Photo: Mdf / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Barred Owl
Strix varia
Barred Owl (Strix varia) — Owls of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Barred Owl (Strix varia) is a member of the Strigidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 711 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Strigiformes
- Family Strigidae Owls
- Genus Strix
- Species varia
Where it lives
Southeastern Alaska and southern Canada through southeastern, south-central USA
Quick facts
- Weight
- 711 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Strigidae
- Order
- Strigiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Male vs female
Sexes look alike in plumage; the female is noticeably larger.
Juvenile appearance
Juveniles are fluffy brownish-white with indistinct barring and overall buffier, less distinct markings than adults.
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Barred Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Barred Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Barred Owl (Strix varia) belongs to the Strigidae family of the order Strigiformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA se Alaska and s Canada through se, sc USA.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 711 g, with a wing length of about 34.1 cm and a tail of around 21.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 6.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Barred Owl?
The Barred Owl is a large bird that weighs around 711 g.
Where does the Barred Owl live?
The Barred Owl is found across North America with a range covering NA se Alaska and s Canada through se, sc USA, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Barred Owl belong to?
The Barred Owl (Strix varia) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.
What does the Barred Owl eat?
The Barred Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Barred Owl migrate?
The Barred Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Barred Owl endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Barred Owl make?
1 real field recording of the Barred Owl — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Barred Owl's range?
The Barred Owl has a mapped global range of about 6.6 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Strigidae
A field guide to the Strigidae family — 236 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.