An ordinary raptor in the eastern woods, the Barred Owl is more expressive in voice and not as big as its relative, the Great Horned Owl.
This bird of prey that is about two feet long at adulthood is gray-brown on top with glistening white spots. On its underneath, it has gray and white "barring" that takes place where the craw and bosom converge. This balanced barring makes the Barred Owl appear as if it is wearing a white neck band. Its breast has upright stripes and some barring. The head of this owl is circular and doesn't have tufts. Encircling its big moistened brown eyes are light brown feathers and the owl has a wingspan of about 43 inches. Its bill is a dull yellow. Altogether people think of the Barred Owl as sweet and timid particularly when comparing it to the ferocious looking Great Horned Owl. This owl is the only owl in the eastern United States with brown eyes.
However, the Barred Owl may appear timid, but it is a proficient predator. The Barred Owl is a unusually vocal owl. Indeed it is so boisterous and noisy that it can be quite easy to detect. Its regular call is a tolling intonation of successive hoots. Some people conclude that the hooting of this owl sounds like someone casually saying, "who-cooks-for-you, who-cooks-for-you." This raptor makes many other calls that range from a brief hoot or woof to an aroused and boisterous monkey-like squawk that can make the locks on one's neck stand on end.
The female lays two to three white tinted eggs and incubates them for about 28 days. These eggs are laid either in a tree hollow or in the unclaimed nest of another big bird. The young fledge about 42 days after hatching.
One of the most common nests that this raptor uses is that of the Red-Shouldered Hawk. It uses this hawk's nest because it is huge and because they both share the same surroundings. Nesting preference is the cavity of a tree or the abandoned nest of a hawk, crow or squirrels.
The Barred Owl chooses deep humid timberland, wooded marshes, and woodlands near waterways. Birders spotted this raptor in the eastern half of the United States stretching out west through southern Canada. Other outdoor people detected the Barred Owl out west in the states of Washington and Oregon. In these states it contends for territory with its close relative the Spotted Owl.
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