Owls in Illinois

Illinois is home to 12 species of owls, with 9 native to the state. Out of all of them, the Short-eared Owl is at risk in the state, which is sad considering it was once the most abundant owl there, but its population is on the decline due to a loss of habitat.

List of Owls in Illinois

Name	Average Size	Status	Where Do They Live in the State	Mating Season
Small Owls
Burrowing Owl	Length: 9-11 inches Wingspan:  21-24 inches	Native	Rarely seen, occasionally in the north-eastern part of the state near Lake Michigan	Late winter to early spring (February to August)
Northern Saw-whet Owl	Length: 7 – 8 inches Wingspan: 17-22 inches	Native	This owl is available in the northern part in the summer and the southern part in the winter in places like Shawnee National Forest, Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, and Giant City State Park	Spring (March to April)
Boreal Owl	Length: 8.7–10.6 inches Wingspan: 20–24 inches	Accidental	Rare visitor to the state, with a few occasional sightings in the boreal forests of Illinois	Spring to summer (March to July)
Eastern Screech Owl	Length: 6-10 inches Wingspan: 18-24 inches	Native	Common throughout the state, in places like Jackson Park, Lincoln Park, Matthiessen State Park, and more	From late winter to early spring (Between February and April)
Large Owls
Barn Owl	Length: 12-16 inches Wingspan: 42-43 inches	Native	Common throughout Illinois, especially in places like Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge, Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, and Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie	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 state parks like Rock Cut, Kankakee River, and Hennepin Canal Parkway, as well as suburban areas and woodlands	Late fall to early winter (November to January)
Barred Owl	Length: 16-24 inches Wingspan: 16-24 inches	Native	Common throughout the state, with sightings in Cache River State Natural Area, Mississippi Palisades State Park, and Pere Marquette State Park	Late winter to spring (February to April)
Short-eared Owl	Length: 13-17 inches Wingspan: 33-43 inches	Native	While mostly common, during the summer, these owls move up north to places like Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, Illinois Beach State Park, and Nachusa Grasslands	Varies, often in early spring (March to June, peaking in April)
Snowy Owl	Length: 20-27 inches Wingspan: 49-58 inches	Native	Occasionally, winters in Illinois in the northern part of the state in places like Illinois Beach State Park and Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary	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	This owl is migratory within the state, moving north in the summer to places like Cook County and Dixon Waterfowl Refuge and returning south in the winter	From late winter to early spring (around February to April)
Northern Hawk-owl	Length: 14.2-17.6 inches Wingspan: 18 inches	Accidental	Occasionally seen in the state, with sightings in Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge and Shawnee National Forest	Late winter to early summer (mid-February to May)
Tawny Owl	Length: 15–18 inches Wingspan: 32–41 inches	Accidental	Vagrant with one or two sightings in some places like Shawnee National Forest	Late summer to early winter (July to October)

Where Can You See Owls in Illinois

In central Illinois, Catlin County Park is a great place to see the Barred and Great Horned Owls. The former can also be seen in the Forest Park Nature Center near Peoria Heights. The Short-eared Owl can be found in the Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area.