Barred Owls are large-headed birds that are generally brown and white but may appear grayish-brown and white in some regions.
Unusually, their eyes are brown or black instead of yellow, and their bills are yellow.
They have concentric circles on their faces and are named after the brown and white bar pattern that adorns their bodies.
- Strix Varia
- Length: 16.9 – 19.7 in (43 – 50 cm)
- Weight: 16.6 – 37.0 oz (470 – 1050 g)
- Wingspan: 39.0 – 43.3 in (99 – 110 cm)
Range
Barred Owls do not migrate and are mainly resident in the eastern half of America and southern Canada, but they have spread to western Canada and the Pacific Coast.
Habitat And Diet
You can find Barred Owls in large mature, deciduous, and coniferous forests with open areas and near water. Mature forests are guaranteed to have large trees with cavities for nesting, dense foliage for roosting, and plenty of prey to choose from.
Barred owls are expert opportunistic foragers, able to satisfy their hunger needs with whatever prey is available.
As such, they have a wide variety of animals that they hunt, like small mammals, small birds, lizards, snakes, insects, and fish.
They hunt for these prey by sitting and watching from an elevated perch and then swooping in for the kill.
Barred Owls Calls:
They have a distinctive ‘Who cooks for you’ call.
Nests
Nests of Barred owls are often in tree cavities. The female lays up to five eggs that she incubates for about a month.
The young test their abilities at four to five weeks, and they may start to walk or hop along branches.
Fun Facts:
Barred owls’ feathers can turn pink if they eat enough crayfish and crabs rather than their usual mammal diet