Barred Owl
A dark-eyed owl without ear tufts. Beak is dull to bright yellow. Body feathering is light gray to white with dark bar marks surrounding eyes and head. Larger, bar-like marks cover wings and tail, while vertical streaking is found on the breast and belly.
Behavior: Well known for patterned hoot – “Who cooks for you, who cooks for you-all?” May also scream with five wild series of falsetto yelps. May hunt around, and in, water.
Habitat: Swamps, swamp woodland and heavily wooded river valleys. Prefers areas with old, large trees and standing dead timber.
Range: Nearly all of eastern North America to Great Plains. Across Canadian boreal forest west to Pacific Northwest.
Abundance: Common, but declining in many areas.
Nesting: Nests in tree cavity. Lays 2 to 4 eggs which the female incubates.
Food: Wide variety of rodents, but also
frogs, snakes, crayfish and insects.
