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Today on Animal Fact Files we’re discussing barred owls. These owls have many different common names depending on who you ask which include hoot owl, wood owl and striped owl. Striped owl is a good common name to note because it helps to differentiate these birds from the similar looking spotted owl. Originally, barred owls lived on the east coast of North America, however, in the past century, they’ve slowly been encroaching on the west coast and have even made their way around to California. This is unfortunate for the more threatened spotted owl who is less aggressive than barred owls and will give up its territory over a dispute. This means barred owls are taking over what once was spotted owl territory. These two can be tough to tell apart in most cases, however, looking for the vertical belly stripes on a barred owl can help to differentiate them from each other. Hence the good common name, striped owl.

Typically barred owls prefer old growth forests with lots of large cavities in which they can nest. While solitary throughout most of the year, these owls come together to breed in pairs. A pair will share a territory while they raise their chicks. Nest sites can include old hawk nests and tree cavities carved out by other animals. The breeding season spans from March to August. The female lays 1 to 5 eggs which she’ll incubate for about a month with the male bringing her meals as she tends the eggs. The chicks will begin leaving the nest after another month and take to the skies within two weeks of their first adventures outside, though they’ll stick around for many more months before leaving to find their own homes. On average, barred owls reach ten years of age in the wild.

Threats to barred owls include great horned owls who are more aggressive and will take over a barred owl’s territory if given the opportunity. Great horned owls often overlap in habitat preference with barred owls which can create these opportunities for interaction, much to the dismay of a barred owl. Though, it should be noted, barred owls give great horned owls a run for their money in terms of size. Barred owls reach 4 feet (122cm) in wingspan and 2.3 pounds (1050 grams) in weight with females averaging about 30% larger than males.

Barred owl habitats include old deciduous forests and swamps though and they do not migrate. These birds may live near water as they like to eat fish! Other prey items include voles, mice, rabbits, frogs, snakes, smaller birds, and more. Like other owls, barred owls fly silently and can drop unnoticed from a perch onto unsuspecting prey. Because these birds are more active during the night and twilight hours, they’re often difficult to spot in the wild. An easy way to tell if one is nearby, however, is to listen to their iconic call. The mnemonic for remembering this call is the phrase “who cooks for you, who cooks for you all?”

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