7 Types of Owls in Tennessee
Tennessee hosts seven owl species year-round, plus a few seasonal visitors. The most widespread are the Great Horned Owl and Eastern Screech-Owl. Barn Owls, Barred Owls, and Short-eared Owls also breed here. This guide covers key field marks, where to look, and when to see them.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 6, 2026.
- 8
- species recorded
- April, May, June
- peak months
Verified species, source iNaturalist
7 types of owls recorded in Tennessee
7 owl species have a verified observation record in Tennessee across the owl order (Strigiformes), each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
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7
Plus 1 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations. Photos by iNaturalist observers, reused under the licence each observer chose.
Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
2,619 verified observations on iNaturalist of owl have been recorded in Tennessee, most often in April, May, June.
When owl are recorded in Tennessee
Tennessee hosts seven owl species year-round, plus a few seasonal visitors. The most widespread are the Great Horned Owl and Eastern Screech-Owl. Barn Owls, Barred Owls, and Short-eared Owls also breed here. This guide covers key field marks, where to look, and when to see them.
1. What are the must-know identification features for Tennessee owls?
Focus on size, ear tufts, eye color, and call. Great Horned Owls are large (22 inches) with prominent ear tufts and yellow eyes. Barred Owls are similar in size but lack ear tufts and have dark brown eyes. Eastern Screech-Owls are small (8 inches) with ear tufts and come in gray and red morphs. Barn Owls have a heart-shaped white face and no ear tufts. The Short-eared Owl is medium, buffy, with short ear tufts that are often flattened. Look for wing patterns in flight: Barn Owls have golden-buff upperwings, Short-eared Owls have dark wing patches.
2. How do you tell a Barred Owl from a Great Horned Owl?
These two large owls are often confused. The Barred Owl has a round head without ear tufts, dark eyes, and a striped chest (horizontal bars on the upper chest, vertical streaks on the belly). The Great Horned Owl has prominent ear tufts, yellow eyes, and a mottled brown body with a white throat patch. Also, Barred Owls are more likely to be active during the day in Tennessee, especially when feeding young.
3. Where in Tennessee do people usually notice owls first?
Best odds are in wooded areas near water. Start with state parks like Radnor Lake (Davidson County), Meeman-Shelby Forest (Shelby County), or Frozen Head State Park (Morgan County). Great Horned and Barred Owls are common in suburban parks with large trees. Barn Owls favor rural barns, silos, and open fields – check around Crossville or the Mississippi River valley. Eastern Screech-Owls are frequent in neighborhoods with mature oaks. For Short-eared Owls, visit open grasslands and agricultural fields in winter, like the Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge.
See ourstate animal guidefor the next step.
4. When is the best season for owl sightings in Tennessee?
Late winter (February-March) is prime for courtship and nesting activity – owls are more vocal and visible before foliage returns. Great Horned Owls begin nesting as early as January. Spring and summer bring fledglings, but dense leaves make spotting harder. Fall migration brings a few northern visitors like the Long-eared Owl in small numbers. Winter is excellent for Short-eared Owls, which arrive from November and hunt over fields at dusk.
5. What are the most likely lookalikes to watch out for?
The common mistake is confusing Barred Owl with Great Horned Owl (see #2). Another is mixing up Eastern Screech-Owl with the rare Western Screech-Owl (Western is absent from Tennessee). Young Great Horned Owls can resemble a Barred Owl until their ear tufts grow. Barn Owls have no lookalike in Tennessee – their facial disc is unique. Short-eared Owls are similar in shape to Long-eared Owls, but Long-eared Owls have longer ear tufts and orange facial discs; Short-eared Owls have dark eye patches like a raccoon mask.
6. Which owls are rare or seasonal visitors in Tennessee?
Long-eared Owls are rare but may appear in winter, mostly in cedar thickets or pine stands. The Northern Saw-whet Owl is the smallest Tennessee owl and a very rare winter visitor – best chances in the eastern mountains. The Snowy Owl is a dramatic but infrequent irruptive visitor, usually showing up at airports or open fields during extreme irruption years. The Burrowing Owl has only a handful of records and is considered accidental.
7. What Easy Street Markets picks fit this page?
Handcrafted Stoneware Owl Mug | Guatemalan Coffee Cup, 16 oz
Hoo's awesome? You are! Hand molded ceramic mug in a warm cream tone with adorable folk art design and a bright eyed owl with colorful face and feathers. 16 oz.Check Price and Availability
Cute Animals Sticker Pack | High Quality Water Resistant Stickers | Koala, Racoon, Owl, Tamandua, Wolf and more
Simple line-art owl sticker. Matte vinyl finish. Great for journals and laptops.Check Price and Availability
Wild Animal Magnet Set 3D Gold Lion Tiger
Woodland owl magnet with rustic wood grain background. Handmade in USA.Check Price and Availability
7. Where can I learn more about Tennessee owl identification?
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) has free online checklists. Local Audubon chapters organize owl prowls. For deeper ID tips, check our owl hub atOwls of the USand the Tennessee wildlife page atTennessee Wildlife. You can also browse bird-themed artwork atBird Art Printsto decorate your space.
See ourtour planning ideasfor the next step.
Gear and field guides
Frequently asked questions
1. What are the must-know identification features for Tennessee owls?+
Focus on size, ear tufts, eye color, and call. Great Horned Owls are large (22 inches) with prominent ear tufts and yellow eyes. Barred Owls are similar in size but lack ear tufts and have dark brown eyes. Eastern Screech-Owls are small (8 inches) with ear tufts and come in gray and red morphs. Barn Owls have a heart-shaped white face and no ear tufts. The Short-eared Owl is medium, buffy, with short ear tufts that are often flattened. Look for wing patterns in flight: Barn Owls have golden-buff upperwings, Short-eared Owls have dark wing patches.
2. How do you tell a Barred Owl from a Great Horned Owl?+
These two large owls are often confused. The Barred Owl has a round head without ear tufts, dark eyes, and a striped chest (horizontal bars on the upper chest, vertical streaks on the belly). The Great Horned Owl has prominent ear tufts, yellow eyes, and a mottled brown body with a white throat patch. Also, Barred Owls are more likely to be active during the day in Tennessee, especially when feeding young.
3. Where in Tennessee do people usually notice owls first?+
Best odds are in wooded areas near water. Start with state parks like Radnor Lake (Davidson County), Meeman-Shelby Forest (Shelby County), or Frozen Head State Park (Morgan County). Great Horned and Barred Owls are common in suburban parks with large trees. Barn Owls favor rural barns, silos, and open fields – check around Crossville or the Mississippi River valley. Eastern Screech-Owls are frequent in neighborhoods with mature oaks. For Short-eared Owls, visit open grasslands and agricultural fields in winter, like the Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge. See ourstate animal guidefor the next step.
4. When is the best season for owl sightings in Tennessee?+
Late winter (February-March) is prime for courtship and nesting activity – owls are more vocal and visible before foliage returns. Great Horned Owls begin nesting as early as January. Spring and summer bring fledglings, but dense leaves make spotting harder. Fall migration brings a few northern visitors like the Long-eared Owl in small numbers. Winter is excellent for Short-eared Owls, which arrive from November and hunt over fields at dusk.
5. What are the most likely lookalikes to watch out for?+
The common mistake is confusing Barred Owl with Great Horned Owl (see #2). Another is mixing up Eastern Screech-Owl with the rare Western Screech-Owl (Western is absent from Tennessee). Young Great Horned Owls can resemble a Barred Owl until their ear tufts grow. Barn Owls have no lookalike in Tennessee – their facial disc is unique. Short-eared Owls are similar in shape to Long-eared Owls, but Long-eared Owls have longer ear tufts and orange facial discs; Short-eared Owls have dark eye patches like a raccoon mask.
6. Which owls are rare or seasonal visitors in Tennessee?+
Long-eared Owls are rare but may appear in winter, mostly in cedar thickets or pine stands. The Northern Saw-whet Owl is the smallest Tennessee owl and a very rare winter visitor – best chances in the eastern mountains. The Snowy Owl is a dramatic but infrequent irruptive visitor, usually showing up at airports or open fields during extreme irruption years. The Burrowing Owl has only a handful of records and is considered accidental.
7. What Easy Street Markets picks fit this page?+
### Handcrafted Stoneware Owl Mug | Guatemalan Coffee Cup, 16 oz Hoo's awesome? You are! Hand molded ceramic mug in a warm cream tone with adorable folk art design and a bright eyed owl with colorful face and feathers. 16 oz.Check Price and Availability ### Cute Animals Sticker Pack | High Quality Water Resistant Stickers | Koala, Racoon, Owl, Tamandua, Wolf and more Simple line-art owl sticker. Matte vinyl finish. Great for journals and laptops.Check Price and Availability ### Wild Animal Magnet Set 3D Gold Lion Tiger Woodland owl magnet with rustic wood grain background. Handmade in USA.Check Price and Availability
7. Where can I learn more about Tennessee owl identification?+
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) has free online checklists. Local Audubon chapters organize owl prowls. For deeper ID tips, check our owl hub atOwls of the USand the Tennessee wildlife page atTennessee Wildlife. You can also browse bird-themed artwork atBird Art Printsto decorate your space. See ourtour planning ideasfor the next step.
Keep exploring
More places to see owl
More wildlife in Tennessee