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Strix varia

Common Name: Barred Owl
Strix varia
Strix varia

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Strix
Species: Strix varia

Conservation Status

Identifying Features

Barred owls are 21" long with a 42" wingspan. They are gray in color with brown streaks, and white spots.

Habitat & Range

Barred owls live in forests and swamps. They live year round in the eastern half of the United States, the western part of Washington state, Oregon, and northwestern California as well as througout much of southern Canada.

Behavior

Barred owls are nocturnal and hunt small mammals.

Their call is a gentle “who who hoo-hoo”.

Featured image by Robert Barber.

Related

Bubo virginianus
Great Horned Owl
Otus asio
Eastern Screech-Owl
Accipiter striatus
Sharp-Shinned Hawk