Strix
varia
(Barred Owl)
Order: Strigiformes
Order Description: Owls
Family: Strigidae
Family Description: Typical Owls
Physical
Description:
17-24" (43-60 cm). Whitish
gray with dark barring across chest and streaked lengthwise on belly. Puffy
head with brown eyes.
Similar Species- Spotted Owl, Great Gray
Owl
Song:
Usually eight accented hoots,
in two groups of four.
Distribution:
Resident from portions of Alaska,
southern British Columbia, western Washington, eastern Oregon, and northeastern
California, east through northern Idaho and northwestern Montana to portions
of south-central Canada. Also resident in portions of eastern Canada and eastern,
midwestern, and southern United States. Appears to be expanding range southward
in Idaho.
Habitat:
Found in dense woodlands and forests with
large, mature, decadent coniferous or hardwood trees providing secure nesting
cavities. May prefer older stands, but uses earlier stages of forest in succession
if enough large trees, snags, or nest boxes are present. Also found in swamps
and wooded river valleys, often in areas bordering streams, marshes, and meadows,
but also in upland areas (use reflects vegetation types rather than water proximity).
Diet:
Eats mice, birds, reptiles,
amphibians, invertebrates, and other mammals. Small mammals such as voles, deer
mice, and shrews often comprise bulk of diet.
Ecology:
Nests in abandoned or natural cavity
in standing snag. Nocturnal
. Flies at low altitude
to locate prey. Birds feeding young may also forage diurnally. Opportunistic
foraging may occur at any time. Minnesota study found home range was usually
less than 400 ha (but up to 760) over 2-7 mo; boundaries generally remained
constant from year to year, with no overlap (usually), except for mated pair.
Annual home range averaged 282 ha in Michigan. Reported density was 0.03-1.0 pairs/km2.
Species has become established in northern and central Idaho since at least
1968.
Reproduction:
Egg-laying occurs January-May, depending
on range. clutch size varies from 2-3 eggs;
incubation lasts 28- 33 days. Young may leave nest at 4-5 wk, fly at 6 wk, but
receive some food from parents until 4 mo.
Conservation:
| Element
Code: |
ABNSB12020 |
| Status: |
Protected
nongame species |
| Global
Rank: |
G5 |
| State
Rank: |
S4 |
| National
Rank: |
N5 |
Important
State References:
Olson, R.A., T. Craig, and
E. Craig. 1978. Recent records of the barred owl, Strix varia, in Northern Idaho.
J. Id. Acad. Sci. 14:24-25.
Photo by R. Bennetts,© 1999
Written by Jason Karl, 2000.
Design by Ean Harker©1999, 2000.