Barred Owl
Strix varia
Identification
- Medium Sized, brown eyes, yellow beak, long tail
- grey-brown, white horizontal barring across chest and vertical barring on the belly with a whitish-brown facial disc with dark brown lining the face
- no difference in plummage between male and female and the juvenile birds look like adults
- Nocturnal birds who hides high up in dense foliage and close to the trunk
Length: 43-50 cm
Wingspan: 99-110 cm
Weight: 16.6-37 oz (470-1050g)
Habitat
Barred Owls prefer to live in deep moist forests, wooded swamps, and wooded areas near waterways.
Food
The Barred Owl can sometimes be seen hunting before dark, but are mainly nocturnal creatures. By using a perch, the Barred locates its prey and dives to catch it's meal. It's favourite meal consists of Meadow Voles, Shrews and Deer Mice. The Barred is attracted to campfires and lights, since many insects are easily caught around light sources.
* Other Mammals include: rats, squirrels, young rabbits, bats, moles, opossums, mink, and weasels.
* Occassionally birds are eaten and include woodpeckers, grouse, quail, jays, blackbirds, and pigeons.
* Barred Owls are also known to eat small fish, frogs, turtles, snakes, crayfish, crickets, and grasshopppers.
One of the only known natural predators of Barred Owls are Great Horned Owls.
* Other Mammals include: rats, squirrels, young rabbits, bats, moles, opossums, mink, and weasels.
* Occassionally birds are eaten and include woodpeckers, grouse, quail, jays, blackbirds, and pigeons.
* Barred Owls are also known to eat small fish, frogs, turtles, snakes, crayfish, crickets, and grasshopppers.
One of the only known natural predators of Barred Owls are Great Horned Owls.
Nesting
Courtship:
The courtship period begins in the month of February, and breeding occurs between March and August. The males will attract their mate by hooting and waiting for the female to reply. Once a vocal connection has been established, the male continues to chase after the female giving a variety of different calls. The males then make a visual display by swaying back and forth and raising their wings while shuffling along a branch, followed by courtship feeding and preening.
Nesting:
The Barred Owl nests in tree cavities but will also reuse the nests of other birds such as the Red-Shouldered Hawk, Coopers Hawk, and the Crow as well as Squirrel nests.
The Barred lays 2-4 which are incubated for 28-33 days by the female while the male finds food. The young begin to leave the nest at 4 weeks to sit on nearby branches since they are not able to fly until they reach the age of 35-40 days. The parents continue to care for their young for at least 4 months before the owls disperse, longer than most other owls. The young disperse short distances from their birth place.
Pairs mate for life and the chosen nest site is maintained for many years.
The courtship period begins in the month of February, and breeding occurs between March and August. The males will attract their mate by hooting and waiting for the female to reply. Once a vocal connection has been established, the male continues to chase after the female giving a variety of different calls. The males then make a visual display by swaying back and forth and raising their wings while shuffling along a branch, followed by courtship feeding and preening.
Nesting:
The Barred Owl nests in tree cavities but will also reuse the nests of other birds such as the Red-Shouldered Hawk, Coopers Hawk, and the Crow as well as Squirrel nests.
The Barred lays 2-4 which are incubated for 28-33 days by the female while the male finds food. The young begin to leave the nest at 4 weeks to sit on nearby branches since they are not able to fly until they reach the age of 35-40 days. The parents continue to care for their young for at least 4 months before the owls disperse, longer than most other owls. The young disperse short distances from their birth place.
Pairs mate for life and the chosen nest site is maintained for many years.
Calls
'Who-cooks-for-you? Who-cooks-for-you-all?' is the phrase most commonly associated with the call of the Barred Owl. It is probably one of the nosiest owls since the Barred calls all year round during the day and night. The Barred calls its series of 8 notes, and then waits for a response from near by owls. Mates will duet, with the male voice being noticeably deeper.
The Barred has many other calls as well which range from a short bark to a monkey-like squeal.
To hear the Barred Owl, click HERE.
The Barred has many other calls as well which range from a short bark to a monkey-like squeal.
To hear the Barred Owl, click HERE.
Range/Distribution
The Barred Owl is found right across heavily forested areas of North America, more specifically across most of the eastern half and westward in the northern regions of their range. The move westward by the Barred is causing some concern since they may begin to compete with the endangered Spotted Owl. The northern populations may migrate south for the winter, but for the most part they spend the year in the same territory.
View Bird Observation Map
View Distribution Map
View Bird Observation Map
View Distribution Map
Conservation
The Barred Owl lives an average of 10 years in the wild with the majority of deaths are related to human activity: hunting, road accidents, etc. The distribution range of the Barred Owl has also been greatly affected by the presence of human and the clear cutting of areas for agricultural use which has pushed them further west, across Canada.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern
Interesting Facts
- the white feathers on the belly of the Barred are sometimes pink due to eating lots of crayfish
Want to Know More?
Check Out:
Birds Studies Canada Fact Sheet
http://www.bsc-eoc.org/download/barredowlsheet.pdf
Canadian Wildlife Federation
http://www.cwf-fcf.org/en/resources/multimedia/wallpapers/barred-owl.html
Talk about Wildlife
http://talkaboutwildlife.ca/profile/index.php?s=166
Birds Studies Canada Fact Sheet
http://www.bsc-eoc.org/download/barredowlsheet.pdf
Canadian Wildlife Federation
http://www.cwf-fcf.org/en/resources/multimedia/wallpapers/barred-owl.html
Talk about Wildlife
http://talkaboutwildlife.ca/profile/index.php?s=166