Barred Owl (Strix varia)

It is the distinct bar pattern across the chest and streaked lengthwise on the belly that gives both the male and female barred owl its name. Along with their distinct gray facial discs, barred owls have big brown eyes (they are one of the few owls without yellow eyes).  Barred owls live in woodlands and wooded swamps. They often nest in tree cavities, using the abandoned nests of hawks or crows.

One baby barred owlet successfully fostered and released!

The 2-3 eggs are incubated by both parents for 26-28 days. The barred owl hunts at dawn and dusk and occasionally during cloudy days, dining mostly on rodents and other small mammals. Birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects and fish are also occasionally part of their regular diet. Their hunting is mainly done from a perch.  When nervous or threatened, the barred owl will fluff up their feathers, shrug their shoulders and audibly snap their beaks at the intruders.

Barred owls are also know as "hoot owls" and their call consists of 8 accented hoots, in 2 groups of 4; it sounds as if they are saying, "who cooks for you, who cooks for you all."

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