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.

2 thoughts on “Barred Owl

  1. Kim

    We had a barred owl nest in a dead tree on our wooded land last year. I don’t see it nesting there this year. Question: do they return to their previous nesting ground like some birds do? Or could they be nesting within in the same area and I just don’t see them?

    Reply
    1. Daniel Post author

      They usually do return to their previous nesting grounds though it’s possible it found another part of the area to nest in

      Reply

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