Barred Owl

Strix varia

Order STRIGIFORMES - Family STRIGIDAE

Menu

1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Similar Species
4. Sound
5. Range
6. Habitat
7. Food
8. Behavior
9. Reproduction
10. Conservation Status
11. Other Names

A large owl of extensive woodlands, the Barred Owl is familiar for its distinctive "who-cooks-for-you, who-cooks-for-you-all" hooting.

Cool Facts

• The belly feathers of some Barred Owls are pink. This coloring may be the result of eating a lot of crayfish.

• Barred Owl populations have expanded westward in the last century. The more aggressive Barred Owl may displace the endangered Spotted Owl. Hybrids of the two species are also known.

• Great Horned Owl is the most serious predatory threat to the Barred Owl. Although they often live in the same areas, the Barred Owl will avoid parts of its territory occupied by a Great Horned Owl.

Description

• Size: 43-50 cm (17-20 in)
• Wingspan: 99-110 cm (39-43 in)
• Weight: 470-1050 g (16.59-37.07 ounces)

• Large owl.
• Head round with no ear tufts.
• Eyes dark.
• Underparts whitish with dark streaks.

• Back gray-brown.
• Wings with dirty white barring.
• Ruff of feathers across upper breast barred.
• Bill dull yellow.

Sex Differences

Sexes alike in plumage, female larger.

Immature

Looks similar to adults.

Similar Species

• Spotted Owl has spots, not streaks, on chest below ruff, and spots, not bars, on head and back.

Sound

Resonant series of eight or nine hoots, "hoo-hoo-to-hoo, hoo-hoo-to-hoo-aw." Also raucous jumble of cackles, hoots, caws, and gurgles.

»listen to songs of this species

Range

Summer Range

Widespread resident east of Great Plains from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast and Florida. Also from southeastern Alaska southward to northern California and Idaho, and across central Canada. Disjunct populations in southern Mexico.

Habitat

• Forested areas, from swamps and riparian areas to uplands.
• Prefers large blocks of forest.

Food

Small mammals, rabbits, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates.

Behavior

Foraging

Wades in water to catch crayfish.

Reproduction

Nest Type

Builds in cavities in deciduous trees or uses open nest made by hawk or crow. Also uses nest boxes.

Egg Description

Pure white.

Clutch Size

Usually 1-5 eggs.

Condition at Hatching

Helpless, eyes closed, covered in white down.

Conservation Status

Most populations increasing.

Other Names

Chouette rayée (French)
Búhu listado (Spanish)

Sources used to construct this page:

Mazur, K. M., and P. C. James. 2000. Barred Owl (Strix varia). In The Birds of North America, No. 508 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.