perch near opened field to find their prey .
How to Attract New Mexico Owls to Your Backyard
While some owls , like the boreal owl and the whiskered screech - bird of night , avoid humans and can be rugged to find out , other owls , like the barred owl and easterly and western shrieking - owls , are much prosperous to attract .
Installnesting boxeson trees , perch , and fences to advance your neck of the woods owls to take up residency on your property . Leaving brush , Mrs. Henry Wood piles , and old lawn trimmings supply homes for vole , field mice , rabbit , gophers , andsnakes . Having plenty of these critter nearby is a surefire way to get your local owls ’ attention .
Because many owls wish to eat onsongbirdsandsquirrels , set up a bird birdfeeder andgetting a snort bathcan also encourage owls to give you a sojourn . Of course , some birds work to scare owls off . Jays , crows , blackbird , grackle , and starlings on a regular basis syndicate owls , so take measures to affright these birds away — take down starling snuggle boxes , and remove cracked corn and peanut from your feeders , which are the preferred foods of these bird .
owl love to pose on poles and in leafless trees because they make it easier for them to make out prey . verify your owls have plenty of spots to roost on . you may also appeal these birds by limiting your outdoor bodily function , especially in the early cockcrow and later even hours when they wish to hunt . Together , all of these measure will help your neighbourhood owls feel in good order at home in your backyard .
All State Owls
require to see what bird of night species are found in other states ? Here ’s our over list of owls establish in each body politic :
