Spotted Owl

Strix occidentalis

Explore this bird

Identification

45 cm (17") Western United States, southwestern British Columbia. Mature old-growth forests, wooded canyons.

Large, dark-eyed, brown, earless owl. Spotted overall.

Threatened by habitat destruction.

Song: series of dog-like barks and yelps.

Details in the field

1 photo

Credit: USFWS

Watch and learn

2 videos

California Spotted Owl research in the Sierra Nevada

Credit: SNAMPvideo

Threats to Spotted Owls

Credit: AssignmentEarth

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 1 rule

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

1 rule

Rule 1 8 criteria confidence 1

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:2:2 Source: 254 Barred Owl and Spotted Owl, row 2