Bird · GBIF taxon 2497487
Spotted Owl
Strix occidentalisSpotted owls depend on mature, old-growth forests with dense multi-layered canopies, snags, and abundant fallen logs. They hunt silently from perches at night, using acute hearing to pinpoint small rodents navigating the forest floor. Pairs form lifelong bonds, maintaining long-term territories that they defend with a characteristic four-note barking hoot.
NocturnalOld-GrowthPredator
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Near ThreatenedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNear ThreatenedRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Northern Flying Squirrel
- Dusky-footed Woodrat
- Red Tree Vole
Predators
- Great Horned Owl
- Northern Goshawk
- Red-tailed Hawk
ThreatsLogging of old-growth timber, wildfires, and competition from Barred Owls
HabitatsOld-growth conifer and mixed evergreen forests
Life span15 to 20 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyStrigidae
- SpeciesStrix occidentalis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- May dive-bomb or strike with talons near active nests; maintain a respectful distance.
- What to notice
- Deep brown plumage covered in small white spots, dark brown eyes, and no ear tufts.
- Support conservation
- Keep a clear distance from known nest trees and avoid sharing precise location data publicly.
Responsible observation
- Listen at night: Listen for their four-note bark-like call echoing through old-growth timber.
- Use optics: Observe quietly with binoculars from trails rather than approaching nest trees.
- Avoid playbacks: Never use vocal recordings to lure birds, as this disrupts essential breeding activities.
Competitor U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters / Public domain · cc0
Predator "Great Horned Owl, the first I've seen in decent light this year. Didn't want to disturb it for too long so we continued along the trail" by island deborah- is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Prey 
Close Relative (c) Fyn Kynd, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Fyn Kynd · cc-by-sa
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