Georgia is home to around 9 species of owls. Only 4 of them are known to live in the state year-round – the Great Horned Owl, the Barred Owl, the Eastern Screech Owl, and the Barn Owl – with the rest either vagrants or only living in Georgia for a few months.
List of Owls in Georgia
Name
Average Size
Status
Where Do They Live in the State
Mating Season
Small Owls
Eastern Screech Owl
Length: 6-10 inches Wingspan: 18-24 inches
Native
Extremely common and can be seen in most rural and suburban areas
Late winter to early spring (February to April)
Burrowing Owl
Length: 9-11 inches Wingspan: 21-24 inches
Accidental
Rare visitors, though the owls that have moved here seemingly adapted well
Late winter to early spring (February to August)
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Length: 7 – 8 inches Wingspan: 17-22 inches
Accidental
Rarely seen, with a few sightings in the dense coniferous forests of northern Georgia like the Chattahoochee National Forest
Spring (March to April)
Large Owls
Barn Owl
Length: 12-16 inches Wingspan: 42-43 inches
Native
Fairly common, with breeding populations throughout the state
Year-round, with peaks in late winter and spring (March to June)
Great Horned Owl
Length: 18-25 inches Wingspan: 40-60 inches
Native
Very common, even in cities like Atlanta, where they often nest in high-rises
Late fall to early winter (November to January)
Barred Owl
Length: 16-24 inches Wingspan: 16-24 inches
Native
Common in southern Georgia, especially close to swamps
Late winter to spring (February to April)
Short-eared Owl
Length: 13-17 inches Wingspan: 33-43 inches
Native
Sightings mostly take place in southern Georgia, in marshes like Okefenokee Swamp
Varies, often in early spring (March to June, peaking in April)
Snowy Owl
Length: 20-27 inches Wingspan: 49-58 inches
Accidental
These owls visit Georgia during the colder months, with sightings in Sea Island, St. Simon’s Island, St. Catherine’s Island, and Tybee Island
Varies by region and based on prey availability (any time between May and September)
Long-eared Owl
Length: 13-16 inches Wingspan: 24-40 inches
Accidental
Rare vagrants that are occasionally seen in forests in the northern part of the state
Late winter to early spring (February to April)
Where Can You See Owls in Georgia
In northern Georgia, Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve is a great place to see the Long-eared Owl, while in central Georgia, Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge is home to the Great Horned Owl, the Barn Owl, the Barred Owl, and the Short-eared Owl. However, these owls are only sometimes visible or even present year-round, so it is important to remember their breeding seasons, as that is when they are most likely to be around.
