Occasionally they will eat small songbirds. Spotted owls have also been seen patrolling picnic area dumpsters feeding on scraps of meat . When hunting live prey, and not dumpster diving, the spotted owl uses its sensitive hearing to triangulate and locate its prey. The adult spotted owl's only natural enemy is the great horned owl. Limited in offensive capabilities, the spotted owl has been know to standby and let its nest be destroyed.
Spotted owls prefer to nest in tree hollows or in inaccessible cliff crannies.
They build no nest and lay their eggs on whatever surface is present.