Owl plate collecting provides an attractive challenge for serious collecting; an inherently aesthetic product, interesting subject matter in the variety of owl species available, and a sufficiently restricted population to prevent collection overload. A segment of such collecting is to identify what plates exist, even if one has not acquired them. I would like your help on this part. The list below contains the owl plates I know about. If you know of others, please email me at jiminal@geocities.com.
Owl plates are of different styles and media. They are predominantly porcelain, but even within the porcelain manufacturers there are great differences in clay and texture. Predominantly, the artists are wildlife enthusiasts and adhere to strict standards of accuracy of detail in portraying the different species in their natural habitat.
Many of these plates comprise a whole series, each depicting a different species, but with some common theme. Other owl plates are included within other nature series theme and may be the only owl in the collection.
Yet there are some attractive owl plates that are more stylistic in their representation of an owl. Sometimes it is not possible to distinguish what species is portrayed. There are also owl dishes and pottery, milkglass, and various colored glasses. The Native American artist, Gregory Perillo, includes owls in some of his work.
| Series or "Plate" | Description | Artist | Manufacturer |
| Noble Owls of America | a series of 8 owl plates | John Seery-Lester | Spode |
| Under Mother's Wing | a series of 8 owl plates | Jim Beaudoin | Knowles |
| Spirits of the Sky | a series of 8 owl plates | Cynthie Fisher | W. S. George |
| Baby Owls of N.A. | a series of 8 owl plates | Joe Thornbrugh | Knowles |
| Baby Owls | a series of 8 owl plates | Dick Twinney | Danbury Mint |
| The Majesty of Owls | a series of 8 owl plates | Trevor Boyer | Danbury Mint |
| Owls of North America | a series of 8 owl plates | Lee Cable | Danbury Mint |
| Stately Owls | a series of 8 owl plates | Jim Beaudoin | Knowles |
| Boehm Owl | a series of 8 owl plates | various Boehm Studio | M. Boehm |
| Owls of North America | first and only in series | unknown | Lenox |
| Wilderness Solitude | only owl in series of 8 | Terry Doughty | Lenox |
| "Spirit of the Artic" | only owl in series of 8 | Luke Raffin | Lenox |
| Woodland Babies | only owl in series of 8 | Heidi Lindy | Royal Cornwall |
| Woodland Haven | N/A | Hans Paul Luetcke | ENESCO |
| "Great Horned Owl" | only owl in series of 8 | Daniel Smith | Knowles |
| Woodland Babies | only owl in series of 8 | Ruane Manning | unknown |
| Wildlife "Barn Owl" | only owl in series of 8 | unknown | Goebel |
| "Great Horned Owl" | #4 in series of 7 plates | James Lockhart | Pickard |
| Wise Owls | a series of 8 owl plates | Michael Sawdy | Coalport |
| Birds of America | only owl in series | unknown | Meakin |
| Family Circle | a series of 4 owl families | D.L. "Rusty" Rust | unknown |
| # in Series | TITLE | OWL SPECIES |
| 1 | "Morning Mist" | Snowy Owl |
| 2 | "Prarie Sundown" | unkonwn |
| 3 | "Winter Vigil" | unknown |
| 4 | "Autumn Mist" | Barred Owl |
| 5 | "Dawn in the Willows" | unknown |
| 6 | "Snowy Watch" | Great Gray Owl |
| 7 | "Hiding Places" | Saw-whet Owl |
| 8 | "Waiting for Dusk" | Barn Owl |
| # in Series | TITLE | OWL SPECIES |
| 1 | "Artic Spring" | Snowy Owls |
| 2 | "Forest Edge" | Great Gray Owls |
| 3 | "Treetop Trio" | Long-eared Owls |
| 4 | "Woodland Watch" | Spotted Owls |
| 5 | "Vast View" | Saw-whet Owls |
| 6 | "Lofty Limb" | Great Horned Owls |
| 7 | "Perfect Perch" | Barred Owls |
| 8 | "Happy Home" | Short-eared Owls |
| # in Series | TITLE | OWL SPECIES |
| 1 | "Twilight Glow" | Snowy Owl |
| 2 | "First Light" | Great Horned Owl |
| 3 | "Evening Glimmer" | Great Gray Owl |
| 4 | "Golden Dusk" | Barn Owl |
| 5 | "Sunset Splendor" | Spotted Owl |
| 6 | "Amber Flight" | Long-eared Owl |
| 7 | "Winged Radiance" | Barred Owl |
| 8 | "Days End" | Unknown |
| # in Series | TITLE | OWL SPECIES |
| 1 | "Peek-A-Whoo" | Screech Owls |
| 2 | "Forty Winks" | Saw-whet Owls |
| 3 | "The Tree House" | Northern Pigmy Owls |
| 4 | "Three of a Kind" | Great Horned Owls |
| 5 | "Out on a Limb" | Great Gray Owl |
| 6 | "Beginning to Explore" | Boreal Owl |
| 7 | "Three's Company" | Long-eared Owls |
| 8 | "Whoo's There" | Barred Owls |
| # in Series | TITLE |
| 1 | "Long-eared Owls" |
| 2 | "Great Grey Owls" |
| 3 | "Barn Owls" |
| 4 | "Little Owls" |
| 5 | "Boreal Owls" |
| 6 | "Short-eared Owls" |
| 7 | "Tawny Owls" |
| 8 | "Snowy Owls" |
| # in Series | TITLE | OWL SPECIES |
| 1 | "On the Lookout" | Barred Owl |
| 2 | "Artic Royalty" | Snowy Owl |
| 3 | "Watchful Eyes" | Little Owl |
| 4 | "Mountain Vigil" | Eagle Owl |
| 5 | "Night Watchman" | Tengmalm's Owl |
| 6 | "Desert Lord" | Tawny Owl |
| 7 | "The Grey Ghost" | Great Grey Owl |
| 8 | "Perfect Disguise" | Scops Owl |
| # in Series | TITLE | OWL SPECIES |
| 1 | "The Wise Ones" | Snowy Owl |
| 2 | "Winter Watch" | Great Horned Owl |
| 3 | "Solitary Sentinal" | Barn Owl |
| 4 | "Shady Retreat" | |
| 5 | "Twilight Defender" | |
| 6 | "Woodland Warrior" | |
| 7 | "Snowy Dawn" | |
| 8 | "Proud Vigil" | |
| # in Series | TITLE |
| 1 | "The Snowy Owl" |
| 2 | "Great Horned Owl" |
| 3 | "Barn Owl" |
| 4 | "Eastern Screech Owl" |
| 5 | "Short-eared Owl" |
| 6 | "Barred Owl" |
| 7 | "Great Grey Owl" |
| 8 | "Saw-Whet Owl" |
| # in Series | TITLE |
| 1 | "The Boreal Owl" |
| 2 | "The Snowy Owl" |
| 3 | "The Barn Owl" |
| 4 | "The Saw Whet Owl" |
| 5 | "The Great Horned Owl" |
| 6 | "The Screech Owl" |
| 7 | "The Short Eared Owl" |
| 8 | "The Barred Owl" |
| # in Series | TITLE |
| 1 | "The Barn Owl" |
| 2 | "The Long Eared Owl" |
| 3 | "The Tawny Owl" |
| 4 | "The Snowy Owl" |
| 5 | "The Little Owl" |
| 6 | "The Short Eared Owl" |
| 7 | "The Scops Owl" |
| 8 | "The Eagle Owl" |
| TITLE | Description | Artist | Manufacturer |
| Owls of North America | first and only in series | Lenox | |
| Wilderness Solitude | only owl in series of 8 | Terry Doughty | Lenox |
| "Spirit of the Artic" | only owl in series of 8 | Luke Raffin | Lenox |
| Woodland Babies | only owl in series of 8 | Heidi Lindy | Royal Cornwall |
| Woodland Haven | Hans Paul Luetcke | ENESCO | |
| "Great Horned Owl" | only owl in series of 8 | Daniel Smith | Knowles |
| Woodland Babies | only owl in series of 8 | Ruane Manning | |
| Wildlife "Barn Owl" | only owl iin series of 8 | Goebel | |
| "Great Horned Owl" | only owl in Wildlife series | James Lockhart | Pickard |
| Birds of America | only owl in series | Meakin |
| # in Series | TITLE |
| 1 | Great Gray Owl Family |
| 2 | Great Horned Owl Family |
| 3 | Barred Owl Family |
| 4 | Spotted Owl Family |
Owls (strigiformes) are wonderfully adapted hunters with remarkable sight, hearing, and ability to fly quietly. Their feathers have been said to have "fur on them". These soft feathers aid to focus sounds to their ears and to promote silent flight. Robert B. Hole, Jr., lists 162 species of owls in Strigiformes (Owls) of the World . There are 19 different species of owls in North America, the smallest being the 5 inch Elf Owl of the southwest and the largest, the Great Horned Owl standing 25 inches. Additional Information on Owls is available at this well organized site with many links concerning different facets of owls such as descriptions of various owls, habitats, and owl pages. Another good site with well organized links to related topics, including photos and sounds is Birds of Prey. The Raptor Center also contains abundant information and links about owls.
The Snowy Owl is a popular species for wildlife artists and is the subject of many owl plates. John Seery-Lester, Cynthie Fisher, Dick Twinney, Jim Beaudoin, and Michael Sawdy are some of the artists that have created owl plates of this bird that has been referred to as a "beautiful and stately predator". The Snowy owl is the heaviest of all North American owls, weighing on the order of four pounds. It is from 20 to 27 inches long and has an average wingspan of five feet. This owl ranges throughout the artic circle into southern Canada provinces and North Dakota, with sojours south to California and Texas when its normal food supply of lemmings is slim. It makes its nest on the ground in a hollowed out depression. What is unique about the Snowy Owl is that it hunts at dusk and dawn and will continue into the day.
The Common Barn Owl is also a favorite of wildlife artists and owl collector plate studios. This
may be somewhat attributed to the widespread range of this owl, comprising all continents
except Antartica, and its economic value to farmers and ranchers for rodent control. This slim,
pale, white heart-shaped faced owl with no ear tufts, stands 14 to 20 inches tall and has a
wingspan of 3 1/2 to 4 feet. It hunts at night, its diet primarily rodents. It is a cavity rooster that
has adapted to manmade structures such as old barns. It mates for life and breads throughout
the year, sometimes producing large numbers ( a dozen or more) of offspring, each with a
voracious appetite. Each, maturing young chick will eat the equivalent of a dozen mice per night.
Barn Owls have been successfully introduced in Pacific islands specifically for rat control. There
are many sites devoted to the barn owl, details about its habits, construction of nesting boxes,
pictures, and sounds.
Owls of North
Dakota
Detailed data on the Barn Owl with references Illinois
southewest desert
Nesting Boxes
Barn Owl Reintroduction
Program
Extensive detail Barn
Owl
The Ghostly Barn
Owl
International
Barn Owl Restoration
Barn Owls
Sounds
The Barred Owl is also a favorite of wildlife artists. Artists with Barred Owls on plates include: Jim Beaudoin, Joe Thornbrugh, Trevor Boyer, and D. L. "Rusty" Rust. Perhaps part of the alure of this large North American owl is its tolerance of humans. While it lives in the deep woods and is a night hunter, it will allow humans to approach quite close and it will hunt at dusk, dawn, and cloudy days. It is also a very vociferous owl, with frequent calls. It is often referrred to as a "hoot owl". This owl stands between 17 and 24 inches tall and has an average wingspan just under four feet. Despite its large size, it is not a very heavy owl, generally weighing around two pounds. Its fluffy feathers give it an appearance of being much larger than it actually is. The Barred Owl does not have ear tufts. It is found throughout North America east of the Rockies. This owl bread twice a year and once laying commences, spaces the eggs out every few days with the result that as the chicks hatch, each is afforded a few days of special attention. A good discussion of the habits and chick rearing may be found at Northern Michigan Wildlife Restoration site. You are cordially invited to share in the adventures of a pair of Northern Barred Owls as they raise their family in a nest box in Eastern Massachusetts. Another site with photos and details is The Owls of North Dakota. Audio of the Barred Owl calls may be found at Cheekwood.
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
The Great Horned owl is also a favorite of wildlife artists. Such artsists as : Jim Beaudoin, Cynthie Fisher, Joe Thornbrugh, Hans Paul Luetcke, Daniel Smith, and James Lockhart have their work incorporated in owl plates. This large raptor, 18 to 25 inches long with a wingspan of 3 to 5 feet, is found throughout North and South America. First identified in Virginia, Bubo (horned owl) virginianus has 12 subspecies in North America. Its habitat includes dense forest, open desert, and urban settings. Its sound is a distinctive hoot and accounts for its common name of "hoot" owl. The Great Horned Owl is so named because of its size and distinct tufts. It has a varied diet of rodents, small mammals, birds, snakes, and even skunks. The skunk's protective mechanism is ineffective against the owl because owls can't smell. At least one Great Horned owl was recorded to have lived over 20 years. One in captivity exceeded 29 years. They have been clocked at over 40 m.p.h. Several interesting facts about the Great Horned Owl may be found at this site. The Owls of North Dakota also provides a brief description. Audio of this fierce hunter is available at this and other audio sites.
Great Grey Owl (Strix nebulosa)
Also known as the Lapp Owl, the Great Grey is a favorite of wildlife artists and a frequent subject for owl plates. Larger than the Barred owl, but smaller than the Great Horned and Snowy owls, this inhabitant of the dense forests of the north has thick insulating feathers that give it a larger appearance than it actually is. Standing 17 inches with an average wingspan of 55 inches, this hunter compensates for its poor flying ability with keen eyesight. It has been known to spot a mouse at over 100 yards. Rarely flying more than 10 feet off the ground, nor more than 20 feet at a time from branch to branch, it has adapted its eyesight to the northern climate. It can see well, even in daylight, which means survival at lattitudes where summer nights are short. This owl with a smooth rounded head prefers evergreen forests but will also nest in birch trees. It is found throughout central Alaska, Canada, and great Lakes area with occasional migration south to northern California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and New England. It has been rarely reported in the midwest and middle Atlantic states.
The Long-Eared Owl, sometimes referred to as the "lesser horned owl" is a slender owl about the size of a crow, 13 to 16 inches long. It is smaller than the Great Horned Owl. It has long ear tufts that are held flat to the head in flight. This owl with a wingspan of 3 to 3 1/2 feet, is widespread throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. It prefers the thick woods, is a night hunter, and more secretive than most owls. It migrates south in the winter. This owl has excellent eyesight and 3 dimensional hearing which makes it a good mouser. A Brief Description may be found at the North Dakota site. Good details are available at the Illinois site.
Short-Eared Owl (Asio flammeus)
The Short-Eared Owl is an open country creature. It ranges nearly worldwide, whereever there is grassland, marshes, tundras, or dunes. It is found throughout North America, migrating as far south as Texas, the Gulf coast, and Florida. This owl is about the size of a crow, 13 to 17 inches long. It has an average wingspan of 3 1/2 feet and can soar low over the ground hunting rodents, rabbits, bats, frogs, and insects. It hunts during the day and twilight hours. It is one of the few owls that builds its own nest, on the ground amid tall grass, brush, ditches, or wetlands. This owl will resort to the broken wing ruse to protect its nest. It also has a variety of sounds and calls for territorial protection, courtship, hunting, and other activities.
Saw-Whet Owl (Aegolias acadicus)
The Saw-Whet Owl is a small friendly owl that inhabits North America from southern Alaska and Canada to central Mexico and the Bermuda Island. It is the only tiny owl east of the Rocky Mountains without ear tufts. While only 8 inches tall and having a wingspan of 1 1/2 to 2 feet, its fluffy feathers give the impression that it is much larger. This owl lives in dense forests and wooded swamps, preferring evergreen. While not strickly migratory, it does move south in the winter as food supplies diminish. It nests in holes in trees and abandoned woodpecker holes. Its diet is insects, mice, rats, ocacasional small squirrels, chipmunks, and birds. While an inhabitant of dense woods, it is very tame, even seeking human contact. They have been known to frequent backyards and tent tops of campers. It has a very sophisticated call, considered to have the widest variety of any North American owl except the Barred Owl. It is capable of ventriloquistic effects, Its call hase been described as melodious, multi-toned combination of toots, whinnies, and squeeks. Some attribute the name to its call which is somewhat like a saw being filed. One story attributes this to John James Audubon who owned a sawmill in Kentucky and supposedly first heard this owl. Another theory for the name is the French "small owl" La Chouette, which the French Canadians pronounced soo-wet. The Northern Saw- Whet is described on the "Owls of North Dakota" website.
Eastern Screech Owl (Otus asio)
The Eastern Screech Owl is a miniature version of the Great Horned Owl. Smaller than a robin, it is 7 to 10 inches tall with a wingspan of 1 1/2 to 2 feet. It ranges from Ontario, Canada and New England in the north to northwest Mexico in the south. The Eastern Screech Owl is described on the "Owls of North Dakota" website. It is also described on the Texas Parks and Wildlife site, along with the Western Screech Owl that is only distinguishable by a different call. A nocturnal hunter that is found closely associated with man in urban and suburban settings: orchards, gardens, small woodlots, parks, swamps, and forests, it eats primarily insects and mice. Jamie Stewart has a site devoted to the Eastern Screech Owl. She has several Photos. Its normal cry is not a screech but a "too, too, ouhu". Audio is available.
Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus)
The Boreal Owl is a mid sized owl found thoughtout Canada, the upper Great Lakes region, and northern New England. During severe winters, it moves south to northern United States. The name means "Owl of the North". this owl has a flat topped head and is stocky, but yet a powerful and long distance flier. One case was reported of a Boreal Owl landing on a cruise ship in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It is anocturnal hunter, frequenting marshes, grasslands, and old fields near woodlands. This owl is sometimes called "Richardson's Owl". More information is available at Illinois Natural Resources.
Northern Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium gnoma)
This little owl is a day hunter found along the Pacific coast from southern Alaska to Honduras as far east as the Rocky Mountains. It is tame around humans. It also does not migrate. It makes its nest in woodpecker holes is trees.
Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis)
John Seery-Lester
John Seery-Lester has many wildlife acryclic paintings. A sample of his work may be viewed at this gallery page. Also, see Scarlet
Macaw.
This page last updated April 11, 1999
Cynthie Fisher
Joe Thornbrugh
Joe Thornbrugh lives in the Bitterroot Valley of western Montana. He has been sketching and studying Montana flora and fauna since his early teens. He began painting full time in 1975 has won many awards. He is a repeated winner of the Montana Waterfowl Stamp Contest. His art may be found on waterfowl stamps and in exhibitions throughout the United States including:
His works of art sold at auction
have generated thousands of dollars to finance waterfowl conservation in Montana.
Dick Twinney
Dick Twinney is one of Britains foremost wildlife painters. He is a conservationsist and countryman, living in Cornwall.
Trevor Boyer
Trevor Boyer has been sketching and painting birds since he was fourteen. He has illustrated
such books as:
Lee Cable
Lee Cable is an internationally acclaimed wildlife artist . Many galleries feature his work as well
as wildlife stamps.
Terry Doughty
Terry Doughty, Wisconsin wildlife
artist, has been capturing birds and animals with drawings and sketchings since a young child.
He has published many limited edition prints, has won several awards, and has his art on magazine covers. Some of his
awards include:
Luke Raffin
Luke Raffin
Heidi Lindy
Heidi Lindy
Hans Paul Luetcke
Hans Paul Luetcke
James Lockhart
James Lockhart, born in Arkansas in 1912, is an avid sportsman, conservationist, and famous painter. His methodology has always been to work directly from nature whenever possible. He has been drawing and painting animals for 80 years.
Documentation of a work in progress (Sandhill Cranes).
Brittany Lore Galleries
Daniel Smith
Daniel Smith is one of America's foremost and prolific wildlife artists. His work is known for accuracy to detail. He always studies his subjects in their natural habitat before painting. Some of his awards and commissions include:
Additional biographical information
View Common Loon
D. L. "Rusty" Rust
D. L. "Rusty" Rust is a prolific painter that captures camouflage wildlife scenes. Born in Erie, Pennsylvania in 1932, like so
many wildlife artists, he began drawing and painting at an early age. His early work included portraits of famous circus personalities such as Emmett Kelly Sr., Emmett Kelly Jr., and Ringling band leader, Merle Evans. His work hangs in the Ringling Museum of the Circus, Sarasota, Florida, the Norman Rockwell Museum. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. He has produced over 14,000 paintings and has 2,000 originals registered by owners with the National Museum and Gallery Registration Association. He has illustrated many books, calendars, posters, prints, and products.
His art for sale may be viewed at Brittany Lore Galleries and Donald Rust's Online Art