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Barred owls are permanent residents throughout New York. They are an attractive owl, with soulful brown eyes and brown-and-white-striped plumage. They tend to be unnoticed as they are eerily quiet flying through the air. The Great Horned Owl is the most serious predatory threat to the Barred Owl. Although the two species often live in the same areas, a Barred Owl will move to another part of its territory when a Great Horned Owl is nearby.

  • They are non-migratory and often stay within a 5-mile radius.
  • They are large, stocky owls with brown eyes, mottled brown and white plumage, and a rounded head without ear tufts.
  • Widely distributed across New York, including the Hudson Valley, Western NY, and upstate regions.
  • They are often found in mature, dense forests.
  • Primarily nocturnal but often active during the day.
  • They have a varied diet, including mice, voles, amphibians, and insects.
  • They have a loud, rhythmic “who cooks for you, who cooks for you all” call. They also produce sounds like monkeys or cats, particularly in early spring.
  • Early spring is the best time to hear them, as they are breeding.

Status

Barred owls are not threatened in NY and are considered common, but they are vulnerable to habitat loss. Originally a bird of the east their habitat has expanded toward the Pacific Northwest and southward into California.

 

Websites About Barred Owls

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