Barred Owl

## Description

The barred owl (Strix varia ), also known as the northern barred owl, striped owl or, more informally, hoot owl, is a North American large species of owl. A member of the true owl family, Strigidae, they belong to the genus Strix, which is also the origin of the family's name under Linnaean taxonomy. Barred owls are largely native to eastern North America, but have expanded their range to the west coast of North America where they are considered invasive. Mature forests are their preferred habitat, but they can also acclimate to various gradients of open woodlands. Their diet consists mainly of small mammals, but this species is an opportunistic predator and is known to prey upon other small vertebrates such as birds, reptiles, and amphibians, as well as a variety of invertebrates.

Barred owls are brown to gray overall, with dark striping on the underside. Barred owls have typical nesting habits for a true owl, tending to raise a relatively small brood often in a tree hollow or snag (but sometimes also in other nesting sites) in forested areas. As a result of the barred owl's westward expansion, the species has begun to encroach on the range of the related and threatened spotted owl (*Strix occidentalis* ). Evidence shows the assorted threats posed by the invading barred species are only increasing. In response, biologists have recommended culling operations to mitigate the negative effect of the barred on the spotted owl species.

## Appearance

Barred owls are large nocturnal birds probably best known for their unique vocalizations that carry well over 0.8 km (0.50 mi). They are brown to gray overall with dark striping on the underside contrasted immediately above that with similarly-dark and tight barring about their throat and nape. Their head is fairly large and rounded with no ear tufts. The bill is pale straw-yellow (occasionally showing a mild greenish tint) while the cere is “horn”-colored. Their soulful eyes are blackish-brown in color. Like most birds of prey, females in this species are larger than the males.

## Distribution

Barred owls are found throughout most of the eastern United States, as well as much of southern Canada and in Mexico. They live in old deciduous, mixed forests and, occasionally, coniferous forests. Barred owls can also be found in deep moist forests, semi-open wooded areas, oak savanna or cabbage-palm areas, in riparian areas or swampy ground, agricultural fields, wetlands, open terrain and large parks with old trees.

## Behavior

Barred owls are generally solitary and spend time with their family only during the breeding season and raising the young. They are largely nocturnal but may also be active during the day. Barred owls often spend the daytime hidden away in the dense foliage of a tree, often at minimum 5 m (16 ft) above the ground, but sometimes also roost in branch close to a broad trunk or in a natural tree hollow. Recently fledged owls sometimes roost in tall grass, usually after falling from the nest tree. Barren owls are skilled and silent fliers and frequently use routine forest flyways with open understory and low branch densities. They are highly territorial regardless of the time of year. The territories are claimed by singing from different perches. The boundaries are almost always well-maintained by owls and are generally stable from year to year and even generation to generation. Barred owls are opportunistic predators and usually hunt from a perch. During hunting, they glide briefly from perch to perch until the prey is detected. They may also wade into the water to capture fish and may do an unusual amount of aquatic foraging via wading into shallows. Barred owls are powerful vocalists, with an array of calls that are considered “spectacular, loud and emphatic”. Their usual call is a series of eight accented hoots ok-ok-ok-ok-ok-buhooh or the “typical two-phase hoot” with a downward pitch at the end. A further call is the “ascending type” or the “legato” call, a series of variable notes ending in oo-aw or hoo-aah. Another call type is the “mumble”, a grumbling, slurred, and subtle err-ERR-err, also an up-and-down “twitter” call at a high pitch. When agitated, Barred owls will make a buzzy, rasping hiss of about 3 seconds every 10-30 seconds and click their beak together forcefully. Females and juveniles beg with high scratching skreeechch notes.

## Diet

Barred owls are carnivorous birds. They feed mainly on small mammals but also hunt birds, amphibians, and occasionally reptiles and fish.

## Reproduction

Barred owls are monogamous and pair for life. During courtship, males especially may engage in nodding, bowing with half-spread wings and may wobble and twist their head from side to side. Breeding usually occurs in late winter, February to March. Barred owls usually nest in the hollow trunk of a large tree or the broken-off snag from a large tree branch. Typically nest sites are in rather deep and dark wooded areas, often with a well-developed understory but somewhat sparse lower branches and may be fairly close to water. The average nest heights are between 6.8 and 13.4 m (22 and 44 ft) above the ground. The female lays 2 to 3 eggs and incubates them alone for about 28 days, while the male gathers food for her. The owlets hatch altricial; they are helpless, blind, and covered with a white down. They first start moving about the nest at around 3 weeks after hatching and may start to perform threat displays if scared. Adult-like feathers begin to appear at 6 weeks of age. When owlets start exploring around the nest tree they often fall to the ground; however, they can usually climb back up the tree with their feet and bill, constantly wing-flapping. Fledgling occurs at about 36-39 days but parents continue to feed their young for up to 6 months. Barred owls usually reach reproductive maturity when they are 2 years old.

## Population

### Population threats

The main threats to Barred owls include human development and habitat destruction. Other threats include the use of pesticides and industrial pollutants, collisions with road traffic, trapping, and hybridization with the Spotted owl.

### Population number

According to the All About Birds resource the total breeding population size of the Barred owl is 3 million breeding birds. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are increasing.

## Fun Facts for Kids

The Barred owl is the only true owl of the eastern United States which has brown eyes; all others have yellow eyes.

Barred owls can be surprisingly tame and seemingly curious of people in the wild; further, they are considered “as mild and engaging” as a predator can be.

Barred owls have incredibly large eyes that capture as much light as possible, allowing for better night vision.

The various wing feathers of Barred owls are very soft and bear a comb-like shape, which in turn makes their flight functionally silent during their hunts. These birds may attack the prey merely 6 to 10 m (20 to 33 ft) away due to the effectiveness of the silencing wing feathers.

The most common mnemonic device for remembering the famous call of the Barred owl is "Who cooks for you, who cooks for you all." Due to their best-known call, the bird is sometimes colloquially referred to as Old Eight-Hooter.

Barred owls call mainly at night but may also be heard during the day as well, especially when provoked by human playback or imitation. They are noisy in most seasons but especially between late January (i.e. Florida) and early April (i.e. Canada). These two seasonal peaks in vocalizations occur right before breeding and after the young have left their home territories.

When Barred owls eat crayfish feathers on their stomachs become pink in color.