Barred Owl
Strix varia

Identification: The Barred Owl is a fairly large owl with a wingspan of 44 inches and a body length of 17 inches. It has a large round head barred with pale buff or whitish and dark brown markings. These same markings are exhibited throughout the neck, chest, back and rump of Barred Owls. Like the Barn Owl, this bird has dark eyes. All other Florida owls have light colored eyes.

Range & Habitat: This bird is found commonly in wooded swamp areas throughout the United States. The typical range is throughout most of the eastern portion of the country, to the Rockies in the west and into the southern 1/3 of Canada. These owls are frequently seen in northern forests, but are most common in southern swamps and river bottoms. This species nests throughout Florida in both urban and rural areas.

Reproduction: Barred Owls generally nest in a tree cavity often in abandoned nests of hawks or crows. Clutch size usually consists of 2-3 white eggs, rarely 4, which are incubated by both parents for 26-28 days. Young birds make their first flight at 6-7 weeks of age.

Diet: Hunting actively during cloudy days as well as during dawn and dusk, the Barred Owl takes mainly rodents and other small mammals. Birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects and fish are also occasionally part of their regular diet. The Barred Owl often pursues, captures and eats smaller owls such as the Screech-owl.

Remarks: The call of the Barred Owl is one of the most familiar sounds of Florida's swamps. Easily imitated, many Barred Owls visit people sitting around campfires making an owl call. This owl hoots, sometimes sounding like the bark of a dog. The hoots are usually given in two closely spaced, rapid series of four notes, with the last hoot trailing off as a "hooo-aww." This often gives the impression that the owl is saying, "Who cooks for you-all?" This species also makes a loud, rasping laugh-like call and a rather loud tremolo "Who-oo-oo-oo." Barred Owls are also known as "hoot owls."