# Barred Owl (*Strix varia*) The Barred Owl is a friendly-looking bird with dark eyes and striped feathers! It loves to live in wooded areas where it can find plenty of food. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 192 - **Habitat:** Forests and swamps - **Also known as:** Hoot Owl, Strix Owl ![Barred Owl](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425992/objects/4604.jpg) ## Appearance The Barred Owl is a large, stocky owl with a round head and striking dark brown eyes. Its chest is horizontally barred with brown and white, while its belly shows vertical streaking, a unique pattern that helps identify it from similar owls. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Strigiformes - **Family:** Strigidae - **Genus:** Strix ## Interesting facts - Barred Owls do not have 'ear tufts' like some other owls, giving them a rounder head. - Sometimes Barred Owls hunt during the day, especially on cloudy days or when very hungry. - Their famous call sounds like "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?". - They often steal old nests from hawks or crows instead of building their own homes. ## Special abilities - **Silent Hunter:** Barred Owl has special soft wing feathers that help them fly silently, making surprise attacks on prey. - **Head Swivel Master:** Barred Owl can turn its head almost 270 degrees to spot prey from all angles without moving its body. - **Super Hearing:** Barred Owl has asymmetrical ear openings that help them pinpoint exact sounds of prey, even in darkness. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 40-63 cm - **Wingspan:** 99-125 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-1 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-23 years - **Speed:** 64 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-4 - **Incubation:** 28-33 days ## Diet & Feeding Barred Owls are skilled hunters that mostly eat small mammals, birds, and even fish! - **Primary Foods:** Voles, Mice, Shrews, Squirrels, Small Birds, Frogs - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — Larger owls sometimes prey on Barred Owls. - **Hunts:** Meadow Vole (*Microtus pennsylvanicus*) — A primary food source for Barred Owls in many habitats. - **Depends on:** [American Crow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-crow) (*Corvus brachyrhynchos*) — Often uses abandoned nests of crows for its own breeding. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Barred Owl? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Barred Owl? 40-63 cm ### What is Barred Owl's wingspan? 99-125 cm ### How much does Barred Owl weigh? 0.5-1 kg ### How long does Barred Owl live? 10-23 years ### How fast can Barred Owl move? 64 km/h ### What does Barred Owl eat? Barred Owls are skilled hunters that mostly eat small mammals, birds, and even fish! ### Where is Barred Owl usually found? Forests and swamps ## Where to spot - [Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alfred-b-maclay-gardens-state-park) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Belltown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/belltown-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Berry Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berry-botanic-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Bloedel Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bloedel-reserve) — Washington, US · Botanical Garden - [Brookfield Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brookfield-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Brunswick Old Town Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brunswick-old-town-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District [View all places to see Barred Owl](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/barred-owl) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Barred Owl: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/barred-owl)