The Barred Owl (Strix varia) is a medium-sized owl commonly found in mature forests, wooded swamps, and forested neighborhoods throughout eastern North America.
Recognizable by its rounded head, dark eyes, and distinctive brown-and-white striped pattern, it is often heard before it is seen thanks to its familiar “Who-cooks-for-you?” call. Its diet consists mainly of small mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and insects, which it hunts from concealed perches using its exceptional hearing and vision.
Barred Owls are primarily nocturnal but may also be active during dawn and dusk, making them a fascinating and elusive woodland species.
