ORDER

Strigiformes (owls)

FAMILY

Strigidae (Typical owls)

HABITAT AND RANGE

Found in deep dense woodlands. Ranges from Canada to the Southern US and generally east of the Rockies. Their close cousin the Spotted Owl is found west.

IDENTIFICATION

Dark gray-brown in color, barred with white-crosswise on the chest and lengthwise on the belly and a white spotted back. No ear tufts (Strix genus are the earless owls).

DIET

Mostly feeds on mice and other small mammals as well as frogs, birds, snakes. Can wade into the water to catch fish. At the zoo they are fed chicks and rats.

REPRODUCTION AND LIFESPAN

Barred owls are monogamous, forming lifelong pair bonds. They will often reuse the same nest site for many years which are usually hollows in trees but sometimes old nests of other animals. 1-5 eggs are laid, each egg laid several days after the previous one. Eggs are incubated for 20-28 days. The young will venture to other branches of the tree at about 4 weeks and will be fledged after 6 weeks. Parental care extends to 6 months. The female owl incubates the eggs while the male hunts for her and feeds the young. Barred owls reach sexual maturity at 2 years of age and can live to 18 years.

NOTES

Barred owls live alone for most of the year, only living in family groups from the breeding season until the young leave the nest. Mated pairs typically live in adjoining home ranges, with the degree of overlap between home ranges increasing during the breeding season. Flight speed is 35-40 mph. Without exception Strix varia hunts prey that can be swallowed whole. Hunting is mainly done from a perch. Once prey is spotted, barred owls swoop down upon prey and grab it with sharp talons. Like most owls, barred owls cache prey in tree branches and nests.All owls have soft serrated primaries allowing for very silent, stealthy flight. Strix varia is a very vocal species with an easily recognizable 9 syllable call; "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?"