Most people, event non-birders, are enthralled by owls. Why? Maybe because they are birds of the night and seldom seen. Or maybe it is because their forward facing eyes project a human-like quality. Or maybe it is their totally silent flight thanks to unique feathers.
Owls, like people, come in all sizes, large and small, but with a great size range. The smallest owl, the Elf Owl found in Arizona, is only about the size of a sparrow, 5-6 inches long and weighs about the same as a cardinal (1.5 oz).
The largest owl in the US in terms of length is the Great Gray Owl which measures well over two feet longer. However, in term of weight the largest owl is the Snowy Owl which weighs about 64 ounces.
7 species of owl are commonly found in Westchester: Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, N. Saw-Whet Owl, Long-eared Owl, Screech Owl, Short-eared Owl, and Snowy Owl.
How many owls have you seen?
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