Owls in Kansas

Kansas is home to 11 species of owls, 9 of which are native to the state. These owls can be found in habitats that suit them, and Kansas has a variety of these habitats. For instance, the western two-thirds of Kansas are part of the Great Plains, which provide great living conditions to the Burrowing Owl and the Barn Owl. On the other hand, the eastern part of the state is at a higher elevation, so owls like the Eastern Screech Owl and the Barred Owl are more likely to be seen here.

List of Owls in Kansas

Name	Average Size	Status	Where Do They Live in the State?	Mating Season
Small Owls
Burrowing Owl	Length: 9-11 inches Wingspan: 21-24 inches	Native	Seen in the western part of the state in the summer as well as in places like Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area	Late winter to early spring (February to August)
Northern Saw-whet Owl	Length: 7 – 8 inches Wingspan: 17-22 inches	Native	Rarely seen, with most sightings taking place during the colder months in places like Konza Prairie Biological Station and Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve	Spring (March to April)
Flammulated Owl	Length: 6.5-7.5 inches Wingspan: 12-15 inches	Accidental	Occasional vagrant	Late spring to early summer (mid-April to July)
Western Screech Owl	Length: 8.7 inches Wingspan: 22 inches	Accidental	Extremely rare, with a few sightings in Morton County along the Cimarron River	Late winter to early summer (February to May)
Eastern Screech Owl	Length: 6-10 inches Wingspan: 18-24 inches	Native	Commonly seen in the woods of eastern Kansas. Occasionally seen in the western part of the state, though it is restricted to the plains	From late winter to early spring (Between February and April)
Large Owls
Barn Owl	Length: 12-16 inches Wingspan: 42-43 inches	Native	Extremely common, especially in the western part of 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	Common throughout Kansas, especially around Clinton Lake and Pomona Lake	Late fall to early winter (November to January)
Barred Owl	Length: 16-24 inches Wingspan: 16-24 inches	Native	Fairly common, especially in the eastern part of the state along the Kansas River corridor	Late winter to spring (February to April)
Short-eared Owl	Length: 13-17 inches Wingspan: 33-43 inches	Native	Uncommon, flocking in small numbers during winter in places like Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area, Jamestown Wildlife Area, and Konza Prairie Biological Station	Varies, often in early spring (March to June, peaking in April)
Snowy Owl	Length: 20-27 inches Wingspan: 49-58 inches	Native	Migrates to Kansas when a lack of food forces further south out of its range	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	Native	Uncommon, but has been seen in Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, and along the Kansas River Corridor	From late winter to early spring (around February to April)

Where Can You See Owls in Kansas

Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area and Cimarron National Grassland have several ‘prairie dog towns’ home to the Burrowing Owl, while in the northwest, Scott State Park is often visited by the Eastern Screech Owl. Also, Wilson State Park is a great place to see the Barred Owl.