W I LDLLI F E PROF I ES

Barred Owl Strix varia

This large, fairly common owl has an admirable vocabu- lary of hoots and wails, which it willingly uses throughout the large tracts of woods still found in North Carolina. Often heard during daylight hours on over- cast days, its vocalizations have given rise to one of its local names, “eight-hooter.” Ornitholo- gists recognize two subspecies of ance. It is a rather mottled gray- this bird in North Carolina by ish brown with light and dark ing subdivisions and shopping the pitch of their hooting, with horizontal barring on the breast. centers now stand where forest barred owls from the Piedmont Each belly and flank feather is habitat used to be. and Coastal Plain having lower- buffy white with a central choco- The barred owl enjoys an appe- pitched voices than those from late-brown stripe, creating a pat- tite for a wide range of food items. the Mountains. Its closest kin is tern of irregular vertical stripes It is capable of capturing and the now-infamous spotted owl down the front of the bird. The killing mammal species as large (Strix occidentalis) of western large eyes are a liquid dark as an opossum. Smaller mammals North America. brownish black, set in a puffy, such as rabbits, squirrels and any large, round head. There are no smaller rodents are fair game. History and Status plumage variations between the Salamanders, frogs, fish, cray- The horizontal barring on the sexes. And, characteristic of the fish, beetles and other insects breast is the source of its name. raptor group, the female is notice- are often consumed. This bird is This owl, nearly as large as the ably larger than her mate. known to prey upon a variety of great horned owl, lacks the ear bird species and has even been tufts, glaring yellow eyes and Habitat and Habits known to kill and eat screech formidable appearance of the Before the extensive lumber- owls! Most small prey is swal- latter species. The barred owl ing of the Piedmont and Coastal lowed whole, headfirst; larger prefers wetter, riverine areas, Plain of North Carolina, the animals are eaten where they while the horned owl is more at barred owl frequented the huge, are captured rather than being home along the ridges and drier uninterrupted forests, where carried in the owl’s talons to areas of the state. The barred owl streams or floodplains were a another site for consumption. appears to be rather tolerant of significant portion of the forest The breeding season begins people and, at least in Wake floor. At higher elevations, water- in late winter in North Carolina. County, has increased in num- ways and drainages such as the bers where recent subdivisions French Broad and New have caused great horned owls rivers provided appro- to abandon some of their nesting priate habitat. areas. The barred owl is found Habitat loss and throughout North Carolina. alteration have sharply reduced the numbers of Description this species. As the human popu- Exceeded in size only by the lation has spiraled, the barred great horned owl, the barred owl owl’s populations have fallen. Range Map: is much less dramatic in appear- Megafarms, expressways, hous- Found statewide W IILDLLF E PRO FI ES WILD This is preceded by a very vocal courtship period. Clearly, this reti- Barred Owl Facts cent owl species becomes vocally extroverted during the long nights of winter, while courting and estab- lishing a breeding territory. The BARRED OWL preferred nest site is a cavity in a Screech Owl tree, living or dead, of sufficient Classification size to accommodate the incubat- Class: Aves ing adult. Two white, nearly round Order: Strigiformes eggs are the normal clutch size. Four weeks of incubation are required Average Size for development of the embryo. Great Horned Length: 18 to 20 in. The newly hatched young are Owl Wingspan: 42 to 44 in. blind and helpless and must be Weight: 14 to 17 oz. brooded most of the time by one of the adults to maintain body tem- Food perature. For the first couple of Mammals, especially small weeks the parents must render this species extends from New- rodents, frogs, fishes, sala- food into very small portions for foundland, southern Quebec, and manders, crayfish, beetles, the small owlets. As they grow Saskatchewan south to Texas and crickets. Occasionally takes downy plumage and increase in Florida. It is migratory only in the birds as big as crows or strength, the young owls rapidly northernmost part of its range, grouse. gain some independence in eat- where severe winter weather ing. Between the fourth and sixth often makes food procurement Breeding weeks, the young birds abandon impossible. The barred owl is monoga- their nest cavity as they increase mous. In North Carolina, in size and clamber around in People Interactions breeding activity begins in trees, long before they are able As a native bird species, the midwinter with an interlude to fly skillfully. This is a period barred owl is protected. Its serves of vocalizations as the pair when the young owls are gain- a valuable role in aiding in the bond is strengthened and a ing muscle mass and coordination control of rodent populations. nest site selected. The nor- as well as adult plumage. If they mal clutch size is 2 white survive, the juveniles will be fly- References eggs, almost round in shape, ing by midsummer. However, Bent, Arthur Cleveland. “Barred Owl,” in resembling ping-pong balls. their skills at catching and killing Life Histories of North American Birds of Prey, Four weeks of incubation vol. 2. (New York: Dover Publications, 1961). prey are minimal and they are Pearson, T. Gilbert, C. S. Brimley and H. are required for hatching. attended by their parents for sev- H. Brimley. Birds of North Carolina (Raleigh: eral more weeks before actually N.C. Dept. of Agriculture, 1942). Young gaining independence. Only one Potter, Eloise, James F. Parnell and Robert As with many other bird brood is reared each year. Teulings. Birds of the Carolinas (Chapel Hill: species, newly hatched owls University of North Carolina Press, 1980). are completely helpless and Range and Distribution Credits unable to maintain their The barred owl is found through- Written by Wayne Irvin. body temperature without out North Carolina. Numbers Illustrated by J. T. Newman. almost constant brooding vary with available suitable habi- Produced January 1996 by the Division by a parent. After the young tat. The drainages of the larger of Conservation Education, N.C. Wildlife are fully feathered, they Resources Commission. streams, such as the French The Wildlife Resources Commission remain dependent upon Broad, Roanoke, Neuse and Cape is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all their parents, well into the Fear rivers, no doubt provide wildlife programs are administered for the summer, for food and help ideal cover and food items for this benefit of all North Carolina citizens without in developing skill in acquir- bird. Interestingly, it seems to use prejudice toward age, sex, race, religion or ing their own food. With national origin. Violations of this pledge may the same habitat as the red-shoul- be reported to the Equal Employment Officer, young that mature so dered hawk; one patrols the area N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, 512 slowly, only one brood by day, the other by night. N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, N.C. 27604-1188. annually is possible. The North American range of (919) 733-2241.