Strigidae

The true owls, or typical owls (family Strigidae), are one of two main owl families, the other being barn owls and bay owls (Tytonidae). This family includes around 230 species in 24 genera and has a cosmopolitan distribution, being found on every continent except Antarctica.

Typically nocturnal or crepuscular, owls spend much of their day roosting and are often misperceived as ‘tame’ due to their ability to tolerate human proximity. Their cryptic plumage and chosen locations help them avoid detection by predators and mobbing by small birds.

Owls like the eagle-owl use visual signals for intraspecific communication, particularly in territorial behaviors and parent-offspring interactions. Feces and prey remains may act as visual signals to indicate reproductive states to other owls. Some species, such as the northern saw-whet owl, are migratory, traveling south even when resources are plentiful.

Owls thrive in habitats with a mix of old growth forests and other vegetation, as these provide shelter and foraging opportunities. While fire can create beneficial habitats, high-severity fires that result in large canopy gaps are detrimental.

The main predators of owls are other owls, such as barred owls and great horned owls preying on northern saw-whet owls in brushy areas.