Although most North American owls are nonmigratory and found within their ranges in any season, we tend to showcase them in the fall. The mystery and intrigue that follows them seems only appropriate for October, when we’re already in the spooky mindset of Halloween. Plus, many of these birds of prey sport brown, tan and buff feathers that blend nicely into the fiery red, orange and yellow hues—and eventually the bare tree branches—of an autumn landscape.
Besides the standard characteristics we all learned about as kids, such as how most owls turn their heads 270 degrees and hunt at night, there’s a lot to love about them. Great grays are large and intense. Burrowing owls are small and adorable. Barn owls are pale and mysterious. That’s what I love about owls—their…
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Birds & Blooms (Digital) - 1 Issue, October/November 2023