Enjoy The Solitude & Solace Of

OWL BOX

Barred Owl

The Barred owl is still widespread and common, although may have declined in parts of south with loss of swamp habitat. In recent decades, they have expanded their range into northwest, and are now competing with other owls

The Classic hooting call.

The rich baritone hooting of the Barred Owl is a classic call heard in in Southern woodlands, where members of a pair often will call back and forth to each other. Although the bird is mostly active at night, it will also call and even hunt in the daytime. Only a little smaller than the Great Horned Owl, the Barred Owl is markedly less aggressive, and competition with its tough cousin may keep the Barred out of more open woods.

Hunts by night or day, perhaps most at dawn and dusk. Seeks prey by watching from perch, also by flying low through forest; may hover before dropping to clutch prey in talons.

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 site is in large natural hollow in tree, broken-off snag, or on old nest of hawk, crow, or squirrel. Rarely nests on ground. In east, often uses old Red-shouldered Hawk nest; hawk and owl may use same nest in alternate years.