Barred Owl

ANIMAL:
Barred Owl                          Strix varia

Type of Animal:
Owl

Habitat:
Closed & open forests/woodland, swampland, suburban areas, streamsides, upland areas & prefer being near water

Location(s):
E. half of continental U.S from SE Nebraska, E Kansas, Oklahoma, & E Texas onwards as well as extreme NW California, W & NE Oregon, N Idaho, parts of Washington & far W Montana. Also found in Canada in Maritime provinces, S Quebec, S Ontario, much of S Manitoba, S part of C Saskatchewan, W & C Alberta, E British Columbia (including S Vancouver Island) & extreme border area of British Columbia, Yukon & NW Territories. Another population in central W Mexico.

Appearance:
Large stocky owl w/ round head, no ear tufts, medium rounded tail, mottled brown & white, underbelly has vertical brown bars on white background, wings/tail barred brown & white, dark eyes, yellow talons

Food/Diet:
Mice, rats, tree & ground squirrels, chipmunks, flying squirrels, voles, rabbits, hares, shrews, moles, bats, weasels, mink, otters, domestic/feral cats, chickens, ducks, grouse, quail, woodpeckers, songbirds, jays, crows, pheasants, other owl species up to size of long-eared owls, doves, pigeons, amphibians, fish, opossums, lizards, snakes, young alligators, crayfish, crabs, turtles, slugs, scorpions, earthworms, beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, armadillos, spiders, snails, goat kids, centipedes

Status in Wild:
Stable

Conservation:
Not applicable

Lifestyle:
Solitary or monogamous pairs

Additional Info:

Called:
Male-Cock
Female-Hen
Young-Owlet
Group-Pair

Weight:
Male-1.38 lbs
Female-1.76 lbs

Gestation:
1 month 

Life Span:
15 years in wild, up to 30 years in captivity

Height:
Male-1.57 ft
Female-1.67 ft

Body Length:
Male-1.57 ft
Female-1.67 ft

Tail Length:
Male-8.5 in
Female-10 in

Main predators of adults are alligators, bears, coyotes, wolves, great horned owls, & northern goshawks. Other hawks & large owls prey on young, along w/ foxes, lynx, bobcat, cats, raccoons, & weasels.

They have a 3.5 ft long wingspan, w/ females having slightly longer wingspan.

Mostly nocturnal, though sometimes hunts during the day.

They sometimes use nests used by other animals, such as those of hawks, crows, squirrels, & ravens.

Sometimes hybridize w/ close relative, the Spotted Owl, in the west.

Owlets stay w/ parents for 6 months.

Fun Fact(s):
It can make several sounds, such as hoots, monkey like whoops, & the characteristic “who cooks for you, who cooks for you all” hoot bark. Owlets will screech & shriek.

Breeding pairs very defensive during nesting season, sometimes attacking people.