Last updated on June 12th, 2022 at 12:21 am
Owls are generally not migratory birds, but what does that mean about their nesting sites? Do they stay in the same place each year, or do they move around?
Owls stay in one place for as long as eight years unless they are a rare migratory species like the snowy owl or the flammulated owl. Most owls do not migrate, and they keep the same nesting spot in the same territory year after year with the same mate.
This Is How Long Owls Stay in the Same Place
Owls stay in the same place for about eight years, continuously sharing one nesting site with the same mate for the summer and winter seasons.
The type of nesting territory the owls choose depends on the species.
Only in some exceptional cases do owls migrate rather than following this general rule.
Do Most Owls Migrate?
Most owls do not migrate. Only a few exceptions move closer to the equator during the winter.
Like the flammulated owl, which relies on insects for food, and the snowy owl, which travels south from the Arctic.
Unlike these species, most owls stay in the same roost year-round.
Where Do Owls Live?
Owls live in coniferous or deciduous forests, rainforests, deserts, mountains, grassy plains, and the tundra. Each species has a preferred habitat.
Often you can find owls in trees, cactus, barns, or hollowed-out logs. Some species even live in holes in the ground and nests made by other birds.
In general, owls do not build big, elaborate nests, but rather, they find nooks and cavities where they can tuck in and shelter from the elements.
They will take over nests made by large birds, however. Common choices are crow nests, hawk nests, and heron nests.
Do Owls Sleep in the Same Spot Every Night?
Owls sleep in the same spot every night, known as their roosting spot.
Unlike songbirds, owls do not need to worry about concealing themselves from predators.
They can sleep in the same place every night without worrying that another bird will learn their routine and attack them.
Choosing and reusing one roosting spot makes it easier for owls to rest because it saves them the energy of needing to seek out multiple locations during their waking hours.
Instead of wasting time and energy searching for a safe spot to rest, they can return somewhere familiar every day.
How Long Do Owls Sleep?
Owls sleep about 12 hours every day, like pigeons and chickens. Some owls are diurnal, meaning that they sleep 12 hours through the night, while others are nocturnal.
Meaning that they sleep 12 hours through the day. Most owls are nocturnal, but not all.
How To Spot an Owl in the Wild
Since owls are creatures of habit, they can be easier to discover than you might think.
If you know what to look for, you might discover an owl’s nesting or roosting spot, and then you’ll be able to see the bird every time it returns to rest or care for the young.
Of course, it’s important to note that because owls keep the same nesting and roosting spots, it can be harmful to them when humans become aware of their favorite spots.
Make sure that you don’t disturb them or make their location known to the public.
This could make it impossible for them to carry on with their sleeping and nesting routines undisturbed.
Know Where To Look
In most cases, when you’re looking for an owl, you’ll want to look in the dense part of a forest canopy on the part of branches close to the trunk.
You may find owls perched at the base of these branches or peeking out of the trunk from small cavities.
It’s often easier to see owls in the canopy in deciduous forests when the leaves have fallen rather than in the summer.
Listen for Vocalizations
Owls are stealthy and quiet for the most part, but they still use their voices to communicate with each other.
By learning what different vocalizations sound like, you’ll know where to look for an owl and what kind of owl you’re looking for.
Some of the most well-known owl vocalizations are the hooting of the Great Horned Owl, a sound commonly associated with owls in general.
The song that sounds like “Who cooks for you?” is sung by the Barred Owl.
If you hear a shrill sound like a screech, that might be a Screech Owl.
Look for Pellets and Droppings
One way to figure out where owls are roosting is to look for pellets on the ground.
Because owls eat their prey whole, they must regurgitate the parts of the animals that they cannot digest, which includes the teeth, bones, fur, and feathers.
All of this is packed into small pellets, which accumulate on the ground if an owl is roosting nearby.
Droppings are also a sign that an owl’s roosting or nesting spot is nearby. Typically, this looks like a thick, white, chalky substance that some birders refer to as “white-wash.”
How To Attract an Owl to Your Yard
If you want an owl to choose your yard or an area close to it as its nesting or roosting location, you’ll need to make sure that there is plenty of food for the owl nearby.
This means leaving weeds and shrubs intact so that birds and small mammals can survive in your yard.
Highly manicured lawns are unlikely to attract prey animals and therefore unlikely to attract owls.
Even better, you can encourage owls to come to your yard by planting native trees and shrubs, supporting the owls directly and all the species they depend on for food.
Some of the trees and vines that owls like the best are honeysuckle and grape.
As cavity nesters, owls are also able to use nesting boxes.
Just make sure that your nesting box is big enough, having at least a 3” entrance hole if you want to attract small owls like the Screech Owl.