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Species
Birds
- Cormorant, Double-crested (Phalacrocorax auritus)
- Cormorant, Pelagic (Phalacrocorax pelagicus)
- Crow, Northwestern (Corvus caurinus)
- Eagle, American Bald (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
- Falcon, Peregrine (Falco peregrinus)
- Gull, Ring-billed (Larus delawarensis)
- Gull, Glaucous-winged (Larus glaucescens)
- Hawk, Cooper's (Accipiter cooperii)
- Heron (Fannini subspecies - Ardea herodias fannini)
- Killdeer (Charadruis vociferus)
- Owl, Barred (Strix varia)
- Owl, Saw-Whet (Aegolius acadicus)
Mammals
Who cooks for you, who cooks for you-all?
Barred Owl (Strix varia)
Did You Know?
- Voice sounds typically include the barking "hoo hoo hoho, hoo hoo ho-hooooaawr" ("Who cooks for you, who cooks for you-all?")
Description:
- The barred owl adult is usually 44 cm long with a wingspan of 112 cm
- It has a pale face with a yellow bill and brown eyes and other than its brown colour, the barred owl is distinguished by its pale, dark-streaked belly
Habitat:
- The barred owl’s main habitat includes dense woods across Canada, eastern United States and south to Central America
- This bird often nests in tree cavities
Swoopin' in!
Diet
- The barred owl feeds mostly on mice, but can also feed on rabbits, chipmunks, foxes, possums and fish
Breeding
- Males hoot and females give contact calls
- As the nesting season approaches, males chase after females giving a variety of hooting and screeching calls
- Males display by swaying back and forth, and raising their wings, while sidling along a branch
- Courtship feeding and mutual preening also occur
Conservation:
- The barred owl could be responsible for the decline of the northern spotted owl native to the east coast. In competition barred owls are typically stronger and outshine the spotted owl
- Since the 1960’s barred owls have expanded their range to the west because the manmade changes have made it a more suitable environment for them
