Local Owls
Display by Harold Basey
Great Horned Owl
A large, yellow-eyed owl with "horns." This owl is more often heard than seen. Its voice is a series of hoots, often given between two different owls - male and female. Old timers called this owl a hoot owl. It is common in the Groveland area all year round.
Western Screech Owl
A small, yellow-eyed owl, about eight inches long. This fairly common owl is too often seen dead on the road where it has been hit by a vehicle. Screech owls do not make a screech as their name might imply. Their call is a soft whistle. They occur in the central Sierra Nevada all year round - they are resident birds.
Northern Saw-whet Owl
A small yellow-eyed owl that measures about eight inches long. They are quiet owls that do not give loud calls. This is an uncommon to rare owl that is seen in our area all year round.
Northern
Pygmy Owl
A small owl, only about seven inches long. This bird is much better known for its call than for being seen. It often gives its call in daylight hours on overcast days. The call is a clear whistle - woo, woo. At times it goes in a fast series of woos. In the central Sierra Nevada this is an uncommon owl that is seen all year round.
