Barred Owl
(Strix varia)
Adult
Embedded Files
Present: Year Round
Present: Year Round
Visual Identification
Visual Identification
Barred Owls are mostly brown with a mostly white underside. They have mottled white stripes and bars on their back and wings as well as on the back of the tail. Their chest, sides, flanks, and the underside of the tail are barred with rich brown, the stripes becoming horizontal rather than vertical on the tail. They have a dark ring around their face, very puffy white feathers between the eyes, a yellow-orange bill and white and brown barring on their breast, face, head, nape, and mantle. They also have yellow feet with black talons that can resemble furry mittens. Juveniles have more black feathers on their body and seem more inexperienced with being an Owl. They also seem to be more active during the morning.
Voice
Voice
Barred Owls make a very hollow and resonating: Hu-Hu-Hu-Hu, Hu-Hu-Hu-Huuuuuuu. They often call in the night, sometimes making single or double Hu calls. They will also occasionally call during the day, but the call can be surprisingly hard to trace to the bird. This is the Owl that the call nemonic "Who cooks for you" was created off of.
Habitat
Habitat
Barred Owls like mature hardwood forests especially those with coniferous trees. They also may hang out near streams for crayfish.
Behavior
Behavior
Barred Owls are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night. In the day they find a high perch, usually in a very large tree and wait the day out there. If they are lucky they can sleep the whole day away there, but often they are discovered by other birds and mobbed. Barred Owls will not fight mobbing birds unless provoked and tries to ignore them. When one of them flies they are completely silent and can pass right over you without your knowledge.
Comparisons
Comparisons
Barn Owl
Barn Owls have been seen in the area but are quite rare and difficult to find. They have a completely white belly, face, and breast with a caramel colored back and wings. Their call sounds like a small child getting gruesomely killed.
Where and When to see them
Where and When to see them
Barred Owls have been spotted many times around and at the Glencaryln park playground and seem to enjoy that area. They have been occasionally seen near the bathroom or playground area. They have been heard and seen on the hill on the opposite side of the river from the playground. Barred Owls are much more commonly seen during the night, dawn, and dusk, much like Night Herons.
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