Date: 10/30/26 10:32 am From: imbercj--- via CTBirds <ctbirds...> Subject: [CT Birds] Re: Owls
Hi Chris -
This is interesting because my experience with Great Horned and Barred owls is completely the opposite. I occasionally get both these species in my neighborhood, but rarely, if ever, at the same time. And when I have either of those species, I rarely get Saw-whet or Screech owls.
I mentioned this to someone just a couple weeks back and they said that a Great Horned owl will attack and kill a Barred. Not sure if that is true; but it might explain my mutually exclusive observations.
Of course there is also the very distinct possibility that these species are present together but unobserved. They are owls after all and I often hear them by chance. I certainly might be missing one of them!
Chuck Imbergamo
CT Birds Moderator
Madison
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From: Christopher Loscalzo via CTBirds <ctbirds...>
Sent: Friday, October 30, 2026 11:33 AM
To: Birds CT <ctbirds...>
Subject: [CT Birds] Owls
This is in reply to Aaron’s question about owls. We also hear both Great Horned and Barred Owls on a regular basis here in Woodbridge with the Barred more common and vocal. That both reside in one area is not surprising as they favor different habitats for feeding/hunting. Great Horned Owls favor open fields and meadows while Barred Owls favor open woods and swamps. One useful way to think about these species is as the nocturnal equivalents to daytime raptors that are common here: the Red-tailed Hawk for the Great Horned Owl and the Red-shouldered Hawk for the Barred Owl. If you want to have some fun, you can think of additional pairings. I think of Northern Harrier and Short-eared Owl as sharing similar habitats and Rough-legged Hawk and Snowy Owl as doing so as well. These associations can come in handy when you’re out birding.
Thanks!
Chris Loscalzo
Woodbridge
Sent from my iPhone
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