Owls of Alberta

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Great horned owls are common throughout Alberta all year long.

Snowy Owl

Nyctea scandiaca

The snowy owl is a winter resident in much of Alberta.

Northern Hawk Owl

Surnia ulula

Northern hawk owls are uncommon but widely distributed throughout Alberta year round.

Northern Pygmy-owl

Glaucidium gnoma

Northern pygmy-owls are uncommon breeding birds found in the southwest part of the boreal and adjacent foothills and can be found in central and southern Alberta in the winter.

Burrowing Owl

Athene cunicularia

Burrowing owls are breeding birds in southern Alberta's grasslands.

Barred Owl

Strix varia

Uncommon, barred owls are found in Alberta's sourthern boreal areas, foothills and montane forests.

Great Gray Owl

Strix nebulosa

Great gray owls are uncommon inhabitants of the northern and western parts of Alberta.

Long-eared Owl

Asio otus

Long-eared owls are locally common in central and southern Alberta.

Short-eared Owl

Asio flammeus

Short-eared owls are found throughout the grassland and parkland regions of the province.

Boreal Owl

Aegolius funereus

Uncommon, and widely distributed, boreal owls are found throughout central and northern Alberta.

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Aegolius acadicus

Northern saw-whet owls are rare in the grasslands of Alberta but common in the central part of the province.

Barn Owl

Tyto alba

The barn owl was included in Gordon Court, Species at Risk Biologist's, Owls of Alberta poster with the following information: "This species has never been recorded as a breeding bird in Alberta, but has been recorded inhabiting pole barns and other agricultural buildings as far north as Wetaskiwin and Bashaw."

Eastern Screech-owl

Megascops asio

The eastern screech-owl was included in Gordon Court, Species at Risk Biologist's, Owls of Alberta poster with the following information: "Often seen in cavities in old cottonwood trees, the species has been heard and seen in Police Point and Strathcona Island Parks within the city limits of Medicine Hat."

Western Screech-owl

Megascops kennicottii

The western screech-owl has been documented by Gerald Romanchuk, a well-known birder in the Edmonton Nature Club. There are also various recorded observations on eBird in Alberta of this species by citizen scientists, including a western screech-owl with owlets in Waterton Lakes National Park.