Barred Owl

Species: Barred Owl
Scientific Name: Strix varia
Size: Body length of 16.9-19.7 inches, a wingspan of 3-4 feet, weighs 1 – 2.3 pounds

I AM SPECIAL BECAUSE
My hooting call sounds like “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?”! Fossils of Barred owls have been found in Florida, Tennessee, and Ontario that are at least 11,000 years old! The oldest recorded Barred owl was at least 24 years old!

RANGE
Barred owls typically live in the eastern United States and up into western Canada. They typically do not migrate, but have recently been found in the old growth forests in Oregon and California. They live in large trees often near water.

DIET
Barred owls eat many kinds of small animals like squirrels, mice, voles, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates. They sit very high up and scan for prey. They occasionally perch over water and drop down to catch fish or even wade into the water. Most hunting is done at dusk and throughout the night, but sometimes they also feed during the day.

NESTING
Barred owls usually build nest in a cavity 20-40 feet high or take nests from other animals. They do little to alter the nest or cavity other than some lichen or feathers. Clutches are typically 1-5 eggs with one brood per year and incubate for about 28-33 days.