Owls in Alabama

Alabama has about 10 owl species, though only 5 are native. Alabama has one of the hottest summers in the US, along with mild winters with relatively little snow. Despite the hot climate, owls remain common as the number of pine and coniferous forests is higher than in the rest of the country, serving as suitable homes for these birds. Some of the most commonly seen owls in the state are the Barn Owl, the Barred Owl, and the Eastern Screech-owl.

List of Owls in Alabama

Name with Sounds	Average Size	Status	Where Do They Live in the State?	Mating Season
Small Owls
Eastern Screech-owl	Length: 6-10 inches Wingspan: 18-24 inches	Native	Common in wooded habitats across Alabama, including forests, parks, and suburban areas. Often observed in cities like Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery, and Tuscaloosa	Late winter to early summer (February to June)
Burrowing Owl	Length: 9-11 inches Wingspan:  21-24 inches	Accidental	Rare in Alabama, but prefers open grasslands, prairies, and agricultural areas. Other locations include coastal regions, fields, and pastures	Late winter to early spring (February to August)
Flammulated Owl	Length: 6.5-7.5 inches Wingspan: 12-15 inches	Accidental	Extremely rare, occasionally spotted in coniferous forests in the northern part of the state	Late spring to early summer (mid-April to July)
Northern Saw-whet Owl	Length: 7 – 8 inches Wingspan: 17-22 inches	Accidental	Rare visitor to the state during winter	Spring (March to April)
Large Owls
Barn Owl	Length: 12-16 inches  Wingspan: 42-43 inches	Native	Extremely common, with sightings regularly occurring in all 67 counties	Year-round, with peaks in late winter and spring (March to June)
Great Horned Owl	Length: 18-25 inches Wingspan: 40-60 inches	Native	Common in Alabama in both rural and urban areas. It is often seen in cities like Birmingham, Huntsville, and Montgomery	Late fall to early winter (November to January)
Barred Owl	Length: 16-24 inches Wingspan: 16-24 inches	Native	Common throughout Alabama, with sightings in Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery, and other cities	Late winter to Spring (February to April)
Snowy Owl	Length: 20-27 inches Wingspan: 49-58 inches	Accidental	Very rare in the state, mostly here due to irruptions. Occasionally shows up in southern Alabama	Varies by region and based on prey availability (any time between May and September)
Long-eared Owl	Length: 13-16 inches Wingspan: 24-40 inches	Accidental	Rare but seen occasionally during the colder months in wooded areas	Late winter to Spring (February to April)
Short-eared Owl	Length: 13-17 inches Wingspan: 33-43 inches	Native	Migratory, seen in Alabama during winter months in open grasslands and marshes	Varies, often in early spring (March to September)

Where Can You See Owls in Alabama

In northern Alabama, Monte Sano State Park has several owls, such as the Eastern Screech Owl, the Great Horned Owl, and the Barred Owl. These owls are also observable in Oak Mountain State Park. The Burrowing Owl can be seen in the Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center at Auburn University.