In many parts of New England, this is the most common owl to be seen or, more likely, heard. An owl of mixed wooded areas, swamps, and wetlands, the Barred Owl's classic eight note call is often described as sounding like "Who cooks for you?
Eight species of expected owls in New England include: great horned, barred, and Eastern screech — all year-round residents and fairly easy to spot. Long-eared, short-eared, and snowy owls are winter migrants, and breed far north of us.
Great Horned Owl Great Horned Owl They have broad rounded wings and a deep hooting call. It is one of the most common owls in North America and lives in most habitats from forests to deserts, cities, or grasslands.
The barn owl (Tyto alba) is the most widely distributed species of owl in the world and one of the most widespread of all species of birds, being found almost everywhere in the world except for the polar and desert regions, Asia north of the Himalayas, most of Indonesia, and some Pacific Islands.
Great gray owls Great gray owls, the largest birds in the owl family, are rarely seen, if at all, in New England. This is one of those rare years when several of them have wandered south from their normal habitat in the northern boreal forests of Canada and Alaska to southern Canada and the northern U.S. in search of food.
Barred Owl Barred Owl (Strix varia) Distribution: Most common owl throughout NH. Year-round resident. Description: Up to 21” tall with up to a 43” wingspan. Dark bars across chest w/dark streaks below.
The great horned owl has a very large range. It is found in forests throughout most of Canada, the United States, and Mexico. It is also found in Central and South America. The great horned owl is found throughout New Hampshire.
Great Horned Owl The Great Horned Owl is the largest owl in North America. It is sometimes called the cat owl. This widespread bird of prey lives in mountains, grasslands, conifer forests, deserts, chapparals, and many other habitats in North and South America. Its scientific name is Bubo virginianus (Genus and species).
Snowy owls look for habitats that mimic the Arctic tundra where they spend most of their lives, such as large salt marshes, extensive agricultural fields, and even airports. Popular sighting locations include Westport, New Bedford, Nantucket, Orleans, Duxbury Beach, and Plum Island, according to Mass Audubon.