Last updated on April 23rd, 2023 at 04:05 pm
It’s very difficult to spot an owl in a tree during the day because they are nocturnal and hide when the sun is out to sleep in peace. Owls live in various habitats, but the most common one is in trees. So, which trees do owls favor?
Here are 6 kinds of trees that owls like to live in:
1. Fir
Fir trees are the most popular tree for owls because they are evergreen and provide excellent year-round protection.
They offer plenty of places to hide due to the fact that woodpeckers and other creatures create cavities, which are ideal for owl nesting.
Very few owls migrate, and the following owls remain in the USA throughout the year:
- Great Horned
- Barred
- Burrowing
- Eastern Screech
- Western Screech
If you have a pair of binoculars or a telescope, you might be lucky enough to spot one of these owls sleeping in a fir tree during the day.
2. Spruce
Spruce trees are another evergreen tree variety that owls love.
Mature spruce trees have thick, leaved branches in a conical formation, providing plenty of camouflage for owls.
They can hide owl nests well due to their dense pine needle formation, as the needles are robust and only shed every five to ten years.
However, the spruce cones remain on the tree for two winters.
You can usually find owls in the following kinds of spruce trees:
- Red
- Blue
- Sitka
- Black
- White
3. Juniper
Juniper trees are evergreen trees with a bushy appearance.
They do an excellent job of hiding owls while they’re sleeping during the day because each branch has multiple blue-green leaves.
Owls commonly nest in the grooves between long branches and the trunk.
The following owls commonly nest in juniper trees:
- Great Grey
- Short-Eared
- Long-Eared
- Northern Hawk
4. Eastern Cottonwood
Owls in the Midwestern US sometimes live in eastern cottonwood trees, as this is where this tree type is the most common.
These trees are large and fast-growing and have grey, textured trunks with large, triangular leaves.
Owls like to build nests high up in eastern cottonwood trees, where the leaves and branches are the most concentrated.
At other times, they nest in vacant holes created by raccoons or woodpeckers.
5. Beech
Beech trees are deciduous trees that can grow into huge trees, while mature beech trees have several thick trunks with multiple branches and large, round leaves.
These trees shed their leaves in the fall, making nesting owls vulnerable.
If an owl has nested in a beech tree, it will often relocate its living place to an evergreen tree in the winter.
6. Cacti
Elf Owls are common in desert terrain with very few trees but plenty of cacti.
They are common in the Arizona desert, where there are many cactus species, including the saguaro cactus.
The following woodpeckers create holes in the saguaro cactus, often leaving behind a cavity in which Elf Owls can live:
- Arizona
- Gila
- Lewis
- Hairy
- Acorn
- Downy
If The Grand Canyon State is of interest to you, we’ve written an article on common nocturnal birds in Arizona.
Other Places Owls Live
Owls can also live in other habitats as long as the site is quiet during the day, and has adequate protection.
Such places include:
- Owl boxes
- Ground burrows
- Building ledges
- Canyons
- Caves
Owl Boxes
Some owl species are attracted to wooden owl boxes in trees in urban and suburban areas.
Owl boxes offer solid support and excellent protection for baby owls and eggs.
Installing an owl box in a large, mature tree is an excellent way to attract owls to your backyard, and since they hunt rats and mice, they can help you control vermin on your property.
These are the owl species you’ll commonly see nesting in owl boxes:
- Barn
- Western Screech
- Eastern Screech
- Northern Saw-Whet
Ground Burrows
Some owls, such as Burrowing Owls, don’t nest high above the ground but below it.
They dig holes in sandy areas to create a safe nesting place and to protect themselves from the sun during the day.
If a prairie dog has abandoned an underground cavity, a Burrowing Owl will sometimes take it over.
Snowy owls are prevalent in Alaska, Canada, and some northernmost US states.
With their white feathers, they blend in well with the snow and create nests on the ground and in the snow.
Building Ledges
Barn and Tawny Owls like to nest on high building ledges because they offer a level surface for nesting material and protection from humans.
High building ledges also give them an excellent vantage point for hunting rats, mice, and other vermin.
If the building is unused, they may build a nest in the rafters or on one of the upper levels, while barn owls sometimes live in quiet barns.
You might spot a nest in your barn, especially if the barn hasn’t been used for a while. If you do notice it, you’ll want to leave it alone, especially if it is still inhabited.
Canyons
Canyons make excellent places for owls to nest because they often have rock crevices.
If a rock crevice is a suitable size for an owl nest, it will sometimes live, lay eggs, and raise young there.
Below are a few examples of owls that can live in canyons:
- Elf
- Mexican Spotted
- Whiskered Screech
- Great Horned
Caves
When there aren’t many areas for certain owl species to build their habitats, they occasionally resort to building nests in caves.
Caves typically have small crevices to accommodate owls and their offspring, making them ideal nesting spots.
Desert Owls are incredibly rare and are found in Israel, where they like living in caves as this offers them protection from the hot desert sun.
The Cape Eagle Owl and Spotted Eagle Owl, two common South African owl species, are also known cave dwellers, while Barn Owls can sometimes roost in caves.