There are a number of birds that have fluffy heads. Some of the most common and recognizable fluffy-headed birds include the great horned owl, the long-eared owl, the screech owl, the barn owl, and the crested auklet. These birds all have distinctive feather tufts or plumage on their heads that give them a “fluffy” appearance. In this article, we will take a closer look at some of these fluffy-headed birds, their identifying features, and where they can be found.
Great Horned Owl
The great horned owl is one of the most widespread and common owls in North America. These large, powerful owls have prominent ear tufts or “horns” on the top of their heads that resemble the ears of a cat. The ear tufts are made up of 6-8 feathers that the owl can raise and lower at will to express its mood or help camouflage itself. When raised completely upright, the ear tufts are particularly noticeable and give the owl a look of having fluffy or horned head feathers.
In addition to the signature ear tufts, great horned owls have striking plumage that contributes to their fluffy-headed appearance. They have reddish-brown, black, and white streaking across their bodies and wings. The underparts are lighter with bars and brown bands. The face is distinctly light, almost yellowish, with a dark border around the eyes and beak. All of these colorations help the great horned blend into its environment, especially when roosting in trees during the day.
Great horned owls inhabit a wide range of habitats across North America including forests, swamps, deserts, and even city parks and backyards. They can be found from Alaska and Canada through the United States and even down into Central America. Their flexible habitat range and the camouflage provided by their plumage help make them one of the most frequently seen owls on the continent. So if you spot a large, ear-tufted owl in the wild, chances are it’s a great horned owl exhibiting its fluffy head feathers.
Long-eared Owl
Like the great horned owl, long-eared owls are medium to large owls with distinctive ear tufts that give them a fluffy headed appearance. As their name suggests, long-eared owls have particularly long, slender feather tufts that can measure over 2 inches in length. When erected, these elongate ear tufts are very noticeable and contribute to the owl’s mottled, fluffy-headed look.
In addition to the long ear feathers, long-eared owls have lightly streaked and mottled brown plumage over much of their bodies. The underside is marked with dense brown vertical streaks. The facial disc is also lighter than the rest of the body with a dark rim around the yellow eyes. This coloration provides camouflage but also creates a soft, downy appearance from certain angles.
Long-eared owls are found across much of North America in forested areas, particularly those with dense conifer stands or open woodlands. They roost in concealed locations during the day before emerging at night to hunt. Their long ear tufts not only give them a fluffy look but also help enhance their hearing to detect prey in the dark.
So with both prominent ear feathers and mottled plumage, the long-eared owl is certainly one of the more recognizable and fluffier-looking owl species found in North America.
Screech Owl
Screech owls are small, stocky owl species that have short but noticeable ear tufts. There are two distinct variations found in North America – the eastern screech owl and the western screech owl. Both subspecies exhibit ear tufts or “horns” made up of small, pointed feathers. These feathers can be raised and lowered to help convey the owl’s mood and provide camouflage. When fully erected, the ear tufts are roughly an inch long and contribute to the owl’s round, fluffy appearance.
In addition to the ear tufts, screech owls have soft, downy plumage in mottled patterns of grays, browns, and reddish colors. This feathering helps the small owls blend into their wooded environments and avoid detection from potential predators. When combined with their ear tufts, this plumage gives screech owls a distinctly puffy, fluffy look, especially around the head and facial disc.
Both subspecies of screech owls occupy wooded and suburban habitats across North America. They frequently utilize nest boxes, tree cavities, and other sheltered locations for roosting and nesting. Their camouflage plumage and ability to rotate their ear tufts help them remain undetected in these locations during the day before emerging at night.
Barn Owl
The barn owl is a distinctive, easily recognized owl thanks in large part to its white, heart-shaped facial disc. This light-colored heart-shaped face contributes to the barn owl’s soft, fluffy headed appearance. The feathers on the facial disc are delicate, contributing to a downy look. While barn owls lack the prominent ear tufts seen in some other owls, the feathers on top of the head are still long, wispy, and exaggerated, further enhancing the owl’s fluffy look.
Besides the heart-shaped face, barn owls also have light-colored underbellies and golden-brown upper plumage including wings and back. The combination of light and dark feathering gives barn owls a signature look but also provides camouflage against night skies and wooden structures where they frequently roost and nest. With their long-legged and fluffy appearance, barn owls are sometimes described as appearing like “flying teddy bears.”
Barn owls are found worldwide across temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions. They occupy a variety of habitats from grasslands to agricultural areas to woodlands in search of the small rodent prey they feed upon. The fluffy, teddy-bear like appearance of the barn owl makes them one of the most loved and recognized of all the world’s owls.
Crested Auklet
While the previous birds have all been types of owls, the crested auklet is a small seabird that inhabits northern regions of North America and across Asia. During breeding seasons, the crested auklet develops showy plumage and feather crests that give it an unmistakable fluffy headed appearance.
The auklet’s namesake crest feathers emerge from above the eyes and between the beak and the crest is a white facial patch. The eyes are surrounded by white “eyeliner” markings. The crest and facial feathers are delicate and finely filamented, creating a soft, fluffy look to the auklet’s head and face.
Besides the ornate head plumes, crested auklets have black bodies and wings with white underbellies. The auklet can angle its crest feathers depending on its mood or situation. When defending territory, the crest is fully erected, enhancing the bird’s fluffy headed profile. During flight, the crest may be flattened to be more aerodynamic. During courtship, the crest is erected and quivered as part of the auklet’s display.
Crested auklets nest in huge colonies numbering over 100,000 birds on remote, rocky islands and sea stacks across the northern Pacific. They forage for plankton, krill, and small crustaceans floating in cold northern waters. While not an owl, the crested auklet’s flamboyant crest certainly gives it a claim to being one of the fluffiest headed birds.
Identification Tips
When trying to identify fluffy-headed birds, look for key features including:
– Prominent ear tufts – These feather clusters are most noticeable on owls like great horned, long-eared, and screech owls. They help accentuate a fluffy, round-headed appearance.
– Heart-shaped facial disc – A light-colored heart shape on the face is unique to barn owls and accentuates their soft, fluffy look.
– Mottled, downy plumage – Feathers with mixes of grays, browns, black, and white help owls blend into woodland environments and create a fluffy appearance.
– Ornate crest feathers – Specialized plumes like those on the crested auklet are erected during courtship and defense, adding flair and fluffiness.
– Feather “horns” – Besides the ear tufts, feathers on the top or sides of the head that stand upright contribute to a fluffy profile.
– Feather filaments – Delicate, fine feather strands surround the eyes, face, and head of some fluffy-headed birds.
Where to Observe Fluffy-Headed Birds
Some of the best places to spot fluffy-headed birds include:
– Forests and woodlands – Search for horned, screech, and long-eared owls roosting in conifers or deciduous trees.
– Along coastlines – Crested auklets nest on offshore islands and rocks.
– Backyards – Screech and barn owls may visit suburban yards hunting rodents.
– Open habitats – Barn owls quarter over fields, meadows and marshes seeking prey.
– Nest boxes – Screech owls often occupy manmade nest boxes placed around neighborhoods or parks.
– Near wetlands – Look for great horned owls perched above marshes and swamps.
– Parks & protected areas – Owls can often be found in natural areas where good roosting and nesting habitat exist.
With a pair of binoculars and some patience, birders and nature enthusiasts can spot some of these fluffy-headed birds nearly anywhere in North America as they emerge to hunt or display in the evening hours.
| Species | Key Identifying Features | Habitat |
|---|---|---|
| Great Horned Owl | Large owl with prominent ear tufts, reddish-brown streaking | Forests, swamps, deserts, suburbs |
| Long-eared Owl | Long, slender ear tufts, mottled brown plumage | Conifer forests, open woodlands |
| Screech Owl | Small owl with short ear tufts, gray/brown plumage | Woodlands, suburbs, parks |
| Barn Owl | Heart-shaped white facial disc, golden brown upperparts | Open country, grasslands, marshes |
| Crested Auklet | Forward-curving crest, white “eyeliner” | Northern Pacific islands and coasts |
Conclusion
While many birds exhibit crests, tufts, or plumage ornamentation on their heads, owls seem to have cornered the market when it comes to fluffy-headed birds. Signature features like the great horned owl’s ear tufts, the barn owl’s heart-shaped face, and the screech owl’s mottled feathers give them an instantly recognizable fluffy look. Seabirds like the crested auklet can also sport fluffy head plumes during breeding seasons. Armed with the identification tips and habitat information provided, anyone exploring the outdoors has a chance at spotting one of these delightfully fluffy-headed birds. Just be sure to have binoculars ready and a camera on hand to document your fluffy find!
