The Barred Owl Strix varia
The call of the Barred Owl is heard in spring and fall, a time when most owls defend a territory. Their call is one of the easiest to identify because it sounds like a cross between a dog barking and a rooster crowing! Listen for the pattern "Who cooks for you. Who cooks for you all?" in their call. The "ALL" part of the call is very important for recognizing this owl. Click on their sound and listen for it. This call is not the "who cooks for you call", although the tone is the same.
This owl, like some other species, will call in the daytime as well as at night. Usually the calls are heard in a series of eight, then silence, when the owl listens for a reply from other owls.
The Barred Owl belongs to the Order Strigiformes which includes all birds that have eyes fixed in their socket, a large head and short neck. Most, but not all, are nocturnal. They are also members of the Family Strigidae.
Owls appear to be able to rotate their head completely around. This total rotation is just an illusion. Often, they sit with their head looking over their shoulder to prevent predators from sneaking up behind them. If they hear a noise which they can't see the source, they will turn their head quickly to the front, then to the other shoulder. This rotation is about 270 degrees of a circle, not 360 degrees. For comparison, a flexible human can turn their head less than 180 degrees.
Try it! Extend both your arms to shoulder height straight out from your sides. Look as far to the right as you can. Now move your head to look as far left as you can. You will find that your chin will not be quite in line with your arm on either side.
You have the advantage of being able to move your eyes to the side to allow you to see further behind you. Owls cannot do that since their eyes are fixed in the socket and so must have more flexible necks to allow them to see behind them.
Barred Owls can be recognized by their medium size (about 4 fists tall), dark eyes and vertical brown and white stripes or barring on their chest and belly (hence the name). Below the beak but above the chest, the stripes go sideways. Males and females are the same color, but as in most birds of prey, the females are slightly larger. Their round head has no feather tufts.
From the back, it is commonly confused with a close cousin, the Spotted Owl Strix occidentalis because both have white spots on brown feathers. From the front, it is easy to tell them apart. The Spotted Owls' chest is spotted not striped and the vertical barring starts lower down on the belly.
In the west, Barred Owls prefer second growth mixed conifer and deciduous
forest to live in. Interestingly, in eastern
Barred Owls nest in old Pileated woodpecker holes near water. These holes may also be used by the wood duck when the owl is not using it. Females incubate the 4 eggs for about 30 days and young are ready to fly by about 45 days. Males bring food to the female while she is on the nest. Scientists believe that these owls may be monogamous (keep the same mate for life). Once they leave the nest, both parents still protect and feed the young until they are able to take care of themselves. Then they move off and find a territory of their own the next spring.
Barred Owls are territorial in spring and fall. They protect their territory by hooting. This warns other owls that this area is taken. If an intruding owl stays in the area after several warnings, the owl will fly to the intruder and try to use size and more aggressive calling to scare them off. Physical contact is the last resort as sharp talons and beaks may be deadly to both fighters.
They are mostly quiet during the summer when the young are learning to fly and feed themselves since calling would attract attention of predators who eat the young. They are also quiet in the winter as they do not defend a territory at this time of year. These owls do not migrate south.
Like most owls, Barred Owls eat only living creatures such as mice, voles, rabbits, rats, flying squirrels, reptiles (snakes and lizards) and large insects. Because they live near water, they will also swoop down to the water's edge to catch frogs, salamanders and crayfish.
Their predators include Great Horned Owls, wild cats and humans.
by Donna Hill B.Sc. B.Ed. 1998