Barred Owl

Strix varia

Also known as:Hoot Owl, Eight Hooter, Rain Owl, Wood Owl, Striped Owl

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Identification

Field notes

43-61 cm (17-24") Common in low wet coniferous and mixed forests; less common in northern woods.

Large gray-brown owl with no ear tufts; spotting on back; barred neck and breast; streaked belly; dark eyes. The only other large owls with dark eyes are the Barn Owl and the very rare and more restricted western Spotted Owl.

Song: dog-like barking; distinctive series of hoots - "who-cooks-for-you, who-cooks-for-you-all".

Details in the field

Photo gallery

1 photo

Credit: Jocelyn

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

Barred Owl nest and youngsters fledging

Credit: Wild Bird and Nature Videos by McElroy Productions

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Barred Owl

2 rules

Rule 1 8 criteria confidence 4

Did the owl have EAR TUFTS ?: No · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Spotted or mottled · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Hooked · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Owl
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:254-barred-owl-and-spotted-owl:1:1 Source: 254 Barred Owl and Spotted Owl, row 1

Rule 2 8 criteria confidence 4

Did the owl have EAR TUFTS ?: No · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Spotted or mottled · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Hooked · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Owl
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:254-barred-owl-and-spotted-owl:2:1 Source: 254 Barred Owl and Spotted Owl, row 2