Owls in New York City: species, seasons and ethics

Owls in New York City include year-round residents, seasonal visitors, and rare historical wanderers. They are not all equally likely sightings. Great Horned Owl, Eastern Screech-Owl, and Barn Owl nest in the city, according to NYS DEC's Conservationist (October 2010). Watch from a distance, keep roost locations private, and never use recorded calls to attract an owl.

A field mark is a visible identification clue, such as head shape or plumage pattern. Compare several marks without moving closer. The broader NYC bird identification guide can help you organize an uncertain sighting.

Great Horned Owl

NYC Bird Alliance calls it a permanent resident and nester found in all five boroughs, and the most common owl in the city. NYS DEC's 2010 account says its breeding season begins each December. A quiet bird in winter may be near an active nest, so keep your distance.

Look for a very large owl with ear tufts, a white throat and horizontal bars on the belly, as Audubon describes it. Compare it with the smaller, slimmer Long-eared Owl; an upright silhouette alone is not enough. If branches hide the bird's proportions and plumage, leave the identification uncertain.

Eastern Screech-Owl

Eastern Screech-Owl also nests in the city, according to NYS DEC. It is a small owl, about 10 inches long, gray or reddish, with short ear tufts it can raise or flatten. NYS DEC notes that it nests and roosts in tree holes and nest boxes.

Compare a suspected screech-owl with Northern Saw-whet Owl, another small owl that has no ear tufts. Flattened tufts can make a screech-owl look round-headed, so a partly hidden head is not enough for a certain call. Never inspect a hollow, knock on a trunk, or try to force a bird out.

Barn Owl

Barn Owl is the third owl species that still nests in NYC, according to NYS DEC's 2010 account. DEC describes a medium-sized pale owl with a white, heart-shaped face, dark eyes and long legs, and notes that city Barn Owls tolerate human activity by day.

Treat an owl near a building with care. Do not enter old structures, inspect wall openings, or publish suspected nest locations. Habitat alone does not confirm an identification, so check physical field marks as well.

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Audubon describes Northern Saw-whet Owl as a very small owl, about 7 inches long, warm brown with reddish streaks on a white chest and no ear tufts. Its small size narrows the possibilities, though distance and branches can distort size estimates.

Compare it with Eastern Screech-Owl using head shape, ear tufts and chest pattern. Do not push into dense vegetation for a clearer view. Leaving a small owl unidentified is better than disturbing it.

Long-eared Owl

NYS DEC's 2010 account counts Long-eared Owl among the city's owls, even though our filtered report index excludes it. A species missing from that index can still turn up in NYC.

Compare it with Great Horned Owl using proportions and the belly: Audubon describes a smaller, slimmer bird with stripes, not horizontal bars, on the belly. Keep any daytime roost private, and never gather a crowd around a resting bird.

Barred Owl

Audubon describes Barred Owl as a large, round-headed owl with dark eyes and no ear tufts, barred across the chest and striped on the belly. Look for this combination instead of judging a shadowed face.

Compare an obscured bird with Great Horned Owl, which has ear tufts and yellow eyes. Keep your identification provisional when key features stay hidden. Do not reposition yourself directly beneath the perch to settle the question.

Snowy Owl

NYS DEC describes Snowy Owl as very large and white, with dusky flecks or bars and yellow eyes. White feathers alone are not enough for an identification, so confirm body shape, feather markings, and eye color.

This bird rests low or directly on the ground in open country. NYS DEC lists fields, marshes, beaches, airports, and frozen lakeshores as suitable habitat. Stay on public paths and never approach a grounded owl for photographs.

Short-eared Owl

NYS DEC's 2010 account lists Short-eared Owl among the rare owls spotted occasionally in the city. DEC notes it is seen hunting by day more often than most owls, over open fields and marshes. Compare a suspected bird with Long-eared Owl: Audubon describes a paler belly and short ear tufts that are seldom obvious.

Our filtered report index does not list a monthly status for this species. Avoid treating regional accounts as a forecast for your next park visit.

Which owls live in NYC all year?

Great Horned Owl and Eastern Screech-Owl live here year-round and nest in the city. Barn Owl also nests in NYC, though breeding records do not tell you how easily you will spot one.

Because owls are nocturnal and secretive, routine birding checklists may not sample them evenly. This comparison separates confirmed nesting records from our seasonal report data.

The index uses Cornell Lab's eBird Observation Dataset via GBIF, pooled across all five boroughs, verified October 23, 2026. The "not expected" category reflects a reporting threshold in the data rather than proof that resident owls leave. Nesting evidence comes separately from NYS DEC.

When do Snowy Owls show up?

NYS DEC calls the Snowy Owl a rare winter visitor. NYC Bird Alliance notes that in most years just a few reach the city, with occasional large southward waves called irruptions. A winter outing offers a possibility of finding one, but never a promise.

Sparrow Line's filtered data does not show an arrival month or peak for Snowy Owl in NYC. Use the winter bird guide to plan cold-weather birding across the city.

Why do birders not share roost locations?

A roost is a resting place. Public coordinates can bring repeated visitors to a bird that needs uninterrupted rest.

NYC Bird Alliance warns that a flushed owl may be harassed by crows, Blue Jays and other birds and not be able to rest. Its guidance, plus our own tips, comes down to these precautions:

• Keep locations private: NYC Bird Alliance asks birders not to share or post an owl's exact location. As our tip, also avoid tree descriptions, map pins and photos whose background gives the place away.
• Use binoculars or a spotting scope to see details without stepping closer.
• Back away if the owl stares directly at you. NYC Bird Alliance treats sustained eye contact as a warning that you are too close.
• Keep visits brief and quiet without lingering for a better pose.
• Avoid playback and bait. NYC Bird Alliance asks birders not to play recordings in city parks; never wake, lure, or displace an owl.

Follow these guidelines even if another birder has already shared the roost online.

What should I do if I find an owl in trouble?

Call for professional guidance before you attempt to touch or move the bird. NYC Bird Alliance distinguishes raptors from small songbirds in its rescue instructions.

Keep people and pets back. Note the exact location privately and write down visible injuries, fishing line entanglement, or difficulty standing. Avoid guessing at poisoning or illness on your own.

NYC Bird Alliance's bag-and-box steps exclude large birds and birds of prey, so call the Wild Bird Fund hotline at 646-306-2862 for advice before you try to move an owl. The clinic is at 565 Columbus Avenue in Manhattan, open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and it cannot pick up wildlife.

Never offer food or water, following NYC Bird Alliance's injured-bird guidance. Do not try to pick up an owl yourself. If you find an uninjured young bird on the ground, consult the baby bird guidance before taking action.

Rarer ones worth knowing

NYS DEC's 2010 account of the 11 owl species seen in New York City also includes Northern Hawk Owl, Boreal Owl, and Burrowing Owl. DEC considers all three extremely rare in the city. They are exceptional records rather than regular visitors.

How to be sure

Note the owl's shape, feather patterns, posture, habitat, and the date. Acknowledge uncertainty whenever branches hide the head or chest.

Test your observations with the bird finder to compare possible species. Take photos only from your existing viewing position, without using flash or making noise to wake the bird. Back away without a picture if taking one would disturb the bird.