The barred owl is a beautiful, majestic bird that can be found in forests all over North America. I have the privilege of photographing these two Barred Owls in Connecticut and Massachusetts. It is very hard to tell them apart! But what do we really know about these birds? In this blog, we'll dive into some fascinating facts about barred owls and answer any questions you may have about these amazing creatures.
Appearance & Habitat
The barred owl's scientific name is Strix varia, which translates to "variable owl." They get their common name from the vertical stripes of color on their chest, which resemble bars. Barred owls range in size from 18-25 inches with a wingspan of 39-43 inches, and they weigh between 1.5 and 3 pounds. They are typically found in mature forests with an abundance of trees and shrubs, as well as open meadows near water sources like wetlands or riparian areas.
Behavior & Diet
Barred owls are primarily nocturnal hunters that feed mainly on small mammals such as mice, voles, shrews, squirrels and rabbits. They also love to eat insects such as crickets and grasshoppers, amphibians like frogs and salamanders, reptiles such as snakes and lizards, fish such as minnows and sticklebacks, small birds like quail or grouse, eggs from other birds' nests, fruits like cherries or grapes, nuts like acorns or beechnuts, carrion (dead animals), worms or beetles.
Barred owls will often use their strong talons to snatch prey off the ground or out of trees and then fly away with it clutched tightly in their claws. When hunting for food at night they use their excellent eyesight combined with their hearing to locate prey hidden beneath vegetation or snow cover.
Barred owls are very vocal birds who will often make loud hoots at night during mating season (March-June). Males call out “hoo-hoo” while females respond with “hoo-oh” - hence the phrase “who cooks for you”!
Watercolor of Bardy, a Barred Owl at a lake in Eastern Connecticut, illustrated by Tracey Deojay-Mycroft
Conclusion
Barred owls are fascinating creatures whose beauty captivates us all! Their ability to hunt using both sight and sound adds another layer of intrigue to them. We hope this blog has answered your questions about barred owls and has inspired you to learn more about these amazing birds - whether by visiting a wildlife refuge near you or joining an online community devoted to studying them! Happy exploring!
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