Owls in Connecticut

Around 12 owl species have been recorded in the state of Connecticut. However, barring some common species like the Great Horned Owl, owl sightings have become rarer in the state. This could be attributed to changing environments, competition over resources with other animals as well as other owls, and a loss of breeding grounds.

List of Owls in Connecticut

Name	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 both urban and suburban areas, with a preference to avoid territories occupied by other larger owls	Late winter to spring (February to April)
Northern Saw-whet Owl	Length: 7 – 8 inches Wingspan: 17-22 inches	Native	Seen mostly in the southern part of the state, like Meshomasic State Forest	Spring (March to April)
Boreal Owl	Length: 8.7–10.6 inches Wingspan: 20–24 inches	Accidental	Rare visitor from the northern states in the United States	Spring to summer (March to July)
Burrowing Owl	Length: 9-11 inches Wingspan:  21-24 inches	Accidental	Occasional vagrant in the state	Late winter to early spring (February to August)
Large Owls
Barn Owl	Length: 12-16 inches Wingspan: 42-43 inches	Native	Uncommon but still observable in open areas like grasslands, marshes, and farms	Year-round, with peaks in late winter and spring (March to June)
Great Horned Owl	Length: 18-25 inches Wingspan: 40-60 inches	Native	Very common in Connecticut, with sightings in Sleeping Giant State Park and Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area	Late fall to early winter (November to January)
Barred Owl	Length: 16-24 inches Wingspan: 16-24 inches	Native	Can be seen wherever coniferous or deciduous forests are present in the state, like in the Housatonic State Forest	Late winter to spring (February to April)
Snowy Owl	Length: 20-27 inches Wingspan: 49-58 inches	Native	While rare, these owls often venture down south to breed or when food is scarce	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	Native	Uncommon nowadays as these owls rarely nest in the state, with most sightings taking place near the Connecticut River	Late winter to Spring (February to April)
Short-eared Owl	Length: 13-17 inches Wingspan: 33-43 inches	Native	While once common, the Short-eared Owl is almost no longer seen in Connecticut	Varies, often in early spring (March to September)
Great Gray Owl	Length: 24-33 inches Wingspan: 4-5 feet	Accidental	Uncommon, occasionally seen in northern Connecticut	Spring to early summer (March to May)
Northern Hawk-owl	Length: 14.2-17.6 inches Wingspan: 18 inches	Accidental	Not seen much outside of a few vagrant sightings	Late winter to early summer (mid-February to May)

Where Can You See Owls in Connecticut

Some of the rarer owls in Connecticut, like the Barn Owl and the Long-eared Owl can be seen in Hammonasset Beach State Park where they occasionally visit. The most seen, if not necessarily the most common, owl is the Barred Owl which can be spotted near any forests in northern Connecticut with pines or firs.