# Northern Spotted Owl (*Strix occidentalis caurina*) The Northern Spotted Owl is a majestic bird with dark eyes and brown feathers covered in white spots. It hunts silently at night and nests in old-growth forests. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Northern Spotted Owl](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425898/objects/6271.jpg) ## Appearance The Northern Spotted Owl is a medium-sized owl with dark brown plumage covered in prominent white spots across its head, back, and belly. It has a round head, no ear tufts, and large, dark eyes, distinguishing it from similar streaky owls. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Strigiformes - **Family:** Strigidae - **Genus:** Strix ## Interesting facts - An owl can swivel its head almost all the way around without moving its body! - Their chicks are called 'owlets' and are born covered in fluffy white down. - They often use old hawk nests or broken-off tree tops for their nurseries. - This owl needs ancient forests with giant trees to make its home! ## Special abilities - **Whisper Wings:** Northern Spotted Owls have soft, fringed feathers that help them fly silently, allowing them to ambush prey undetected. - **Night Vision Goggles:** Northern Spotted Owls possess huge, fixed eyes packed with light-sensing cells that help them see tiny prey in the darkest forests. - **Super Hearing:** Northern Spotted Owls have offset ear openings that help them pinpoint the exact location of prey just by sound. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 40-48 cm - **Wingspan:** 100-114 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-0.7 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-4 - **Incubation:** 28-32 days ## Diet & Feeding This nocturnal hunter mostly eats small mammals, catching them with stealthy flight. - **Primary Foods:** Glaucomys sabrinus (Northern flying squirrel), Peromyscus maniculatus (Deer mouse), Neotoma cinerea (Bushy-tailed woodrat), Microtus species (Voles) - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Northern Flying Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-flying-squirrel) (*Glaucomys sabrinus*) — Primary prey, a key part of their forest diet. - **Hunts:** [Deer Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/deer-mouse) (*Peromyscus maniculatus*) — Frequent prey item in their forest foraging grounds. - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — A larger owl that sometimes preys on Northern Spotted Owls. - **Eaten by:** [Barred Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/barred-owl) (*Strix varia*) — An invasive competitor that can also prey on Spotted Owls. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Thermoregulating](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thermoregulating): Thermoregulating organisms maintain a stable internal body temperature despite fluctuations in the external environment. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [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. - [Temperate Rainforest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/temperate-rainforest): This habitat trait identifies species found in temperate rainforests, characterized by significant rainfall, mild temperatures, and dense evergreen or deciduous forests in coastal regions. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [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:** 1/5 · Very low If you ever see a Northern Spotted Owl in the wild, admire it from a distance without disturbing its home. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Northern Spotted 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 Northern Spotted Owl? 40-48 cm ### What is Northern Spotted Owl's wingspan? 100-114 cm ### How much does Northern Spotted Owl weigh? 0.5-0.7 kg ### How long does Northern Spotted Owl live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Northern Spotted Owl move? 40 km/h ### What does Northern Spotted Owl eat? This nocturnal hunter mostly eats small mammals, catching them with stealthy flight. ### Where is Northern Spotted Owl usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Angel Island Immigration Station](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/angel-island-immigration-station) — US · Historic Site - [Sequoia Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sequoia-park-zoo) — California, US · Zoo ## 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: [Northern Spotted Owl: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-spotted-owl)