Species · GBIF taxon 2497541
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.
NocturnalForest DwellerVocal
Licensed referenceU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters / Public domain · cc0
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Deer Mouse
- Meadow Vole
- Crayfish
Predators
- Great Horned Owl
- Northern Goshawk
- Bald Eagle
ThreatsHabitat loss, rodenticide poisoning, and vehicle collisions
HabitatsMature forests, wooded swamps, and riparian woodlands
Life span10 to 18 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- Speciesstrix varia
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- May dive-bomb humans to defend nests; keep a respectful distance during spring nesting season.
- Why it is dangerous
- Territorial adults may silently dive-bomb hikers or pets near their nest sites, using their sharp talons to strike the head or shoulders.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a large, round-headed owl lacking ear tufts, with horizontal brown bars on the chest and vertical streaks on the belly.
- What to do
- 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.
Responsible observation
- 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.
Competitor (c) Nigel Voaden, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Predator and Competitor "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
Close Relative (c) Fyn Kynd, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Fyn Kynd · cc-by-sa
Close Relative
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