Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 16.9–19.7 in
43–50 cm - Wingspan
- 39–43.3 in
99–110 cm - Weight
- 16.6–37 oz
470–1050 g
Other Names
- Chouette rayée (French)
- Búhu listado (Spanish)
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.
Habitat
Forest
- Forested areas, from swamps and riparian areas to uplands.
- Prefers large blocks of forest.
Food
Mammals
Small mammals, rabbits, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Egg Description
- Pure white.
- Condition at Hatching
- Helpless, eyes closed, covered in white down.
Nest Description
Builds in cavities in deciduous trees or uses open nest made by hawk or crow. Also uses nest boxes.
Nest Placement
Tree
Behavior
Ground Forager
Barred Owls typically hunt at night or at dusk by sitting on a high perch and looking and listening for prey, which they catch with a short flight or drop to the ground. Barred Owls can be aggressive, flying at and fighting rivals at the edges of their territory. This tendency extends to encounters with the closely related Spotted Owl; where the two species overlap the more aggressive Barred Owl often displaces the Spotted Owl.
Conservation
Least Concern
Most populations increasing.
Credits
- 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.