Missoula hosts a wide range of owl species, from the miniscule Northern Saw-whet to America’s largest, the three foot tall Great Gray. My favorite spot to go ‘owling ‘ is Maclay Flat, in which 4 species of these elusive raptors reside in the winter months. Amongst them is the Barred Owl. Their call, the popular and haunting Who cooks for you, who cooks for you all? echoes through many forests on the East and West Coasts. This year, after three winters of unsuccessful searches for the Barred Owl, we found it.
It all started a few weeks ago at Maclay Flat, where we were walking along the path to a Great-horned Owl roost. We were still in sight of the parking lot when Papa stopped to ask two birders if they had any luck. They said they were looking for the Northern Pygmy-Owl and were unsuccessful, but there was a Barred Owl by the parking lot an hour ago. So, we thanked them and turned around, back towards the parking lot. After about five minutes of searching, Papa said the magic words, “There it is.” I asked him where, my eyes scanning the trees at lightning speed. Then I saw it. The owl was in a Ponderosa Pine and looking straight at us. The horizontal streaks under its head that give the Barred Owl its name were clearly visible. I gasped and mentally yelled at my heart to start beating again. The owl’s ebony black eyes were fixed on us as we moved to a better spot. I focused my camera, really wishing I had brought my tripod and then the worst thing happened. My glasses started to fog. I wiped them and then hurriedly started taking pictures. After about a minute, we headed off in search of the Great-horned Owl. Little did we know we were in for a big surprise.
Have you ever almost stepped on an owl? Papa has. As we searched a grove of pondies for a seemingly nonexistent Great-horned Owl, Papa backed up to see better and almost stepped on a brown clump of feathers, which flew up and briefly rested on a fallen branch. For a split second, the owl looked away and I saw two eye-spots. Something clicked in my brain, I knew this was a Northern Pygmy-Owl, a species I saw two years ago (also at Maclay Flat!). After I figured this out, I looked up again just in time to shout “Pygmy-Owl!” and see it barreling into a nearby conifer. I gasped, for in the owls miniscule talons hung a vole almost identical in size! I quietly hollered for Lucy and then began to take pictures. When the owl seemed not at all concerned about us, I sidled up behind a tree to get closer. The owl swiveled its head before hopping around to face us. Then the tiny owl began to eat the vole! A few minutes earlier I had been wondering how a six inch owl could possibly eat a whole vole. Most owls will swallow prey head first, but when dealing with larger prey they will shred it. We left after a minute of watching it eat. It was incredibly awesome to watch the Northern Pygmy-Owl enjoy a late lunch. Experiences like this one do not happen every day, so being there was extremely special and as a bonus, those two owls led to the observation of more bird species than last year!
Below are the four species of owls I have seen at Maclay Flat. Each species account includes the common and scientific name, a cool fact about the species, one of my photographs of it, and a link to one of my checklists in which that species was recorded. Because the Great Gray Owl is a sensitive species, eBird does not let me share my checklists including that owl. Therefore I cannot include the needed link
Owls of Maclay Flat
Barred Owl
Strix varia
The abundance of Barred Owls on the West Coast has led to efforts to decrease their population. As they spread farther and farther, the species have been driving out the native and endangered Spotted Owl. Their haunting calls can now be heard in Oregon and Washington, where we take a road trip to every year.
Great-horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
The Great-horned Owl -also known as the tiger owl, hoot owl and 5-hooter- is easily the most widespread owl in North America. With its amber eyes, brown ‘ear tufts’ and powerful talons, this owl is a camouflaged and expert hunter. Although usually going after mice and other rodents, Great-horned Owls have also been known to take down larger prey, especially ducks.
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Glaucidium californicum
This little owl is a great example of not judging things by their size. The Pygmy-Owl has been known to carry food almost as big as them! In this image you can see a Meadow Vole in its grasp.
Great Gray Owl
Strix nebulosa
The largest of all owls in the U.S., the Great Gray can reach up to 3 feet in length! Although giant, this owl feeds mostly on voles and mice. A pair used to nest on Blue Mountain, but after the female was killed, the males that would flock to Maclay Flat stopped coming. Because of the unfortunate incident, I have not seen a Great Gray in over two years.
Missoula Bird Nerds 
I enjoyed this post Dottie! Owls are a favorite at our house as well. It’s exciting that you got a beautiful photograph of each owl species and then drew such lovely pictures. That Pygmy owl is so cute I just want to put it in my pocket. Hug that sister of yours. Love, Auntie Katie
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Hi Auntie Katie!!
I am so glad that you like the post, and enjoyed the images. In total, I have seen about 6 or 7 species of owls. Currently, I am hoping to see a Snowy Owl, which sometimes erupts into northern Montana. Do you ever see them in AK?
Dottie
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I enjoyed this post Dottie! Owls are a favorite at our house as well. It’s exciting that you got a beautiful photograph of each owl species and then drew such lovely pictures. That Pygmy owl is so cute I just want to put it in my pocket. Hug that sister of yours. Love, Auntie Katie
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I love learning about the owls you have seen at Maclay Flats! I can’t believe you got to watch one eat a vole for lunch! That is so cool!!
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Dear Nana,
I am so glad that you enjoyed the story. It was incredibly amazing to watch the owl eat the vole, which is something you do not see every day!
I miss you,
Dottie
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wow. What an experience. So happy for you. I enjoyed reading your blog and seeing your photos and always the artwork and writing is exceptional. Thanks for all the information on owls it is very interesting. Love you lots
Grandmom.
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Hi Grandmom!!
I am so excited to see you in February, and photographing the PA birds. You are very welcome for the info about owls. I love you so so much too,
Dottie
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wow. What an experience. So happy for you. I enjoyed reading your blog and seeing your photos and always the artwork and writing is exceptional. Thanks for all the information on owls it is very interesting. Love you lots
Grandmom.
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Love this piece. Love the annual Christmas card. Love you all. HaPPy New Year. Mike and Jill were the ones who spotted the red breasted nuthatch during the Bethel Christmas Bird Count. Sooo fun. I submitted the count. Auntie Beverly
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Hi Auntie Bev!
The New Years cards took a lot of effort, so I am so glad you like them. I attended the Missoula CBC and saw so many cool birds, including a Saw-whet Owl and a Hooded Merganser. I enjoyed it immensely.
Happy birding,
Dottie
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Oh I love owls and love this post, and the photos and drawings. You are so good at birding. I hope I see an owl in the “wild” in person some day. Thank you for doing this – and for the holiday card, so great to see all of you. Have a wonderful bird and adventure-filled 2025! Mary Ellen Harkins
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Hi Mary Ellen!
I am so glad you loved the post and enjoy owls so much. I worked pretty hard on the images and art, so hearing that you like them is amazing. One of the best ways to find birds near me is eBird, so if you are going out somewhere, I would recommend checking eBird to see if anyone saw anything interesting. One of the coolest owls in PA is the Eastern Screech-Owl, which I have never seen. I am so glad you liked the card.
Dottie
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