barred owl (Strix varia)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION:

• Length: 17 inches Wingspan: 44 inches

• Sexes similar

• Rather large owl

• Dark eyes and yellow bill

• Back brown, mottled with pale spots and dark bars

• Underparts pale with long, brown streaks

• Chest pale with brown barring

• Face pale with dark concentric rings surrounding eye

Similar species:

The spotted owl is most similar, but can be separated with attention to
its barred, not streaked, underpart coloration. Short-eared owl is similar
in size, but is not barred on the chest nor is as heavily streaked below,
does not share the concentric rings in the facial disks, has yellow eyes
and a dark bill, and is found in quite different habitat. Great gray owl
is superficially similar, but much larger, gray rather than brown below,
and has differently patterned underparts.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status: Permanent resident
Breeding Habitat: Woodland
Nest Location: N/A
Nest Type: Cavity
Clutch Size: 2-3
Length of Incubation: 28-33 days
Days to Fledge: 42
Number of Broods: 1
Diet: Mostly small mammals; lesser quantities of birds

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May U
      Su - Summer: June, July, August U
      Fall: September, October, November U

      Winter: December, January, February U

 

 

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