Barred Owl

owl · forest · predator · north america

Master of the hoot. The barred owl gets one of its nicknames, the eight-hooter, because its call sounds like it's saying who cooks for you eight times in a row. People can hear their spooky hooting echoing through forests at night.

Expanding westward. Barred owls originally lived in forests across eastern North America, but over time they've spread all the way to the west coast. Scientists consider them invasive out west because they're moving into areas where they didn't naturally belong.

Hungry night hunters. These owls are ambush predators that swoop down silently to catch small mammals like mice, voles, and squirrels in the dark. They're also sneaky enough to grab birds, frogs, snakes, and even insects when the opportunity presents itself.

Forest lovers. Barred owls prefer thick, mature forests where they can hunt and hide, but they're flexible birds that can also live in woodlands that are more open and patchy. As long as there are trees and prey around, they can make a home there.