Barred Owl
Strix varia
CLASS: Aves
ORDER: Strigiformes
FAMILY: Strigidae
SIZE:
20 inches
RANGE:
East of the Rockies from Central Canada to the Gulf of Mexico and in mountains as far south as Honduras
HABITAT:
Low, wet woods and swamp forest
DIET:
Wild - Rodents, birds, crayfish
Zoo - Bird of prey diet, sometimes rats or mice
DESCRIPTION:
A large stock owl, gray-brown with cross-barring on the neck and breast; streaks on the belly
No ear tufts
ADAPTATIONS:
Voice -- a loud hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo-aw. A variety of other barking calls and screams.
This owl is seen only by those who seek it out in its dark retreat, usually a thick grove of trees in lowland forest. Camouflage coloring.
Nocturnal -- comes out only at night to feed.
When disturbed, it will fly easily from one grove of trees to another.
Remarkable hearing -- can hear a mouse stepping on a twig 75 feet away.
Silent flyer
Owls have best night vision of any animals on earth.
YOUNG/NEST:
Lays 2 - 4 white eggs in unlined cavity in a hollow tree or rarely an abandoned crow's nest. Number of eggs depends on supply of food. Father owl often helps mother raise young.
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