Meet The Owls Of Indiana And Their Secretive Lives
Who knew there were so many species of owls in Indiana?
Indiana's Birds
According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Hoosier State is home to more than 300 species of birds that call our state "home" annually; in fact, more than 420 species of birds have been documented in our state. Due to Indiana's diverse array of bird species, our state is an ideal place for birdwatchers, whether casual or hobbyists.
While I frequently see cardinals, finches, wrens, and hummingbirds around my yard, one bird I've never seen in my yard is an owl. Did you know that Indiana has eight species of owls that live in our state?
The Owls of Indiana
Recently, the Indiana Wildlife Federation shared a statistic that I found fascinating. The Hoosier State is home to eight different species of owls.
Did you know that Indiana is home to 8 species of owl?! Four are year round residents (the American barn owl is state endangered and very rare), while four are winter migrants (the snowy owl is an uncommon visitor). While most are more active at night, a keen eye (or ear) may be able to find them at any time!
The Indiana Wildlife Federation lists the owl species in Indiana as follows:
- Barred Owl (Strix varia)
- Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
- Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascaps asio)
State Endangered Year-Round Resident
- American Barn Owl (Tyto furcata)
Rare Winter Migrant
- Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)
Uncommon Winter Migrants
- Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)
- Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)
- Northern Saw-Whet Owl (Aegoloius acadius)
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Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
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