Steward’s Notes: Field Notes: Barred Owl (Strix varia)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seen during a rare snowy day, barred owls are year-round residents of the Delta, favoring wooded creeks, bottomland forests, and tree-lined neighborhoods near water.

Roughly 16-24 inches tall with a wingspan nearing four feet, they are among the larger owls commonly found here. Their brown-and-white barred feathers blend easily into bark and winter branches, making them more often heard than seen.

Listen at dusk or dawn for their distinctive 8-9 note call – often remembered as “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?” On cold or stormy days, they may perch lower and remain unusually still, watching the landscape rather than moving through it.

Field hint: Look where trees meet water. Scan for shapes that don’t move. Notice when the woods go quiet.