Owls

Order Strigiformes

Family Tytonidae

Barn Owl Tyto alba

Status and abundance: Rare year-round resident.

Habitat: Extensive grassland areas, farms, and cypress swamps.

Records and remarks: Barn Owl populations have recovered to the point that they now probably nest in every county in southern Illinois. In part, this recovery is thanks to a strong effort to establish protected breeding sites by installing boxes and nest platforms in barns owned by participating land-owners (Walk et al. 2011). Given that Barn Owls consume large numbers of rodents, this collaboration between farmers and conservationists seems like a win-win scenario. Barn Owls engage in some migration, but very few are encountered outside the breeding season in our area. In large part this is simply a result of the nocturnal habits of Barn Owls. A breeding population still uses natural nest cavities along the Cache River.

SUMMER—Like most owls, Barn Owls nest very early in the year and can actually be at some stage of breeding in every month of the year. When food supply is high, pairs may raise three broods per year. Now that they are becoming more widespread, it is less difficult to find them, but they are still most reliably encountered in the Cache River SNA and at Pyramid SP.

Documentation: Specimen—male, se. of Marion, Williamson Co., 19 Jun 1958 (SIU A-766).

Family Strigidae

Eastern Screech-Owl Megascops asio

Status and abundance: Locally uncommon year-round resident.

Habitat: Deciduous woodlots and, sometimes, residential areas.

Records and remarks: Few observers have conducted systematic censuses of this species. They are most often detected by their whinny call. Eastern Screech-Owls show two basic color phases, red (appearing rufous) and gray, with many intermediate brownish forms, too. Most birds in southern Illinois are red phase. Little, if any, migration occurs, but there seems to be a post-breeding movement during July and August. Screech-Owls seem to be most numerous in the Till Plain and Shawnee Hills, and respond well to whistled imitations or playbacks of their calls. Concerted efforts to survey them can reveal that their actual abundance may be under-appreciated. For example, roadside surveys, 28 Oct and 29 Nov 1998, in Franklin Co., found 16 birds (LS).

SUMMER—Nesting begins in March, and the peak of fledging is in May. Nests are placed in tree cavities. Sometimes Wood Duck boxes are used for nesting or roosting.

Documentation: Specimen—ad. female, 2 miles w. of Cobden, Union Co., 3 Jan 1956 (SIU A-182).

Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus

Status and abundance: Common year-round resident.

Habitat: Woodlots and woodland edge, especially near fields.

Records and remarks: Our largest owl can often be seen perched high in trees, on telephone poles, or flying across fields at dusk. The familiar hoot can be heard throughout the year. Little, if any, migration occurs. Few organized censuses of this species have been conducted, but they remain widespread and one of the easiest owls to see. Nesting begins during January in some years. Great Horned Owls frequently use old Red-tailed Hawks for nesting. Since they lay eggs very early in the year, before trees have leafed out, one can often find active nests by inspecting old hawk nests with a spotting scope to see if an owl is on the nest.

Documentation: Specimen—juv. female, 2 miles s.w. of Carbondale, Jackson Co., 27 Mar 1959 (SIU A-860).

Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus

Status and abundance: Very rare visitor.

Habitat: Large crop and pasture lands, and residential areas.

Records and remarks: This owl from the Arctic occurs in southern Illinois only during major irruption years, which are irregularly spaced events that send much of the far northern population south of their normal winter range. Because Snowy Owls commonly forage during the day, they can be very conspicuous and they are sure to draw a crowd. They typically perch on or near the ground. Records:

1, Union Co. CA, 19 Nov 1980 (M. Carter)

1, Union Co. CA, 27 Nov 2013 (m.ob.)

1, Rend Lake, Franklin Co., 16 Dec 2000 (RR)

1, Rend Lake, Franklin Co., 31 Dec 1975 - 3 Jan 1976 (BP)

1, Ridgway, Gallatin Co., 7-8 Jan 2018 (C. DeNeal, m.ob.; https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S41732663)

1, Red Bud, Randolph Co., 26 Jan – 21 Feb 2012 (S. and W. Harbaugh, m.ob.)

1, near Shawnee Community College, Pulaski Co., 27 Jan – 5 Feb 2012 (FB, KM, m.ob.)

1, Rend Lake, Franklin Co., 8 Feb 1992 (AB 46:273)

1, Red Bud, Randolph Co., 10 Mar 1976 (O. Kettlecamp)

Documentation: Photograph—Red Bud, Randolph Co., 10 Mar 1976 (cover of IAB 176).

Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia

Status and abundance: Very rare winter visitor.

Habitat: Agricultural lands and grasslands.

Records and remarks: One spent the winter at the Denmark Unit, Pyramid SP, Perry Co., 15 Oct 2005 – at least 25 Mar 2006 (R. Smith, DK, KM, m.ob.). 1, probably the same returning bird, Pyramid SP, Perry Co., 25 Dec 2006, 28 Dec 2006, and 1 Jan 2007 (DK, MS). To date, this is the region’s only set of records (IORC 2005.029; R. Smith).

Documentation: Photograph—Pyramid SP, Perry Co., 15 Oct 2005 (Meadowlark 15:12; R. Smith).

Barred Owl Strix varia

Status and abundance: Common year-round resident.

Habitat: Bottomland woods and swamps; mature upland forest.

Records and remarks: The distinctive loud call of Barred Owl is easily recognized. Its “who cooks for you?” call resonates as a familiar sound of southern Illinois nights. Barred Owls also call during the day (especially calm, cool spring mornings). Like most nocturnal species, little survey work has been done to measure the region’s population. Given a few hours of effort invested in broadcasting calls to elicit responses, regional strongholds of Barred Owls will easily produce counts of 20 to 30 birds. Barred Owls nest very early in spring, with eggs present by late February.

Documentation: Specimen—female, Cobden, Union Co., 17 Aug 1959 (SIU A-861).

Long-eared Owl Asio otus

Early December - Late March

Status and abundance: Locally uncommon winter resident. Rare migrant. Very rare summer visitor.

Habitat: Roosts communally in dense conifer stands and brushy woodland thickets near large grasslands and agricultural fields.

Records and remarks: Long-eared Owls are strictly nocturnal and roost during the day. Their presence can sometimes be detected by searching for pellets or whitewash under groves of dense conifers. They usually flush readily, but sometimes can be approached and observed closely. They are usually silent, so are not likely to be encountered without a special search of appropriate roosting habitats.

AUTUMN—Fall and winter populations are difficult to separate because these owls arrive so late in the year.

1, Carbondale, 25 Nov 1991 (J. Hardt)

WINTER—Those detected during winter may include some migrants, but few Long-eared Owls winter south of Illinois.

3, Rend Lake, Jefferson Co., 19 Dec 1998 (DK)

10-15, near Carbondale, 29 Dec 1956 - 8 Apr 1957 (Birkenholz 1958)

2, Belle Rive, Jefferson Co., 11 Jan 1988, and 5 there 15 Jan 1990 (TF, JD, WDR)

1, Little Black Slough, Johnson Co., 11 Jan 1990 (TF)

7, Christopher, 15 Feb 2002 (LS)

SPRING—Migration is usually inconspicuous, but departures usually occur during March.

1, Little Black Slough, Johnson Co., 8 Mar 1992 (TF)

1, Rend Lake, Franklin Co., 20 Mar 1976 (BP)

3, Christopher, 1 Apr 2002 (LS)

SUMMER—Some older records are suggestive of possible breeding. No recent summer records. One roadkill, Carbondale, 11 Jun 1977 (MMo, D. Klem). Additionally, there are sketchy reports in the Crab Orchard NWR staff files of one on the refuge in August, 1968, and a nesting pair in March, 1969.

Documentation: Specimen—male, 2 miles s. of Makanda, in Union Co., 12 Jan 1974 (SIU A-1933).

Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus

Early November - Early April

Status and abundance: Uncommon migrant and winter resident. Very rare summer visitor.

Habitat: Roosts communally in large grassy fields, especially those with tall vegetation.

Records and remarks: Most active at dawn and dusk, this crepuscular owl can be seen flying like a big moth low over grasslands. They roost on the ground, sometimes associating with Northern Harriers. Numbers vary quite a bit from year to year. The reclaimed mine grasslands in Perry County can be an excellent place to see them.

AUTUMN—A few appear in late fall, but most arrive with very cold weather in December.

1, Pyramid SP, 25 Oct 2008 (CT)

1, Rend Lake, Franklin Co., 2 Nov 1985 (TF, SO)

WINTER—Southward migration may still be in progress even in late December.

28, Pyramid SP, 25 Dec 2004 (J. Merkelbach, m.ob.)

26, Arklands, Perry Co., 27 Dec 2007 (J. Smith, J. Chapman)

7, nw. Union Co., Jan 1973 (D. Hayward)

6, Will Scarlet Mine, Saline Co., 7 Mar 1992 (TF, JD)

SPRING—Northward movement begins at least by early March, and most birds are usually gone by the first week in April.

20, Franklin Co., 11 Mar 1996 (LS)

1, Johnson Co., 7 Apr 2001 (KM)

SUMMER—It is possible that some may breed in the large grassy fields of reclaimed strip mines in the Till Plain. Two records are suggestive of this possibility: 2, near Logan, Franklin Co., all summer 1993 (LS, BD); 1, Pinckneyville, Perry Co., 19 Jun 1977 (MMo, M. Tove). A recent record: 1, Eddyville, Pope Co., mid-Jun 1999 (M. Retter).

Documentation: Specimen—ad., Wayne-Fitzgerrell SP, Franklin Co., 2 Apr 1976 (SIU).

Northern Saw-whet Owl Aegolius acadicus

Status and abundance: Rare migrant and winter resident.

Habitat: Deciduous woods, conifer plantations, and dense hedgerows.

Records and remarks: Northern Saw-whet Owls were formerly considered impossible to find in southern Illinois. Time, and some intentional searching, have revealed that they occur in small numbers, but not every year. These small owls roost in dense vegetation, usually conifer stands, during the day. A search for pellets and whitewash can reveal their use of roosting sites. They will also respond to call playbacks.

AUTUMN—1 photographed, Carbondale, 13 Oct 1988 (SIU AP-300)

1, Hamilton Co., 26 Oct 2002 (LS)

WINTER—1, Little Black Slough, Johnson Co., 8-9 Jan 1993 (TF)

11, Crab Orchard NWR, 22 Jan 2012 (LS)

5, Rend Lake, 3 Feb 2010 (LS)

5, Hamilton Co., 13 Feb 2010 (LS)

2, Ozark, Johnson Co., 2 Feb - 1 Mar 1986 (TF et al.)

1, Ozark, Johnson Co., 5 Feb - 29 Mar 1994 (TF)

1, Franklin Co., 25 Mar 2010 (LS)

1, Ferne Clyffe SP, 2 May 2015 (C. Dobson, T. Ward, KM, DK)

Documentation: Photograph—ad., Ozark, Johnson Co., 1 Mar 1986 (SIU AP-301).