Barred Owl

The Barred Owl (Scientific name - Strix varia) is a large stocky owl with a round head and no ear tufts. They are a mottled brown and white and have dark eyes. The underparts have vertical brown bars on a white background while the upper breast has horizontal brown bars. Wings are barred brown and white. They have a yellow beak. The photos were taken in June 2016 in Langley, British Columbia. The third photo is of two of this year's owlets.

Barn Owl

The Barn Owl (Scientific name - Tyto alba) is a medium sized owl found throughout South America, most of the United States and southern British Columbia and Ontario. They a rounded head with a heart-shaped face and dark eyes. They have no visible ear tufts. They are pale brown and grey overall and have speckling on the breast and back. They display some dark barring on the wings. They are nocturnal and rely heavily on their acute sense of hearing when hunting.  Photos taken in Abbotsford, British Columbia in  August 2016.

Northern Saw-whet Owl

The Northern Saw-whet Owl (Scientific Name - Aegolius acadicus) is a small owl that is found in most parts of North America from Alaska to Mexico. It is found in woodlands and often perched in coniferous trees. When approached it will remain still. The Northern Saw-whet Owl has a round face with brown streaks and no ear tufts. It has a brown streaked body and a black bill. Eyes are yellow.Photo taken in January 2011 at the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, B.C.

Burrowing Owl

The Burrowing Owl (Scientific Name - Athene cunicularia) is a small owl found mainly in the Western USA but as far north as into British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan and south into Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. 

These owls are unique as they nest underground, usually in abandoned burrows of small mammals.

The first two photos were taken on the island of Aruba in November 2010, while the bottom photo was taken at the Salton Sea in California in November 2011.