Family: Strigidae, Owls view all from this family

Description 10" (25 cm). A small, mottled owl with prominent ear tufts; yellow eyes. Both rufous and gray color phases occur, as well as brownish intermediates.

Habitat Open deciduous woods, woodlots, suburban areas, lakeshores, old orchards.

Nesting 3-8 white eggs placed without a nest lining in a cavity in a tree or in a nest box.

Range Resident from Canada’s southern prairie provinces east to southern Maine, and south to Gulf of Mexico and Florida.

Voice   A tremulous, descending wail; soft purrs and trills.

Discussion These common owls are fearless in defense of their nests and will often strike unsuspecting humans on the head as they pass nearby at night. When discovered during the day, they often freeze in an upright position, depending on their cryptic coloration to escape detection. The two color phases, which vary in their relative numbers according to geography, are not based on age, sex, or season.