General Information
Barred Owls are a common, medium-sized owl found throughout Ohio and the eastern United States, south into Mexico and north into the southern part of Canada. In recent years, barred owl populations have been moving west through the United States and may be partly responsible for the decline in the Spotted Owl of this region. When barred owls and spotted owls live in the same area, the more aggressive barred owl tends to push the spotted owl out.
The barred owls prefer to live in large, forested areas that are usually near a water source such as a marsh or stream. Researchers have found that this habitat choice has more to do with the fact that trees are less likely to be disturbed in wetter areas than it does with the owls needing to live near a water source.
Meet Our Barred Owl
Our Barred Owl, Beaker, resides in the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden (presented by KeyBank) at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
Lifespan
Wild: 10-15 years
Captivity: 15-20 years
Fun Facts
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Barred Owls do not migrate; they stay in the same general area all year long.
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The only known natural predator of the Barred Owl is the Great Horned Owl.
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One way to identify a Barred Owl is by their distinctive call. Many believe that their call sounds like the owl is saying “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?”
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Barred Owls live on a diet of small mammals and birds as well as a wide variety of reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.
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Barred Owls mate for life and make their nests in tree cavities made by pileated woodpeckers or from nests previously constructed by squirrels, crows or hawks.