Birds of Prey
Barred Owl
Strix varia
A round-headed owl of swamps and big forests, famous for its call: "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?" It often calls during the day.
How to identify it
- Round head with no ear tufts
- Dark brown eyes
- Horizontal bars on the chest, vertical streaks on the belly
- Rhythmic "who cooks for you" hooting
SizeAbout the size of an American Crow
American Robin10 in
Barred Owl19 in
American Crow19 in
Canada Goose37 in
6 inAverage length, bill to tail
Details
- Size
- 17–20 in long; wingspan 39–43 in
- Weight
- 1.1–2.3 lb
- Habitat
- Swamps, river forests and large mature woodlands
- When to see it
- Year-round across the East; spreading into the Northwest
- Diet
- Mice, voles, squirrels, frogs, crayfish
Range in the United States
Life history
Food
Eats mice, voles, squirrels, rabbits, birds, frogs and crayfish; sometimes wades into water to catch fish.
Nesting
In a large tree cavity, broken treetop or old hawk or squirrel nest.
- Clutch
- 1–5 eggs
- Incubation
- 28–33 days
- Young
- Leave the nest at 4–5 weeks; fly at about 10 weeks
- Broods
- 1 per year
Behavior
Often calls in the daytime. Pairs perform loud, cackling duets.
Conservation
Common and expanding westward, where it competes with the Spotted Owl.
Cool facts
- Its "Who cooks for you?" call is one of the best-known owl calls.
- Young owls can climb trees using their bills and claws before they can fly.
- Unlike most owls, it has dark brown eyes.
Songs & calls
▶Bird sounds video coming soon
Watch the Barred Owl
▶Video coming soon
