The family Strigidae includes 21 species found in North America.

Owls are carnivorous. Most species feed on rodents and shrews, some take birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, crabs, earthworms and/or insects. Some small species take moths and other insects in flight. Indigestible portions of the prey (bones, hair, feathers, chitin) are regurgitated as pellets.

Owls do not build a true nest. Most deposit the eggs in a hole, on the ground or in the old nest of another bird. The Short-eared Owl assembles a layer of dry plants on the ground and some species excavate a hollow on the ground. The Burrowing Owl uses the holes of large rodents, e.g., prairie dogs and ground squirrels. Owls often begin to breed in the winter when the nights are longest. Eggs are chalky-white and almost round. Clutch sizes vary from 1-14, in many species depending on the food supply. Snowy Owls may lay up to 14 eggs during years of rodent abundance, but fail to breed when rodent populations crash. Eggs are laid at intervals and incubation begins with the first egg, thus the hatchlings differ in size and the number raised to fledging depends on the food supply. Usually only the female incubates and the male brings food to her. Both sexes feed the young.