D Woodland · Wave 2

Barred Owl

Strix varia

Famous who-cooks-for-you hoot; common eastern woodland owl for night-theme months.

At a glance

Size: Length: 17-20 in (43-51 cm); wingspan: 3 ft 3 in–3 ft 7 in (1.0–1.1 m);…
Wingspan: 3 ft 3 in–3 ft 7 in (1.0–1.1 m)
Habitat: Woodlands, wooded river bottoms, wooded swamps. Favors mostly dense and thick woods with only scattered clearings, especially in low-lying and swampy areas.…
Diet: Mostly small mammals. The Barred Owl eats many mice and other small rodents, also squirrels (including flying squirrels), rabbits, opossums, shrews, and other…

Range: The Barred Owl is a permanent resident throughout its range, although individuals may wander away from nesting habitat in winter.

Nesting: Courtship involves both male and female bobbing and bowing heads, raising wings, and calling while perched close together. Male may feed female in courtship. Members of pair often call in duet. Nest…

Hear this bird

General call / song: A loud barking hoo, hoo, hoo-hoo; hoo, hoo; hoo, hooo-aw! and a variety of other barking calls and screams. Call Pattern Complex, Falling, Undulating Call Type Hoot

Mating / display: Pair / courtship recordings are linked below when Audubon labels them. Original note — Courtship behaviors described on Audubon Nesting section; distinct mating call often not separately labeled.

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Play calls on All About Birds Species overview Audubon field guide Mating / courtship calls

How to know it

Habitat: Woodlands, wooded river bottoms, wooded swamps. Favors mostly dense and thick woods with only scattered clearings, especially in low-lying…
Diet: Mostly small mammals. The Barred Owl eats many mice and other small rodents, also squirrels (including flying squirrels), rabbits,…
Nesting: Courtship involves both male and female bobbing and bowing heads, raising wings, and calling while perched close together. Male may feed…

Behavior

Contact/alarm notes included in Audubon Songs and Calls summary where listed; see Cornell /sounds for labeled examples.

Fun facts

Famous who-cooks-for-you hoot; common eastern woodland owl for night-theme months.

Companion page for the Birds Coloring Calendar series by R. J. D. B. Fact summaries are original educational text or short paraphrases with source links. Call playback via link to All About Birds / Cornell Lab. Re-test QR codes on a phone before final print. Not affiliated with Cornell Lab or Audubon.