Spotted Owl

Strix occidentalis

Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis) — Owls of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Canada Birds of Mexico Birds of the United States Birds of British Columbia Birds of Arizona Birds of California Birds of Colorado Birds of New Mexico Birds of Nevada Birds of Oregon

By family

Owls of Canada Owls of Mexico Owls of the United States Owls of British Columbia Owls of Arizona Owls of California Owls of Colorado Owls of New Mexico Owls of Nevada Owls of Oregon

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The Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis) is a member of the Strigidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 586 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

NT Near Threatened

Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae Owls
Genus Strix
Species occidentalis

Where it lives

Western

Quick facts

Weight: 586 g
Diet: Vertebrate hunters
Family: Strigidae
Order: Strigiformes
Habitat: Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Spotted Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.

Migration

The Spotted Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis) is a species of bird in the Strigidae family, part of the order Strigiformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA w.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 586 g, with a wing length of about 32 cm and a tail of around 19 cm.

The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.2 million km².

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Spotted Owl?

The Spotted Owl is a large bird that weighs around 586 g.

Where does the Spotted Owl live?

The Spotted Owl is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA w, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.

What family does the Spotted Owl belong to?

The Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis) belongs to the Strigidae family, in the order Strigiformes.

What does the Spotted Owl eat?

The Spotted Owl preys mainly on other vertebrates.

Does the Spotted Owl migrate?

The Spotted Owl is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Spotted Owl endangered?

The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.

How large is the Spotted Owl's range?

The Spotted Owl has a mapped global range of about 1.2 million km².