Order: Owls

Northern White-faced Owl

Northern White-faced Owls stand at about ten inches tall, comparable in size to Eastern Screech-Owls. They are distinguished by their prominent ear tufts and a striking white facial disc outlined by a thick black border. The body of the Northern White-Faced Owl is predominantly light gray-brown, adorned with delicate streaks and vermiculation’s – or markings…

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Spectacled Owl

Adult Spectacled Owls are distinctive for their brown upperparts and head with whitish face markings resembling a pair of glasses. As juveniles, their facial markings are the complete opposite—pure white except for a chocolate brown facial disc! This distinctive species can be found throughout Central and South America in dense rainforest habitats. The call of…

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A Eurasian Eagle Owl

Eurasian Eagle-Owls have the largest wingspan of any owl species, reaching a whopping 6.5 feet! This species is widely distributed across Europe and Asia, and frequents a variety of habitats, from coniferous forests to grasslands and deserts. Eurasian Eagle-Owls are powerful flyers and soar on updrafts, similar to the flight style of many hawks. They…

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A light brown Eastern Screech-Owl calmly perched on the gloved hand of a National Aviary expert.

Eastern Screech-Owls are a very common owl species throughout North America, and they have gotten very used to living near humans. These pint-sized owls can be gray or a reddish-brown. They roost and nest in cavities in trees, but also make use of nest boxes. Males are smaller than females, but still have a deeper…

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Burrowing Owl on a rock

Burrowing Owls are a small, long-legged species of owl that spends the majority of its time on the ground. They are native to open grassland, prairie, and desert habitats and range from southern Canada (where they are considered an endangered species) to the drier habitats of South America. They have also been found nesting in…

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Headshot of a Barred Owl

A relatively common Nearctic owl, the Barred Owl inhabits mature mixed deciduous-coniferous forests, often near streams or wooded swamps. This owl nests primarily in cavities, with both parents helping to care for the young until the autumn. Barred Owls have a varied diet of small mammals and birds. Barred Owls are, unfortunately, susceptible to collisions…

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In The News

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National Aviary Welcomes ONLY Harpy Eagle on the Northeast! | National Aviary

The National Aviary is overjoyed to welcome a new juvenile female Harpy Eagle to our flock! Hailing from the Miami Zoo (tag), this one-year-old raptor is the ONLY known Harpy living in the Northeast...  

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What Garden Birds Need in June – 5 Ways to Support Them Through Breeding Season and Beyond (ft. insights from Bob Mulvihill) | Homes and Gardens

So, if you're looking to make your yard as bird-friendly as possible in June and beyond, this is the best way to start.

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How the World’s Most Abundant Bird Went Extinct (ft. insight from Bob Mulvihill) | A-Z Animals

In this article, we speak with Bob Mulvihill, Lead Ornithologist at the National Aviary, about the demise of passenger pigeons. Learn about Martha’s final days and the resulting rise of bird conservation efforts.

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Pennsylvania Capitol Zoo Day brings penguins, sloths and tortoises to Harrisburg | WGAL

Visitors got an up-close look at some amazing animal ambassadors during Zoo Day at the Pennsylvania State Capitol on Tuesday.

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A bird that’s extinct in the wild hatched at the National Aviary | CBS News

A bird that has been extinct in the wild for nearly 40 years was born at Pittsburgh's National Aviary.

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