Field Guide for all the Birds of North America
Owls
Hiboux et Chouettes
Strigidae
Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities
There are at least 19 species of owls in North America. Sixteen types of these owls have been seen in Canada. They are the Barred Owl, Barn Owl, Boreal Owl, Burrowing Owl, Flammulated Owl, Great Gray Owl, Great Horned Owl, Long-eared Owl, Northern Hawk-Owl, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Short-eared Owl, Snowy Owl, Spotted Owl, Western Screech-Owl and the Eastern Screech-Owl. The Elf Owl, Whiskered Screech-Owl and the Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl are southern species and are more likely to be seen in Mexico.
These different species of owls are unique in themselves, as some are capable of living in the arctic tundra where they hunt during the day, while others hunt only at night. Because the majority of owls hunt at night, most owls are only heard and seldom seen. Some hunt their prey while perched on trees or from vantage points and pounce upon their unsuspecting prey. Others will glide over fields in the same manner as hawks. While some are only able to live in certain habitats, others adapt to different landscapes and are quite able to survive.
References to Other Bird Sites:
Avibase - the world bird database This site provides the user with a complete list of bird species, broken down per country, or in the example of the US or Canada, per state and province. Here, bird species names are available in other languages, a great asset to be used as a translation of foreign bird names.
ABA - American Birding Association This site represents an organization that maintains official records of all birds species that have been proven to have been seen inside the perimeters of the North American Continent and the surrounding bodies of water. Regular revised versions are posted to keep the bird list current at all times. This is the list used by all serious birders over their lifetime. You may be aware of the movie called the "Big Year". It was with this list that all the competing birders used in an attempt to set a new record as to how many bird species that could be seen by an individual birder in one calendar year.
I hope you will take advantage of these suggested websites. I have used each of them, in one way or another, throughout the years in my quest to better identify and understand our fine feathered friends.
