Barred Owl

Barred Owls are stocky birds with rounded heads and no ear tufts. Territorial year-round, they live in large mature forests and nest in tree cavities. These non-migratory birds are mostly nocturnal, but can also be active at dawn and dusk. Their breeding season is late February to April and their hooted “Who cooks for you; who cooks for you all” can be heard in multiple wooded areas within the Kezar Lake Watershed.

Their fairly broad diet includes small rodents, birds, amphibians, and invertebrates. They’ll even wade in shallow water in search of fish and crayfish. A Barred Owl with a heavy diet of crayfish will actually have a pinkish blush to their under-wing feathers!

During winters with deep or hard-packed snow, Barred Owls can be challenged to find food because most small rodents are burrowed safely under the snow. 2019 was a particularly tough winter for the owls. Not only was there deep hard-packed snow, but a huge squirrel explosion in 2018 resulted in a banner Barred Owl breeding season. Like many other creatures, Barred Owls can increase their productivity in years with elevated food sources. With an over abundance of owls and a shortage of available food in the winter of 2019, many Barred Owls either starved or were hit by cars while shifting their diet to roadside rodents.