Strix varia
strix variaAlso known as Northern Barred Owl, Striped Owl, Hoot Owl, Eight-Hooter Owl
Barred owls are highly vocal woodland predators famous for their rhythmic hooting that sounds like 'Who cooks for you, who cooks for you all?' These stocky, round-headed raptors glide silently through mature forest canopies, using their exceptional hearing to pinpoint small prey beneath leaf litter or snow. While native to the East, their aggressive westward expansion has brought them into direct conflict with the threatened northern spotted owl.
- diet
- Opportunistic carnivore feeding on small mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates
- family
- Strigidae
- threats
- Habitat loss, rodenticide poisoning, and vehicle collisions
- life Span
- 10 to 18 years in the wild
LC
May dive-bomb humans to defend nests; keep a respectful distance during spring nesting season.
Territorial adults may silently dive-bomb hikers or pets near their nest sites, using their sharp talons to strike the head or shoulders.
Wear a hat or carry an umbrella if walking near a known nest site, and move away quickly if an owl begins calling or staring intently.- Listen for calls: Listen at dusk or dawn for their distinctive eight-syllable call, often transcribed as 'Who cooks for you, who cooks for you all?'
- Watch the eyes: Look for their dark brown, almost black eyes, which distinguish them from most other North American owls that have yellow eyes.
- Respect nesting sites: Avoid lingering near active nest cavities in spring, as adults will actively defend their young.