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Barred owl -

Distributed throughout most of the eastern United States, as well as much of southern Canada, this owl is named for its barred and streaked feathers.

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Barred owl chicks -

Two youngsters discovering the world beyond their nest. Barred owls have been know to live up to 24 years in the wild. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Great horned owl -

Early naturalists described this magnificent bird as the "winged tiger," such is its size and complex, mottled brown markings. Native to the Americas, the great horned owl is found in a variety of habitats.

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Great horned owl chicks -

Three juvenile great horned owls, replete with soft, downy feathers.

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Long-eared owl -

The long-eared owl is found across much of Europe and Asia, and throughout North America. This one's playing peek-a-boo.

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Long-eared owl chicks -

These birds prefer to roost and nest within dense wooded areas, where the thick vegetation provides cover for their young.

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Spectacled owl -

These handsome owls do indeed appear as if wearing a pair of spectacles. The birds are prevalent in Mexico and Central and South America.

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Spectacled owl chick -

The juvenile spectacled owl is even more distinctive than the adult with its own horn-rimmed glasses.

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Barn owl -

The most widely distributed species of owl and one of the best known, the barn owl is for the most part nocturnal. However, in Britain it hunts by day.

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Barn owl chicks -

A pair of young barn owls go head-to-head with each other during a daytime foray.

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Northern saw-whet owl -

This diminutive bird is one of the smallest owl species found on the North American continent. They can be found hiding in dense thickets, often at eye level. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Northern saw-whet owl chicks -

These owls lay up to six eggs in natural tree cavities or woodpecker holes. Pictured are three wide-eyed juveniles. (Photo: Wikipedia/CC BY 2.0)

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Barking owl -

Named for its characteristic call that resembles a barking dog, this mainly nocturnal and endangered species of owl (seen here during a rare daytime flight) is endemic to mainland Australia and parts of New Guinea. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Barking owl chick -

The species depends on large, hollow-bearing trees for nesting, a habitat in decline as a result of clearing native vegetation. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Spotted owlet -

The spotted owlet is a small (and very cute) owl common across mainland India to Southeast Asia.

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Spotted owlet chicks -

Spotted owlets nest in tree cavities. If disturbed, they usually bob their head and stare at intruders. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Great gray owl -

A beautiful bird, the great grey owl is the world's biggest owl species by length. It's distributed across the Northern Hemisphere.

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Great gray owl chicks -

Like all owls, great gray owls don't build nests. Instead, they'll squat in nests previously used by a large bird, typically a raptor.

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Little owl -

A favorite with many ornithologists and birders, the little owl possesses a character all of its own. It's found throughout Europe, Asia, and North Africa.

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Little owl chicks -

This owl is a cavity nester: holes in trees, in cliffs, quarries, walls, old buildings, river banks, and rabbit burrows will do.

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Boreal owl -

A shy and reclusive bird, the boreal owl is rarely seen by humans, though it's widely distributed. It has a permanent look of surprise on its face.

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Boreal owl chick -

An unsociable nocturnal bird, boreal owls will seek out dense coniferous forest and mountain ranges throughout Eurasia and North America to raise their young. (Photo: Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Short-eared owl -

The short-eared owl occurs on all continents except Antarctica and Australia. Their "ears" are in fact tufts of feathers, which may or may not be visible.

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Short-eared owl chick -

A ball of fluffy feathers, this short-eared owl chick is exploring away from the nest, which is made on the ground in prairie, tundra, savanna, or meadow habitats.

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Mottled wood owl -

This large owl found in India has a very distinctive call, a tremulous and somewhat eerie sound that's made at dawn and dusk.

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Mottled wood owl chick -

This owl tends to shelter and nest within a dense grove of trees on wooded habitats.

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Blakiston's fish owl -

Named for the 19th-century English naturalist Thomas Blakiston, this impressive bird is the largest living species of owl. Endangered, it's found only in wooded areas in the east of Japan's second-largest island, Hokkaido, and in small areas in adjacent Russia and China.

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Blakiston's fish owl chick -

A young Blakiston's fish owl in the snow, after a successful hunting expedition.

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Eurasian eagle-owl -

Another large owl species, and one of the most striking in looks, the Eurasian eagle-owl is a loner by nature, preferring mountain regions, coniferous forests, steppes, and other relatively remote places.

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Eurasian eagle-owl chicks -

These birds typically breed on cliff ledges, in gullies, among rocks, or in other concealed locations. An average of two eggs are laid at intervals.

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Northern pygmy owl -

With adults just 15–17 cm (approx. 6.5 in) in overall length, the northern pygmy-owl is another pint-sized owl native to western North America.

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Northern pygmy owl chicks -

An old woodpecker hole works wonders as a nest site. Typically, four to six eggs are laid. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Tawny owl -

Commonly found across Eurasia, this medium-sized owl has an unfortunate reputation across much of Europe as a species with a mythical association with bad luck and death.

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Tawny owl chick -

After young tawny owls leave the nest they become "branchers," as in they perch on tree branches and survey their habitat.

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Snowy owl -

An iconic resident of the Arctic regions in Eurasia and North America, this elegant bird is active during the day, especially in the summertime.

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Snowy owl chick -

This fluffy chick is obviously pestering mom for a snack. Snowy owls breed May through June, with clutch sizes ranging from three to 11 eggs. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Spotted owl -

The near-threatened spotted owl is a resident of forests scattered over western North America. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC 2.0)

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Spotted owl chicks -

Spotted owls nest from early spring to late summer or fall. A normal clutch size is two eggs, but may reach four on rare occasions. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Pel's fishing owl -

Feeding nocturnally on fish and frogs snatched from the surface of lakes and rivers, the Pel's fishing owl is one of the largest owl species in the world.

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Pel's fishing owl chick -

Pel's fishing owls nest during the dry season, along river banks above lower, clearer water where fish are more easily caught. (Photo: Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Buffy fish owl -

Enjoying a wide distribution throughout Southeast Asia, the buffy fish owl is characterized by prominent ear tufts sprouting from the side of its head. 

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Buffy fish owl chick -

Youngsters lack the buff brown and tawny markings of adults, though you can see patterns emerging from under this owl's downy coat. 

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Spotted eagle-owl -

Known also as the African eagle-owl, this is one of the smallest of the eagle owls.

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Spotted eagle-owl chicks -

Young spotted eagle-owls can fly at around seven weeks of age.

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Powerful owl -

Native to south-eastern and eastern Australia, this is the largest owl on that continent, and a threatened species. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Powerful owl juvenile -

Powerful owls breed in the Australian winter. Youngsters appear off-white and display a distinctive grayish-brown mask, just like this inquisitive juvenile. (Photo: Wikipedia/CC BY 2.0)

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Eastern screech owl -

You'll need to look carefully to spy these guys. Their rusty or dark gray intricately patterned feathers blend perfectly into the wooded environment they're at home in, which is across Canada, the eastern US, and Mexico.

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Eastern screech owl nesting -

Can you see it? Screech owls can easily avoid detection during the day due to their effective camouflage among the bark of deciduous trees.

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Burrowing owl -

The open landscapes of North and South America is where you'll find these sociable and comical looking owls.

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Burrowing owl -

They nest in roots and burrows, such as those excavated by prairie dogs.

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Oriental bay owl -

Completely nocturnal, this rather odd-looking owl has a heart-shaped face with earlike extensions. It's found throughout Southeast Asia.

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Oriental bay owl -

Tree holes, rotten tree trunks or stumps, and cavities are favorite nest sites. A bed made of palm leaves is occasionally used.

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Ferruginous pygmy owl -

A dainty little bird that's commonly observed in Arizona and Texas and over into Mexico and beyond to South America, this owl is very small, typically 15 cm (5.9 in) in height.

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Ferruginous pygmy owl -

Ferruginous pygmy owls grow up quickly, emerging from the nest almost the same size as an adult.

See also: Flights of fancy: the most colorful and exotic birds on the planet.

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