Barred owl : North Carolina wildlife profiles

Barred Owl North Carolina Wildlife Profit cs Barred Owl (St rix varia) This large, fairly common owl has an admirable vocabulary of hoots and wails, which it willingly uses throughout the large tracts of woods still found in North Carolina. Most active at night but often heard during daylight hours on overcast days, barred owls get one of their local names, "eight hooter," from their vocaliza¬ tions. Ornithologists recognize two subspecies of this bird in North Carolina by the pitch of their hooting, with barred owls from the Piedmont and Coastal Plain having lower- pitched voices than those from the Mountains. Description Exceeded in size only by the great horned owl, the barred owl gets its name from the horizontal barring on its throat and upper breast, contrasting with a pattern of irregular bold, vertical streaks just below'. It is a rather mottled grayish brown over¬ all with light and dark feathers throughout its body. The large eyes are dark brown ish black, and set in a large, round head that lacks ear tufts. There are no plumage variations between the sexes. And, characteristic of the raptor group, the female is noticeably larger than her mate. History and Status The barred owl is named for the horizontal barring on its throat and upper breast. Wiki medio Despite the extensive lumbering of eastern forests following European coloni¬ zation, Breeding Bird Survey data suggest that barred owi populations in North Carolina have generally increased since 1966. This success may be due to the preva¬ lence of beaver ponds and changes with forest management in some areas, including lengthening of timber rotations, reduced habitat fragmentation, and retention of standing dead trees. Learn more at ncwildlif e. org/barred owL Habitats & Habits The barred owi prefers wetter, riverine areas, w'hereas the great-horned owi is more at home along the ridges and drier areas of the state. At higher elevations, waterways and drainages such as the French Broad and New' rivers provided appro¬ priate habitat. Barred owls nest and forage primarily in wetlands, such as around beaver ponds and in open swamps, bottomlands, and nearby marshes. While the species is found statewide, they are relatively scarce in the mountains. The barred owi is an opportunistic eater with an appetite for a wide range of food items. It can capture and kill mammals as large as an opossum, but will also consume smaller animals such as rabbits, squirrels, rodents, salamanders, frogs, fish, crayfish, beedes and other insects. They will also hunt a variety of bird species and have even been known to kill and eat screech owis. Most small prey is swallowed whole, headfirst; Range and Distribution The barred owl is found throughout North Carolina. Numbers vary with available suitable habitat. The North American range of this species extends from Newfoundland, southern Quebec, and Saskatchewan south to Texas and Florida. It is migratory only in the northernmost part of its range, where severe winter weather often makes finding food impossible. Range Map ■ Barred Owl Range Map