Horned owls are indeed found in the state of Arkansas. The great horned owl is one of the most common owl species in North America and can be found throughout the state of Arkansas all year round.
Overview of Horned Owls in Arkansas
There are two main species of horned owls that reside in Arkansas – the great horned owl and the eastern screech owl. The great horned owl is larger and more widespread, while the eastern screech owl is small and mainly found in the eastern and southern regions of the state.
Great horned owls are large, powerful owls with prominent ear tufts, or “horns”, on the top of their head. They have yellow eyes, mottled brown and tan feathers, and a white throat patch. Males and females have similar plumage but females are larger in size.
Eastern screech owls are much smaller, only about the size of a robin. They come in two color variations – gray and red. Both color morphs have ear tufts, yellow eyes and dark streaking on the underside. Their call is a haunting, whistled song.
Horned owls nest in the abandoned nests of other birds or on cliff ledges. They lay 1-4 eggs which hatch after about 30 days. The young fledge at around 6-7 weeks. Horned owls are opportunistic predators and eat a variety of prey including rodents, rabbits, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects.
Great Horned Owl
The great horned owl is one of the most widespread owl species in North America. In Arkansas, great horned owls can be found statewide and in a variety of habitats including forests, swamps, fields, parks and suburban areas.
These large, powerful owls stand 18-25 inches tall with a wingspan of 3-5 feet. They have prominent ear tufts, bright yellow eyes, and mottled brown and tan plumage. The feathers help them camouflage well in tree bark. Great horned owls do not build their own nests. They typically take over abandoned hawk, crow or squirrel nests.
Great horned owls are most active at night or at dusk. Their distinctive series of 4-5 deep hoots is one of the most common nighttime sounds throughout Arkansas. Even during the day, sharp-eyed observers may spot a camouflaged great horned owl sleeping in a tree.
These opportunistic predators will eat just about anything they can catch. Rodents like mice, voles and rabbits make up most of their diet. They also eat birds up to the size of a goose, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. Their talons are so powerful they can take prey larger than themselves.
Range and Habitat
Great horned owls are found statewide across Arkansas. They are highly adaptable and occupy a wide range of habitats:
- Woodlands – especially those close to open fields for hunting
- Swamps and bottomland forests
- Orchards and agricultural areas
- Parks, cemeteries and golf courses
- Suburban and urban areas
Pretty much anywhere with large trees for roosting and adequate prey, great horned owls are likely to take up residence.
Nesting and Reproduction
Great horned owls begin nesting very early in Arkansas. Egg laying starts in January or February. The female lays 1-4 eggs (usually 2-3) which hatch after about 30 days of incubation. The young fledge at around 6-7 weeks but remain dependent on the parents into summer.
Like many raptors, great horned owls are monogamous and mate for life unless one dies. Then the surviving owl will find a new mate. Both parents help defend the territory and feed the demanding chicks.
Calls
The classic hooting call of the great horned owl is one of its most distinctive features. Their deep, resonant hoots are often described as “Who’s awake? Me tooooo.” Calls are most frequent in late winter and early spring during courtship and nesting. Calls can also help juvenile owls identify their parents.
In addition to hoots, great horned owls make a wide range of other vocalizations including screeches, whistles, barks and hisses. These help the birds communicate and defend their territories.
Eastern Screech Owl
The eastern screech owl is found across eastern Arkansas. They are mainly found near waterways in wooded lowlands but also inhabit orchards, parks and suburban areas. At only 6-10 inches tall, these pint-sized predators are Arkansas’s smallest native owl.
Eastern screech owls come in two distinct color variations or “morphs.” Gray morph birds are brighter and more heavily streaked while red birds are a rusty brown color. Despite the difference in plumage color, they are the same species. The red and gray morphs often mate with each other.
During the day, eastern screech owls roost in tree cavities or nest boxes. At night they emerge to hunt using their excellent low-light vision and hearing. The tufts on their head help camouflage them against tree bark.
Screech owls primarily eat insects, arachnids, crayfish and small vertebrates like mice, voles and lizards. They hunt from perches listening for prey with their amazing hearing. Screech owls will also snatch up unwary songbirds at feeders.
Range and Habitat
In Arkansas, eastern screech owls occur statewide but are more common in the eastern and southern regions. They are found in wooded and semi-open areas near water:
- Swamps, river bottoms and floodplain forests
- Wooded parks, cemeteries and suburban areas
- Orchards and treelines
Lovely places like Village Creek State Park and Dagmar Wildlife Management Area offer prime eastern screech owl habitat in AR.
Nesting and Reproduction
The nesting season for eastern screech owls runs from March to May. They nest in natural tree cavities or old woodpecker holes. The female lays 3-8 eggs which hatch after about 26 days. The young fledge at around 4 weeks but are still fed by the parents for some time after.
Interestingly, screech owls are one of the only North American birds known to exhibit cooperative breeding behaviors. Sometimes up to 3 female owls may help a breeding pair raise a clutch of eggs.
Calls
Eastern screech owls are named for their eerie, shivering call. It is a haunting series of whistled hoots with a tremulous quality. The call has been described as resembling a “bouncing ball” or a horse’s whinny. Screech owls also make barking, whistling and whining vocalizations.
Conclusion
In summary, two species of horned owls – the great horned owl and eastern screech owl – make their home in Arkansas. Great horned owls are large, adaptable owls found statewide in many habitat types. The smaller eastern screech owl inhabits wooded areas in eastern and southern Arkansas near water.
Both species play an important role as nocturnal predators of rodents, insects and other prey. Their presence helps keep ecosystems in balance. So next time you’re outdoors in Arkansas at night and hear mysterious hoots or screeches, it just may be one of these fascinating horned owls!