What Owls Eat in Arizona

1. What do owls typically eat in Arizona?

Arizona’s owls are opportunistic hunters. Great horned owls and barn owls mostly hunt small mammals like kangaroo rats, pocket mice, and cottontails. Burrowing owls rely more on insects and small reptiles. The elf owl, the smallest in the state, feeds almost exclusively on scorpions and large insects. Screech owls take a mix of insects, small birds, and mice.

See ourOwls guidefor the next step.

In Arizona, owls sightings usually improve when you slow down and match your first stop to the most useful ID markers and likely lookalikes. Use thestate wildlife huband theroute guideto narrow your first area, then check access,...

2. Where do Arizona owls hunt for food?

Habitat determines menu. Grasslands and agricultural fields draw burrowing owls that perch on fence posts or low shrubs looking for grasshoppers and beetles. Riparian corridors along the Salt and Verde Rivers support great horned owls hunting rodents near water. Saguaro forests host elf owls that hunt scorpions under prickly pear pads. Check our /wildlife/arizona page for detailed habitat maps.

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3. When is the best time to see owls eating?

Owls are crepuscular and nocturnal, so the best hunting activity happens at dusk and dawn. In Arizona’s hot summers, owls start feeding earlier in the evening to beat the heat. Winter offers longer hunting periods after sunset. Pay attention to pellet accumulations under perches; fresh pellets mean a recent meal. Look under mesquite trees and along utility poles.

See ourOwls dietfor the next step.

4. How does an owl’s diet change with the seasons?

Spring breeding season demands high protein for chicks, so owls target more mammals and birds. In summer, insect populations boom, and even rodent-favoring owls eat more beetles and moths. During dry periods, rodents concentrate near water sources, making those spots prime hunting. Winter brings more avian prey for larger owls as migratory birds pass through.

See ourstate animal guidefor the next step.

5. What clues does an owl’s diet give for identification?

Pellets and prey remains are your best field sign. Great horned owl pellets are large, often containing rabbit fur and skulls. Barn owl pellets are smaller, black, and oily with mostly rodent bones. Burrowing owl pellets are full of insect exoskeletons. If you see crushed scorpion parts near a saguaro, that’s likely an elf owl. For more identification help, visit our /animals/owl guide.

6. What do Arizona owls eat that might surprise you?

Great horned owls will take skunks and snakes, including rattlesnakes. Some burrowing owls have been observed eating dung beetles, which they gather from cattle pastures. Elf owls are known to eat scorpions with their stingers still attached, showing no ill effect. These specialized diets help owls thrive across Arizona’s diverse landscapes.