Winter Owling in Ontario: Who's Here & How to Find Them

There's something about owls that has captivated birders and non-birders alike for centuries. In literature, they're referred to as wise, enigmatic, and mythical beings of the night. Walk in to a big box store and you can find them depicted on just about anything you can imagine, from clothing, to dishware, to stationary, and everything in between. We love owls. And while they may be something you see daily in pictures on your wall, or your favourite coffee mug, many people have never actually seen an owl in person. In Ontario we are fortunate to have a total of eleven incredible owl species, six of which are migratory and are typically found only in Central and Southern Ontario in the winter months. Those six include: Snowy, Great Grey, Boreal, Northern Saw-whet, Long-eared, and Northern Hawk Owls. Our five year-round species include: Barred, Great Horned, Eastern Screech, the endangered Eastern Barn Owl, and Short-eared Owls which can be found year-round in some areas, though are more abundant in the winter. In this edition of Nature Notes I'm going to go over our wintering owl species, and how you can boost your chances of spotting one of these magnificent birds with your own two eyes (and maybe a set of binoculars 😉).

Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) perched atop an icy knoll in a field.

Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)

• Appearance: One of North America's largest owl species, with a bulky body, and rounded head with barely visible ear tufts. Eyes are an intense yellow & beak is black, though mostly hidden under white facial plumage. Overall colouring is white, with varying black or brown markings on the body and wings. Females & juveniles tend to have more markings, with males becoming whiter as they mature. 
• Diet: Small mammals make up the majority of their diet (voles, mice), but Snowy Owls are also capable of taking a variety of prey items such as rabbits, ducks, or songbirds. An individual Snowy Owl must consume the equivalent of 7 to 12 mice per day to meet its daily food requirements.
• Habitat: On their wintering grounds, Snowy Owls are highly adaptable when it comes to habitat and can be found in areas such as marshes, agricultural fields, airfields, and even shorelines. Snowy Owls establish hunting territories in these areas which they fiercely defend from predators & other birds of prey.
• How to find them: Snowy Owls have become quite common winter birds in many parts of Ontario over the past decade, with many individuals returning to the same area year after year. Unlike many owls, Snowys are active throughout the day, and are often spotted perched along roadways, airfields or agricultural fields on top of fence posts, telephone poles, hay bales, in trees, or on the ground. During the early winter & late winter season when there may not be as much snow, it is quite easy to spot a Snowy against the brown landscape, while in the snow they can camouflage entirely to their habitat. While they are not typically communal birds, it is not uncommon to see more than one individual in a small area.
  *Tip: I've personally found overcast days to be best for catching a glimpse of Snowy Owls in action! On the warmer, sunny days they tend to perch high in the trees to bask for hours at a time. 

A late season Great Grey Owl (Strix nebulosa) perched on a fence post along an agricultural field. This owl was found in April, on it's northward migration route.

Great Grey Owl (Strix nebulosa)

• Appearance: Ontario's largest owl species in overall size, but a Great Grey Owls bulk is deceivingly made up mostly of feathers. Great Greys are silvery grey in colour, with black, white, and brown varied markings throughout the body. They have a large head with a facial disc lining the face, with bright yellow eyes and a yellow beak; white markings along the bottom edge of the facial disc, and a brown 'X' between the eyes. Males and females are alike in appearance.
• Diet: Small mammals such as voles and mice make up the majority of a Great Grey Owls diet. While they are large in size like Snowy Owls, Great Greys lack the weight that would enable them to take larger prey items. 
• Habitat: When Great Greys make their way to Central & Southern Ontario, they can be found in a wide range of habitats such as public parks, agricultural fields, and marshes. Great Greys have been known to share hunting territories with several individuals. 
• How to find them: Great Grey Owls are spotted in this area sporadically from year to year, with the exception of irruption years which occur approximately every 5-6 years for unknown reasons, but possibly due to either a surge in chicks raised that particular year, or lack of food in their home range. Many times when an Ontario birder spots a Great Grey it is simply a lucky find, but there are things to watch out for when you are out birding. Slowly scan fence posts and tree lines along the habitats mentioned above. Despite their large size, Great Greys can be difficult to see, so binoculars may come in handy for this species.
  *Tip: The facial disc and brilliant yellow eyes of the Great Grey can be picked up by the naked eye quite easily when scanning a tree line, watch for these features vs. relying only on size to give the bird away.

Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) roosting in a small conifer on the outskirts of a Jack Pine stand.

Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus)

• Appearance: Northern Saw-whets are Ontario's smallest owl weighing in at around just 100 grams. They have a large rounded head, with a near-white facial disc and speckled white markings on the head, and yellow eyes with a black beak.  Overall body colour is mottled brown. Males and females are identical in colour, with females averaging 20% larger than males.
• Diet: Small mammals such as mice make up the majority of a Saw-whets diet, though they will hunt songbirds on occasion. Saw-whets have been known to cache prey in the winter months, stashing whole mice or parts of mice in tree nooks or on thorns, a behaviour most commonly seen in shrike species. Eating these cached prey items frozen takes an incredible amount of energy, so the Saw-whet will sit on its frozen meal to thaw it before consuming. 
• Habitat: Saw-whets are secretive in nature due to their size, and seek out dense conifers to roost in throughout the day. Typically the trees chosen for roosting are near an open area available for hunting at night. Saw-whets can be found in any size conifer tree, and are often near the trunk for best protection from predators. During migration Saw-whets have been seen roosting for a day or two in backyard trees and bushes in both urban and rural areas.
• How to find them: Due to their nocturnal nature and small stature, Northern Saw-whets can be more difficult to find than larger species such as Snowy Owls. One of the easiest ways to locate a Saw-whet is to pay attention to small clues on the ground and low in the trees like pellets, and "whitewash" (droppings). During the day Saw-whets will spend much of their time perched in a single spot, leaving evidence as to their whereabouts.
  *Tip: Listen to the chickadees! Chickadees and small birds will often harass or mob owls to let other birds know a predator is in the area, and to attempt to drive the owl away. Listen for groups of noisy chickadees signalling to each other and you may just find an owl!

Left: Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) Right: Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)

Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)

• Appearance: Long-eared Owls are medium in size with a slender body. Their buff-coloured faces appear almost square, with long facial discs, long black ear tufts, bright yellow eyes, and a black beak. Their overall body colouring is dark with varied black, brown, and buff pattern, perfect for camouflage against tree trunks. 
• Diet: As with most smaller owl species, small mammals (mice, voles) make up the majority of a Long-eared Owl's diet.
• Habitat: Long-eared Owls roost in similar habitat to Northern Saw-whets (dense conifers) but will occasionally roost in more open areas with easy access to fields for hunting at night. During the winter months - particularly when preparing for migration - large groups of Long-eareds can sometimes be found roosting together in conifer trees.
• How to find them: Long-eared Owls are incredible masters of disguise, and their intricately patterned plumage allows them to "disappear" against the bark of a tree. This combined with their nocturnal tendencies makes locating these owls quite challenging. As mentioned with the Northern Saw-whet Owl above, pellets and whitewash on the trees and ground can be the greatest hint as to the location of a Long-eared.

Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)

• Appearance: Short-eared Owls are medium in size, with wide rounded heads and small ear tufts that are not always visible. Their faces are nearly white, with brilliant yellow eyes lined in black, and a black beak. They are typically light brown in colour with buff and white patterning, with a pale belly. 
• Diet: Like most owl species, Short-eared Owls eat mainly small mammals, but have been known to also eat small gulls, terns, and shorebirds.
• Habitat: Short-eared Owls inhabit open areas with low vegetation such as meadows, grasslands, marshes, and agricultural fields. They are most active at dawn and dusk, and are commonly seen perched on fence posts scanning the area for prey and also for predators who may be nearby.  
• How to find them: Pay close attention to fence posts, telephone poles, and hay bales when scanning an area in search of Short-eared Owls. Because of their rounded heads and stocky stature it can be difficult to distinguish the top of a fence post from an owl, and often times by the time you've realized it's an owl it's too late (that's how it goes for me anyway!). Short-eareds will also sit on the ground individually or in small groups, and are easily mistaken for mounds of vegetation, so be sure to double check spots you're curious about with binoculars or a scope. 

Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula). A surprise sighting along a highway in the Kawartha Lakes.

Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) & Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus)

Both Northern Hawk Owls and Boreal Owls are infrequent visitors to the region, but may be seen on occasion. Because of this, it is difficult to give tips on locating them. In my personal experience, finding either of these species has been by chance. Boreal Owls are like Northern Saw-whet Owls in that they are largely nocturnal, and prefer dense conifers for roosting. The only Boreal Owl I have seen myself was in the same area as the Saw-whet pictured above. Northern Hawk Owls on the other hand are active through the day, leaving more opportunity for spotting one. They tend to perch in trees, on telephone wires, or fence lines near open areas with thriving rodent populations. Again speaking from personal experience, I have only come across two Hawk Owls, both of which were simply on their migration routes and had stopped to refuel for a day or two before moving on to a new location. Click here to learn more about Boreal Owls, and here to learn more about Northern Hawk Owls.
*Tip: Northern Hawk Owls are somewhat football shaped and hard to mistake for another species when perched at the top of a tree. Train your eye to see this shape while out and about to increase your chances of spotting one of these incredible birds!


Please remember as with all wildlife, be patient and be respectful. Pay attention to body language and listen to the bird. Stress can do an enormous amount of harm, and if you feel as though your presence is disturbing the bird in any way, it is time to move on. I hope by learning about our wintering owl species you find some more enjoyment in the chilly winter months ahead of us, because as I like to say.. it's the most wonderful time of the year! 🎶🦉

Happy Trails!
- Shayna